Ewha Womans Univ. president appointed as goodwill ambassador for UN Women

Kim Eun-mee, president of Ewha Womans University, holds her letter of designation as a U.N. Women national goodwill ambassador, Jan. 29. Courtesy of U.N. Women Centre of Excellence for Gender Equality

Kim Eun-mee, president of Ewha Womans University, has been appointed as a goodwill ambassador of United Nations Women in recognition of her decades-long efforts to advance gender equality and women's empowerment.

The announcement was made earlier this week by the U.N. Women Centre of Excellence for Gender Equality based in Seoul. It stated that Kim will actively participate in various events to raise awareness about the organization's key areas, including women's economic empowerment, ending violence against women, peace and security as well as climate change.

Previously, Kim has served as a member of the committee for international development cooperation under the Prime Minister’s Office and the policy advisory committees for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family. She has advocated for the integration of gender perspectives into official development assistance (ODA) programs and enhancing Korea's contributions to gender equality through international development cooperation.

On the global stage, Kim has made significant contributions to the U.N.'s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) agenda. In 2016, she was appointed as one of the 15 members of the Independent Group of Scientists working on the Global Sustainable Development Report 2019, making her the sole Korean representative in the research group.

"It is a pleasure to welcome President Kim as our first national goodwill ambassador for the Republic of Korea," Alia Al-Yaseer, director of the U.N. Women Asia and the Pacific Regional Office, said in a statement.

"As U.N. Women expands its partnership with the Republic of Korea through our Centre of Excellence in Seoul, we are excited to work together with Kim to advance national efforts on gender equality and women's empowerment."

Kim said, "I believe achieving gender equality and empowerment of women and girls is absolutely critical for creating a better future for everyone. I am a firm believer in international cooperation, and I am ready to support whatever is necessary to help achieve U.N. Women's mandate in Korea and beyond."

U.N. Women's goodwill ambassadors play a crucial role in promoting the organization's global mission. Renowned figures such as Hollywood actors Anne Hathaway, Nicole Kidman and Emma Watson have previously served as the organization's global goodwill ambassadors.

Established in 2022 in Seoul with support from the gender equality ministry, the U.N. Women Centre of Excellence for Gender Equality, the first such center in the region, facilitates research, education and training on gender equality between Korea and other stakeholders in the Asia-Pacific region.