Anne Hathaway - the new UN women's goodwill ambassador

The actor joins Nicole Kidman and Emma Watson as the latest celebrity entrusted with advocating on behalf of women's rights with the United Nations

Anne Hathaway

Anne Hathaway is the latest Hollywood figure to be appointed by the United Nations as a global goodwill ambassador to promote gender equality and the empowerment of women. The Oscar-winning actor joins Nicole Kidman, Emma Watson and Princess Bajrakitiyabha Mahidol of Thailand as fellow women's goodwill ambassadors.

Hathaway has been brought on board to shed a spotlight on what UN Women's executive director, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, described in a statement as the "motherhood penalty".

"It is a particularly insidious demonstration of gender inequality in the workplace," Mlambo-Ngucka said on Wednesday.

"The appointment of Anne is timely because this year UN Women is driving hard to foster more positive mindsets and practical arrangements around workplaces that build and support equality for women."

Hathaway, who said in a statement that she feels "honored and inspired by this opportunity to aid in advancing gender equality", is no stranger to advocating on behalf of women's rights: the actor previously served as an advocate for the Nike Foundation, formed to support programs to empower adolescent girls in the developing world, and in 2011 traveled to Kenya to raise awareness on sexual violence in the area. "Girls who are raped are afraid to tell anyone for fear of shame, being blamed or being branded as 'unmarriageable' by their families and communities," Hathaway wrote in a guest column, published in the Daily Beast, and co-authored by Maria Eitel. "As one - anonymous - woman in Dadaab put it: 'If you tell, no one will help. It is better to be safe and tell no one.'

"Hathaway also lent her voice to the 2013 CNN documentary Girl Rising, about the power of female education.

"Significant progress has already been made, but it is time that we collectively intensify our efforts and ensure that true equality is finally realised," Hathaway said about her appointment.