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Wonder Woman appointed UN ambassador amid staff protest

By Daniel Uria
United Nations staff members protested the announcement of Wonder Woman as an honorary ambassador with backs turned and fists raised during a ceremony on Friday. Wonder Woman was named Honorary Ambassador for the Empowerment of Women and Girls as part of a campaign to raise awareness on Sustainable Development Goal 5, achieving gender equality and empowerment for all women and girls.
 Screen capture/ITN/AOL
United Nations staff members protested the announcement of Wonder Woman as an honorary ambassador with backs turned and fists raised during a ceremony on Friday. Wonder Woman was named Honorary Ambassador for the Empowerment of Women and Girls as part of a campaign to raise awareness on Sustainable Development Goal 5, achieving gender equality and empowerment for all women and girls. Screen capture/ITN/AOL

UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 22 (UPI) -- The United Nations appointed Wonder Woman as an honorary ambassador amid protests from staff opposing the decision.

Wonder Woman was appointed Honorary Ambassador for the Empowerment of Women and Girls as part of a campaign to raise awareness on Sustainable Development Goal 5, achieving gender equality and empowerment for all women and girls," according to CNN.

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"This is the most fun the UN has had, I'm pretty sure right?" President of DC Entertainment Diane Nelson said, according to The Guardian.

A ceremony to commemorate Wonder Woman's appointment, as well as her 75th anniversary as a character was attended by Wonder Woman actors Lynda Carter and Gal Gadot, director of the character's upcoming film Patty Jenkins and Girl Scouts dressed in Wonder Woman T-shirts.

A group of protestors were also in attendance as they turned their backs on the event with raised fists, before silently walking out of the event near the midway point.

When the idea of naming Wonder Woman was initially announced a group of concerned UN staff members launched a petition calling for Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon to reconsider the choice.

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The group stated Wonder Woman was an unfit ambassador describing her as culturally insensitive and overtly sexualized.

"Although the original creators may have intended Wonder Woman to represent a strong and independent 'warrior' woman with a feminist message, the reality is that the character's current iteration is that of a large breasted, white woman of impossible proportions, scantily clad in a shimmery, thigh-baring body suit with an American flag motif and knee high boots –the epitome of a 'pin-up' girl," the petition states.

The petition also noted the importance of a strong, living, breathing female role model in inspiring young women and girls and criticized the UN for foregoing real life women.

"The bottom line appears to be that the United Nations was unable to find a real life woman that would be able to champion the rights of ALL women on the issue of gender equality and the fight for their empowerment," the petition states. "The United Nations has decided that Wonder Woman is the role model that women and girls all round the world should look up to."

Senior UN spokeswoman Cristina Gallach argued the values represented by Wonder Woman can be inspiring despite her image.

"I would say what matters more are the values and substance that [Wonder Woman] will represent -- and this will be the challenge, and goal -- of the campaign," she said.

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