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Wonder Woman appointed United Nations ambassador amid staff protest

Oct 25 2016

It was announced that Wonder Woman would become an honorary ambassador earlier this month, in support of the UN's sustainable development goal number five - "to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls".

Ban's undersecretary-general for communications, Cristina Gallach, described Wonder Woman as "an icon for her commitment to justice, peace and equality". Of the 13 candidates for the job, seven were women, and many thought a female candidate should be chosen for the first time in United Nations history.

Some critics contend the character's appointment appears to be dated at a time when gender equality is at the forefront of global issues.

According to the United Nations, Wonder Woman will remind everyone of the collective achievements that are possible through the empowerment of women, and that everyone everywhere can lend a hand.

Simultaneously, Wonder Woman is an ill-fitting choice for the recognition and empowerment of all women and young girls all over the world because she represents only a very small portion of that population, who are also discriminated against, but often enjoy greater privilege than the vast majority of women on the planet.

"We believe in fair play, and fair pay, and playing by the rules", she added.

According to the New York Times, more than 600 United Nations staffers signed an online petition asking Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to rethink the character's appointment. "It is the strength that lives within us that we can do anything and we are stronger together", Lynda Carter said. Putting her in shadow is the only thing that's slightly off for the character, who tends to be more of a shining light in the dark hours, and could be foreshadowing some truly dire circumstances for her in the film.

And that just won't do, the petition says. Neither was Antonio Guterres of Portugal, who was recently named as the next United Nations chief despite protests that it was time - after eight men in a row - for a woman to hold the top United Nations position. She will front a campaign with the theme: "Think of all the wonders we can do".

In the photo, Gal Gadot can be seen in the heroine's costume, sporting everything from the iconic, warrior breastplate and tiara symbolizing her wealth, to the Sword of Athena sitting on her back.

The Wonder Woman appointment came after many women were dismayed that another man, Antonio Guterres, the former prime minister of Portugal, was chosen to be the next secretary-general. "We tried to make it work in this movie, but we couldn't". Justice League follows the events of BvS, as Batman and Wonder Woman look to recruit new superheroes to their cause following the destruction that Doomsday wrought.

At a ceremony at the United Nations headquarters in NY, the fictional character was honored for being a strong female role model. The Woman SG campaign also called for the cancellation of the appointment and urged a public inquiry into the process that led to the appointment of Wonder Woman.


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