Plan International Canada names Rona Ambrose and Maitreyi Ramakrishnan inaugural Global Girls’ Rights Champions

Skip to Content News Archives Economy Energy Oil & Gas Renewables Electric Vehicles Mining Commodities Agriculture Real Estate Mortgages Mortgage Rates Finance Banking Insurance Fintech Cryptocurrency Work Wealth Smart Money Wealth Management Investor Personal Finance Family Finance Retirement Taxes High Net Worth FP Comment Executive Women Puzzmo Newsletters Financial Times Business Essentials More Innovation Information Technology FP500 Podcasts Small Business Lives Told Tails Told Shopping Financial Post Store Obituaries Place a Notice Advertising Advertising With Us Advertising Solutions Postmedia Ad Manager Sponsorship Requests Classifieds Place a Classifieds ad Working Profile Settings My Subscriptions My Offers Newsletters Customer Service FAQ News Economy Energy Mining Real Estate Finance Work Wealth Investor FP Comment Executive Women Puzzmo Newsletters Financial Times Business Essentials This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.HomeGlobeNewswireThis section is The content in this section is supplied by GlobeNewswire for the purposes of distributing press releases on behalf of its clients. Postmedia has not reviewed the content. by GlobeNewswire Plan International Canada names Rona Ambrose and Maitreyi Ramakrishnan inaugural Global Girls' Rights ChampionsAuthor of the article:The Honourable Rona Ambrose, Chair of Plan International Canada's Board of Directors and inaugural Global Girls' Rights Champion Award recipient. Photo: Plan International Canada. Plan International Canada (CNO)New award recognizes two Canadians inspiring action for girls’ rights worldwideTHIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLYSubscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.Exclusive articles from Barbara Shecter, Joe O'Connor, Gabriel Friedman, and others.Daily content from Financial Times, the world's leading global business publication.Unlimited online access to read articles from Financial Post, National Post and 15 news sites across Canada with one account.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLESSubscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.Exclusive articles from Barbara Shecter, Joe O'Connor, Gabriel Friedman and others.Daily content from Financial Times, the world's leading global business publication.Unlimited online access to read articles from Financial Post, National Post and 15 news sites across Canada with one account.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLESCreate an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountTORONTO, Oct. 06, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Honourable Rona Ambrose, Chair of Plan International Canada’s Board of Directors, and Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, actor and Plan International Canada Global Ambassador, are the first recipients of the organization’s Global Girls’ Rights Champion Award.This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.Launched in advance of International Day of the Girl on October 11, the award celebrates Canadians whose advocacy is opening opportunities and building support for girls’ rights worldwide. Ambrose is the first Champion for those aged 25 and up, while Ramakrishnan is the first Youth Champion, recognizing leaders aged 15 to 24. The two categories recognize that effectively advancing girls’ rights takes determined optimism and collective action across generations and geographies.Get the latest headlines, breaking news and columns.By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.The next issue of Top Stories will soon be in your inbox.We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try againThrough their distinct platforms, Ambrose and Ramakrishnan have helped Plan International Canada bring global issues affecting girls into public conversations and decision-making spaces worldwide. As the inaugural recipients, they represent the many people working in different ways to advance equality for girls.Lindsay Glassco presents Maitreyi Ramakrishnan with the inaugural Global Girls’ Rights Champion Award at Plan International Canada’s International Day of the Girl event in Toronto. Photo: Plan International Canada.“The world is failing girls. Every day, progress is slipping away as girls are pulled out of school, forced into child marriage, and denied the right to shape their own futures,” said Lindsay Glassco, president and CEO of Plan International Canada. “Maitreyi and Rona are using their voices and leadership to push equality for girls forward. When girls can learn, stay healthy, and live free from violence, the benefits extend far beyond their own lives. Families are stronger, communities are more resilient, and we all share in a safer and more prosperous future.”This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.Ramakrishnan, best known for starring in the Netflix series Never Have I Ever and the recently released movie Best of the Best, has served as a Plan International Canada Global Ambassador since 2020. With a background in human rights and equity studies, she brings that perspective to her advocacy, listening to young people and using her platform to draw attention to the barriers girls face worldwide. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she rallied support for Plan International’s response in India, helping provide life-saving care to affected families.In 2023, she sat down with girls in Geita, Tanzania, to learn from them about how period stigma, limited access to menstrual products, and long journeys to school affect their education. She turned those insights into action, sharing the girls’ experiences with her audience. In 2026, Ramakrishnan brought the conversation to her Twitch community through a five-hour livestream with youth leaders from five countries, combining candid conversation and gaming to engage online communities in advancing equality for girls.This advertisement has not loaded yet.This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.Caption: Plan International Canada Global Ambassador Maitreyi Ramakrishnan emcees the premiere documentary screening of “I Have a Name” during the organization’s International Day of the Girl celebration in Toronto on October 1, 2026. Photo: Plan International Canada.The Honourable Rona Ambrose is a former federal cabinet minister, current Deputy Chair of TD Securities, and a long-standing advocate for women’s and girls’ equality. As Minister for the Status of Women in 2011, she partnered with Plan International Canada to lead Canada’s efforts to establish International Day of the Girl at the United Nations. Observed each October 11, the day has grown from a grassroots campaign involving thousands of young people and supporters across Canada into a global movement recognizing girls’ achievements and the barriers they face.As a Member of Parliament, Ambrose worked with Nobel Peace Prize winner Nadia Murad to champion a refugee program that brought more than 1,000 Yazidi survivors of sexual violence and exploitation to safety in Canada. She also worked to advance sexual assault laws and the rights of Indigenous women. Later, she wrote a children’s book celebrating girls worldwide. She has served on Plan International Canada’s Board of Directors since 2017, becoming Chair in 2022, continually using her platform to advocate for girls’ equality.This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.Ambrose has brought girls’ perspectives into discussions with Canadian leaders and decision makers. Her leadership reflects a belief that girls’ rights are not a standalone issue; when girls can learn, lead, and make decisions about their own lives, communities and economies are stronger.Caption: The Honourable Rona Ambrose, Chair of Plan International Canada’s Board of Directors and inaugural Global Girls’ Rights Champion Award recipient. Photo: Plan International Canada.A global moment for girlsThe awards come at a time when girls’ rights are under attack around the world, putting millions of girls’ access to education, health care, and safety at risk.Last year, Plan International Canada reached 7.9 million children worldwide, including 4.1 million girls, helping expand access to health care and education, protect children from violence, and support families facing humanitarian crises.Learn more: Learn what becomes possible when girls’ voices are heard, their rights are upheld, and their potential is recognized.Support: Help more girls learn, lead, and shape their own future.This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.About Plan International CanadaPlan International Canada is a member of a global organization dedicated to advancing children’s rights and equality for girls. Plan International has been building powerful partnerships with and for children for almost 90 years and is now active in more than 80 countries.We stand with children, especially girls, wherever they are oppressed, exploited, left behind, or not equally valued. We are determined optimists, and we will continue to persevere until we are all equal.Visit plancanada.ca for more information.Media contactPlan International CanadaPR & CommunicationsPRteam@plancanada.caPhotos accompanying this announcement are available atThis advertisement has not loaded yet.Notice for the Postmedia NetworkThis website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.