Wonder Woman named a special UN ambassador

Associated Press

UNITED NATIONS

The United Nations celebrated Wonder Woman’s 75th birthday on Friday by naming the comic-book character as its new Honorary Ambassador for the Empowerment of Woman and Girls, despite frustration from both inside and outside the world organization that the spot should go to a real – and less sexualized – woman.

The ceremony at the Economic and Social Council chamber, was marred by some 50 U.N. staffers who silently turned their back to the stage, some with their fists in the air.

The super heroine’s image will be used by the U.N. on social media platforms to promote women’s empowerment, including on gender-based violence and the fuller participation of women in public life (using the hashtag WithWonderWoman). The push, hoping to reach young people, is backed by DC Entertainment and Warner Bros., which produce both comics and films featuring Wonder Woman.

But an online petition, started by U.N. staffers, asked the Secretary General to reconsider the appointment, saying “The message the United Nations is sending to the world with this appointment is extremely disappointing.” As of Friday afternoon, it had more than 1,000 signatures.

Honorary ambassadors – as opposed to goodwill ambassadors like Nicole Kidman and Anne Hathaway – are fictional characters. The U.N. previously tapped Winnie the Pooh to be an honorary Ambassador of Friendship in 1998 and Tinker Bell as the honorary Ambassador of Green in 2009.