Comic-book superheroes are known for saving the day, but none has been tasked with helping the United Nations. Until now.
Wonder Woman has just been named by the U.N. as an honorary ambassador for the empowerment of women and girls. Her new title, conferred October 21 at a ceremony at U.N. headquarters in New York, will promote the U.N.’s sustainable development goal Number 5 — achieving gender equality worldwide.
The announcement coincides with the character’s 75th anniversary. So U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon invited DC Entertainment president Diane Nelson, Lynda Carter (who starred in the TV series Wonder Woman from 1975 to 1979) and Gal Gadot (who plays Wonder Woman in the 2016 film Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice) to the ceremony.
Carter, who will appear in a U.N. social media campaign, cites education as the key to empowering women and girls. “The more you know, the more you can become,” she said.
She often hears from fans who say her portrayal of Wonder Woman still inspires them. One woman, posting on Facebook, recalled episodes of Wonder Woman that helped her as a girl cope with school bullies.
“I never tire of these stories, of hearing how Wonder Woman affects people,” said Carter. “I still love the character. Wonder Woman belongs to all of us.”
The U.N. believes that “providing women and girls with equal access to education, health care, decent work, and representation in political and economic decision-making processes” will benefit humanity. We’re #withWonderWoman.