Over the past few weeks, Priyanka Chopra, who is also a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, has faced sharp criticism over her comments cheering for the Indian armed forces. Pakistan's Minister for Human Rights Shireen Mazari also sent a letter to UNICEF, seeking removal of Priyanka as its Goodwill Ambassador.
“Ms Chopra has publicly endorsed Indian government position on Kashmir and also supported the nuclear threat issued to Pakistan by the Indian Defence Minister. All this goes completely against the principles of peace and goodwill that Ms. Chopra is supposed to uphold as an UN Goodwill Ambassador for Peace,” Mazari wrote in the letter which she made public on Twitter on Wednesday.
Commenting on the backlash, a UN spokesperson told IANS that Priyanka retains the right to speak in her personal capacity on issues concerning her. "When UNICEF Goodwill Ambassadors speak in their personal capacity, they retain the right to speak about issues that interest or concern them," said Stephane Dujarric, the spokesperson for Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. "Their personal views or actions do not necessarily reflect those of UNICEF," he added.
But, he said, "When they speak on behalf of the UNICEF, we expect them to adhere to UNICEF's evidence-based impartial positions."
A few days after the abrogation of Article 370, Priyanka made news when she got called a 'hypocrite' by a Pakistani woman at the BeautyCon Event in Los Angeles. On February 26, the day after the Indian Air Force conducted a series of strikes across the Line of Control (LoC), Priyanka Chopra had tweeted in support of the move, saying “Jai Hind” and hashtagging #IndianArmedForces.
Priyanka was made a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador in December 2016.
