PARIS, France - Vera Zvonareva has been named a "Promoter of Gender Equality" as part of the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour's partnership with UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. In this role she joins Venus Williams, Tatiana Golovin and Zheng Jie, as well as Tour founder Billie Jean King, who was named "Global Mentor for Gender Equality" in November last year.
Zvonareva, a winner of nine singles and five doubles titles on the Tour, had the best year of her career in 2008, firmly establishing herself in the Top 10 - where she currently resides as world No 6. The 24-year-old already has a keen interest in education and international leadership, having enrolled in the Diplomatic Academy of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 2007, where she is studying for a post-graduate diploma in International Relations and Economics.
In her new role as a Promoter of Gender Equality, Zvonareva will raise awareness of gender equality issues at both a national and global level, and have a direct involvement in current and future women's leadership programs to be developed through the UNESCO-Tour partnership.
"I am truly honored to be serving as a Promoter of Gender Equality, especially being the first one from Russia," Zvonareva said. "I think that the UNESCO-Sony Ericsson WTA Tour partnership is incredibly important and this is a role that I value highly and will work extremely hard in helping young girls and women all around the world to gain better opportunities to succeed in whatever they wish to do. In particular I very much believe in the importance and value of education and the rights of all women and girls to have equal access to it."
Speaking on the subject of the Tour's stars as global ambassadors, UNESCO Director-General Koïchiro Matsuura observed: "As leaders and role models for women and girls around the world, these formidable athletes and successful women are a source of inspiration in their deeds both on and off the court, driving the message that gender equality is a goal that can and must be realized in order for us to achieve peace and sustainable development."
The UNESCO-Tour partnership draws upon the history of the Tour and players in fighting for equality, and marks a new level of commitment by the Tour and players to raise awareness of gender equality issues and advance opportunities for women. The program also represents the first time that UNESCO, with its global mandate for education, science, culture, communication and information which are most critical for laying the grounds for gender equality, and which in turn benefit from gender equality, is partnering with a professional sports league for this objective embraced by all world leaders (2005 World Summit Outcome document).
"Great strides have been made in recent years to improve the role of women in society but many challenges still remain," said Stacey Allaster, president of the Tour. "Through our partnership with UNESCO, we seek to show the world that women deserve the same possibilities as men and to create real leadership opportunities for women and girls. I am delighted that Vera Zvonareva will be taking a leadership role herself in this valuable initiative."
Since the launch in November 2006 of the Tour's partnership with UNESCO, a substantial amount of funds has been raised or pledged; a series of programmes have been launched and funded; a global TV and print advertising campaign has been developed; and Sony Ericsson tournaments have initiated advocacy, awareness and funding raising activities on behalf of the partnership.
