Former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is lending her support to global efforts to tackle online extremism. She has been appointed as Special Envoy for the Christchurch Call, an initiative she co-founded in 2019, to bring together countries and tech companies to curb the issues of extremism worldwide. This response came following the Christchurch mass shooting in March 2019 that took the lives of 51 people and injured 40 people.
Ardern is also taking part in the Earthshot Prize, an environmental prize established by Prince William. This Prize recognizes individuals and entities that commit to creating solutions to help conserve global environment.
Jacinda Ardern is seen a leader and a role model in New Zealand and globally. She was the youngest female leader in the world when she took power in 2017 at the age of 37. She was admired for her advocacy for women’s rights and her campaign against child poverty and economic inequality. Her leadership was heralded during the COVID-19 pandemic as well.
Though she enjoyed a wave of popularity, her exit from politics came as she felt she had nothing more to give and decided not to contest for re-election in the country’s Parliament. In January 2021, the Prime Minister announced she was stepping down from office without any hesitation. Wednesday is marked as the day she will deliver her last speech in the Parliament.
The Christchurch Call is an important foreign policy priority, and the NZ government is happy to have Jacinda Ardern onboard to work on the goal of eliminating violent extremist content online.
Prince William’s Earthshot Prize, an initiative that works to conserve and improve the global environment, is very proud to have Jacinda Ardern involved in their panel of Board members.
Jacinda Ardern has done a great job in uniting people around the globe, and her inspiring work will long live on. We wish her all the best in her new venture.
