Smriti Mandhana named UNICEF India Celebrity Advocate

UNICEF India has appointed Smriti Mandhana, captain of the Indian women’s cricket team, as a Celebrity Advocate to mark the International Day of the Girl. In this role, Mandhana will advocate for the rights, health, and empowerment of adolescent girls, focusing on creating equal opportunities for them to learn, lead, and participate in sports.

During commemorations for the International Day of the Girl, UNICEF Deputy Executive Director Hannan Suleman highlighted the global significance of progress for girls in India, noting that the country is home to 253 million adolescents. India’s Permanent Representative, P Harish, noted the increasing presence of women in traditionally male-dominated fields like engineering and emphasized the need to make emerging domains like artificial intelligence more inclusive for women.

Mandhana, an Arjuna Award recipient, expressed her honor in joining the initiative, stating that her experience in cricket taught her that every dream begins with an opportunity. Her appointment follows her recent leadership role in Indian cricket and her previous support for gender equality campaigns.