Priyanka Chopra, the current UNICEF goodwill ambassador, was on hand in New York City at The Goalkeepers' Global Goals, hosted by Bill and Melinda Gates, to bring to light the issue of the girl child. She also presented Ria Sharma, founder of Make Love Not Scars (MLNS), with the Leadership Award for her tireless work on behalf of acid attack survivors. The actress has been working with the global organisation providing humanitarian aid to women and children in developing nations for 11 years.
Chopra began her speech during The Goalkeepers' Global Goals awards at the UN General Assembly, naming the girls she met in her travels as UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador in India, Zimbabwe, South Africa and Jordan. She said, "These are girls that live with me, that always will." She also spoke about empowering, educating and creating opportunities for the young children, displaced because of war, to build their own world and future.
She elaborated why it was important to focus more on the girl child than the boy, stating "girls are afffected by conflict 2.5 times more than boys". She urged the gathered audience to donate their time and money to the cause, promising the return would be a better world.
Chopra wore a long-sleeved white gown, highlighted by puffy sleeves, a popular trend of the 1980s. She also posed with activist Muzoon Almellehan, the youngest UNICEF goodwill ambassador and called the event an "inspiring & uplifting night".
Watch Priyanka Chopra's full speech at The Goalkeeper Global Goal awards here: