'I'm a woman and a mother and I want to reach out to women': Victoria Beckham speaks at the UN as she is named goodwill ambassador
- Victoria Beckham made her debut on the political world stage today
- Former Spice Girl will work with UN as ambassador for UNAIDS campaign
- She was inspired after a trip to Cape Town as part of the Born Free initiative
- Said she had worked with Aids charities through 'dear friend' Sir Elton John
- Elton John Aids Foundation tweeted congratulations to singer after speech
- The former Spice Girl missed the opening of her London store to be there
- The fashion designer said: 'It's taken me to get to 40 to realise I have a responsibility as a woman and as a mother'
Victoria Beckham today told how she wanted to make a difference to the women of the world as she was made a UN goodwill ambassador for an AIDS charity.
The former Spice Girl told a press conference at the United Nations building in New York that she was ‘honoured’ to be made an ambassador for their UNAIDS campaign.
Beckham – who missed the opening of her London store to be there – said she felt her public profile meant she had a duty to do more about woman’s health.
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Victoria Beckham today told how she wanted to make a difference to the women of the world
Beckham – who missed the opening of her London store to be there – said she felt her public profile meant she had a duty to do more about woman’s health
She said: 'I would do anything for my children and I think every woman has the right to health and every woman has the right to give their children a healthy future'
She said: 'I recently visited South Africa and was so touched by the women I met and felt inspired. I came home and I knew I had to do something'
And she was inspired following a recent trip to South Africa, where she met with children stricken by the deadly disease.
The fashion designer visited Cape Town in February as part of the Born Free initiative, which tackles the issue of HIV being transmitted from mothers to their children
In August, Beckham hosted an online sale of 600 items from her wardrobe to raise money and awareness for mothers living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa.
At the press conference in New York, she said: ‘I am mother and I am a woman.
'I will do whatever I can to raise awareness. I feel very passionate about this. I recently visited South Africa and was so touched by the women I met and felt inspired. I came home and I knew I had to do something.
'It's taken me to get to 40 to realise I have a responsibility as a woman and as a mother.
'For some reason people will listen to me. This is the beginning of an incredible journey for me.
The fashion designer said she was 'honoured' to be made an ambassador for their UNAIDS campaign
The former Spice Girl said: 'For some reason people will listen to me. So I can speak on behalf of these women'
Mrs Beckham says she wants to go 'further afield' next year in her role as an ambassador
Beckham said: 'I would do anything for my children and I think every woman has the right to health and every woman has the right to give their children a healthy future'
The fashion designer said she had been inspired by a visit to Cape Town as part of the Born Free initiative
Mrs Beckham said her trip to South Africa was 'life changing' during the 69th General Assembly of the UN
The fashion designer was seen walking in the rain to the press conference at the UN building in New York
The UN is working towards the goal of ending the HIV epidemic by 2030
The fashion designer said: '‘Babies should not be born with HIV and we can stop that we are close to stopping that we cannot give up we have to keep going'
Beckham said she would do 'whatever I can' to raise awareness about HIV in her new position as ambassador
She said: ‘I feel so honoured to be here. Thank you for mentoring me through this – I have so much to learn, this is just the beginning for me'
When the annoucement was made, the Elton John AIDS Foundation tweeted its congratulations to Mrs Beckham, a patron of the charity
'I have people mentoring me. I am going back to South Africa in a few weeks and then further afield next year.
'I would do anything for my children and I think every woman has the right to health and every woman has the right to give their children a healthy future.
‘[Sir] Elton [John] is a very dear friend of mine and David’s and we’ve been patrons of the Elton John Aids Foundation for 20 years so I have been working a lot with lots of Aids charities.
'It’s why I realise I have to step forward and do whatever I can do. I want to get to know the women and understand them. It was life changing when I want to South Africa. '
After the news was announced, the Elton John Aid Foundation tweeted: 'Congratulations to our patron @victoriabeckham on becoming a @UNAIDS International Goodwill Ambassador #UNGA'.
Beckham made the address on the day her first clothing store opened in London.
The three-storey shop in trendy Dover Street, Mayfair, is the first in a series she plans to open after launching her designer range online last year.
She went on to say: ‘For some reason people will listen to me. So I can speak on behalf of these women.
‘The experience was life changing and that’s why I want to go back.
‘Babies should not be born with HIV and we can stop that we are close to stopping that we cannot give up we have to keep going.
‘I feel so honoured to be here. Thank you for mentoring me through this – I have so much to learn, this is just the beginning for me.
‘I’m a mother, a woman and I want to reach out and help as many women and mothers as I can.’
Michel Sidibé, executive director of UNAIDS, said: 'I dream of a generation free from HIV and I know that Victoria’s support will help us to achieve this shared goal.
'Her creativity, innovation and outreach will amplify our efforts and bring us one important step closer towards ending the AIDS epidemic.'
UNAIDS aims to reach 15 million people living with HIV with antiretroviral treatment and reduce sexual transmission of HIV by 50 per cent by 2015.
Victoria dodged the rain as she left her New York hotel earlier in the day, in her chic blue look
The star kept her dark aviators firmly on after styling her tresses into a neat up 'do, while clutching a smart black envelope bag
The mother-of-four teamed her white blouse with a navy two piece suit, complete with long tuxedo jacket
According to the campaign, less than half of all children who were exposed to HIV were tested for the virus within the optimum three-month period in 2013 and only 24 per cent had access to life-saving treatment.
Without treatment, half of all children born with HIV will die by the age of two and the majority will die by the age of five, it says.
UNAIDS is made of up 11 UN organisations and works with global and national partners.
Mrs Beckham made the address in New York on the day her first clothing store opened in London (pictured)
Fashion fans, music fans and scores of reporters and cameras were at the store to see the grand opening - but Mrs Beckham was nowhere in sight
The three-storey shop in trendy Dover Street, Mayfair, is the first in a series she plans to open after launching her designer range online last year
Her designer store, which sells women's clothes and accessories, is expected to attract fans from all over the globe
In 2011, Victoria Beckham won Designer Brand of the Year at the British Fashion Awards
With Victoria absent in New York, husband David paid a visit to the Mayfair store on its first day since opening
Victoria said that Sir Elton John was a dear friend of both her and her husband
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