Actor-singer Farhan Akhtar is taking on a new role. UN Women, the United Nations organisation dedicated to gender equality and women’s empowerment, has appointed the National Award-winning filmmaker its South Asia Goodwill Ambassador.
Akhtar is the first man to be chosen as a Goodwill Ambassador in the organisation’s history.
Akhtar represents the voice of men on the important issue of gender equality and violence against women and girls in India through his Men Against Rape and Discrimination (MARD) campaign. As the UN Women’s Goodwill Ambassador for South Asia he will work towards the empowerment of women and girls and serve as an advocate for the organisation’s newly launched HeForShe initiative in advocating for gender equality and women’s empowerment.
“Farhan started his own campaign, MARD — Men Against Rape and Discrimination — that aims to sensitise men and create awareness about the safety of women… We need creative and committed men like Farhan to push the gender equality and women’s empowerment agenda,” said UN Women Executive Director and Under-Secretary-General Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka in a statement. “I am convinced that Farhan’s passion and conviction for the cause will galvanise a multiplier effect and reach the hearts and minds of men and boys in South Asia and beyond”.
The MARD campaign has not just other film industry members on board but corporations such as Google that have engaged with the initiative to empower women through internet literacy.
“I am honoured to serve UN Women as the Goodwill Ambassador for South Asia,” said Akhtar. “This gives me and our MARD initiative an added impetus to work together towards a more gender equal India and world. I am a supporter of UN Women’s HeForShe campaign and the role men and boys can play in stopping crime against women and girls, and working towards gender equality. Through this new partnership I want to call on all men and boys to be a catalyst for change and, through our actions, create a value system to end gender disparity.”
