The United Nations has said that goodwill ambassadors "in their personal capacity […] retain the right to talk about topics that interest or concern them. "
The statement came from Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for Secretary General Antonio Guterres, in light of the alleged comments in favor of the war made by the Goodwill Ambassador of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the actor of the India Priyanka Chopra Jonas in February and recently highlighted by an activist.
Responding to a journalist's question about the UN's position on Chopra's statements at Thursday's briefing, Dujarric said: "Well, I can tell you that for any goodwill ambassador, be it Miss Chopra or anyone else , we hope they adhere to impartial positions when they speak. " on behalf of UNICEF or any other organization. "
However, he added that when these ambassadors speak in "their personal capacity, they reserve the right to speak on matters that interest or concern them."
"However, their personal views do not reflect the views of the agency with which they may be affiliated," Dujarric said.
On August 21, it was learned that Human Rights Minister Shireen Mazari had formally written to the UNICEF chief, asking him to dismiss the Indian actress as UNICEF's global goodwill ambassador for her comments.
The minister’s move came days after Chopra was confronted at an event in the United States earlier this month by Pakistani-American activist Ayesha Malik through a tweet sent earlier this year in favor of the Indian army.
The controversy
Chopra had received widespread criticism on social media for his response to Malik's question at a BeautyCon event in Los Angeles earlier this month.
Malik had called the Indian actress for being "hypocritical" and "encouraging nuclear war against Pakistan" by tweeting in favor of the Indian army in February, when Pakistan and India reached the brink of war following the Pulwama attack in occupied Kashmir .
In response, Chopra called Malik's statement as "let off steam" and instead of responding properly, he continued by saying: "I have many, many friends from Pakistan and I am from India. War is not something I like very much, but I am patriotic, so I am sorry if I hurt the feelings of people who love me and have loved me.
“But I think we all have a kind of middle ground in which we all have to walk. Just as you probably do too. The way you came to me now … girl, don't yell. We are all here for love. Don't embarrass yourself. "
Read Full Article:
