𝗹𝗶𝗹𝘆. 𝗇𝖼𝗍 𝖺𝖽𝖽𝖾𝖽 𝗆𝖾𝗆𝖻𝖾𝗋

LILY Makes History At The 77th UN General Assembly

LILY Makes History At The 77th UN General Assembly
September 25th, 2023. Written by Jung Hye-ri.

In 2022, Lily was named a U.N. Women by the United Nations, a program that actively involves prominent personalities in the fields of arts and sports to promote U.N. programs. Her role is to serve as an advocate for U.N. Women's gender equality campaign known as HeForShe which was at first, run by actor and model, Emma Watsons. 

On September 25th, Lily attended the 77th United Nations General Assembly which was also attended by the President of South Korea and the First Lady along with the K-Pop boy group, BTS. 

HeForShe is a program dedicated to improving the status of women and inviting men and boys around the world to stand in solidarity with women and girls as they make gender equality a reality. 

The speech at the United Nations was part of her official role as U.N. Women Goodwill Ambassador. She spoke wholly about gender equality. 

In her speech, she expressed; 

"Apparently I am among the ranks of women whose expressions are seen as too strong, too aggressive, isolating, and, unattractive. Why is the word such uncomfortable? I am from South Korea and think it is right that as a woman I am paid the same as my male counterparts. I think it is right that I should be able to make decisions about my own body. I think it is right that women be involved on my behalf in the policies and decision-making of my country. I think it is right that socially I am afforded the same respect as men. But sadly I can say that there is no one country in the world where all women can expect to receive these rights."

Lily continued, 

"No country in the world can yet say they have achieved gender equality. These rights I consider to be human rights but I am one of the lucky ones. My life is a sheer privilege because my parents didn't love me less because I was born a daughter. My school did not limit me because I was a girl. My mentors didn't assume I would go less far because I might give birth to a child one day. These influencers were the gender equality ambassadors that made me who I am today. They may not know it, but they are the inadvertent feminists who are changing the world today. And we need more of those."

Most of the public reception for Lily's speech has been positive: The speech got a thunderous standing ovation at U.N. headquarters. 

Congratulations, Lily!