September 20, 2017
Actress Priyanka Chopra, a UN Goodwill Ambassador, spoke up
for girl empowerment and felicitated an Indian woman working towards supporting
acid attack victims, at the Global Goals Awards at the UN General Assembly here.
Priyanka, who has often spoken on girl child rights and gender issues, on
Wednesday shared on social media a photograph of herself from the event, which
highlighted the roles played by a girl to make progress towards achieving the
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Alongside the image, she wrote:
"Honoured to have participated in the Global Goals Awards tonight (Tuesday) at
the UN General Assembly. These awards highlight the role girls play in changing
their lives and in making progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development
Goals (SDGs)."
She presented the Leadership Award to Indian girl Ria
Sharma, who works towards supporting acid attack survivors, and said she felt
proud.
"Ria founded Make Love Not Scars (MLNS), which is an organization
that actively supports survivors of acid attacks physically and mentally, and
campaigns to raise awareness of the issue' Ria's efforts are contributing to
change the lives of many women who have survived acid attacks," Priyanka wrote.
Priyanka shared that the organisation had ensured that the survivors
receive free treatment under a Supreme Court order for the welfare of acid
victims.
The National Award winner also posted a series of photographs
and said it was an honour for her to speak at the UN Global Goals Awards on the
importance of empowering girls, addressing global leaders and influencers from
the UN, philanthropy, media, non-profits and business.
"We all need to
come together and work to empower, educate, create opportunities and impart
skill sets so that we can be their catalysts for change and to help them build
their brave new world. If possible, a safe one where they can live their dreams
and laugh together as one," she wrote.
Priyanka said she had the
opportunity to meet the youngest Unicef goodwill ambassador, Muzoon Al-Mellehan,
who is doing "such amazing work advocating education for Syrian girls. All in
all, this was a very inspiring and uplifting night".