CNMI appoints Indian philanthropist Kulsum Shadab Wahab as its Women’s Empowerment Ambassador – FashionNetwork USA

Report on the Appointment of a Women Empowerment Ambassador by CNMI

Introduction

On November 25, 2025, coinciding with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, the Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana (CNMI) announced the appointment of Kulsum Shadab Wahab as its Women Empowerment Ambassador. This strategic appointment underscores CNMI’s commitment to social responsibility and the advancement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Profile of the Ambassador: Kulsum Shadab Wahab

• An Indian philanthropist and social entrepreneur.
• Founder of the fashion brand Ara Lumiere.
• Executive Director of the Hothur Foundation, an organization dedicated to supporting survivors of gender-based violence, specifically acid attacks.

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The initiative and the work of Ambassador Wahab directly contribute to several key SDGs:

1. SDG 5: Gender Equality
   • The core mission is to empower women who have survived gender-based violence, a key target under SDG 5.
   • The Hothur Foundation works to ensure freedom, dignity, and equal rights for women survivors.
   • The ambassadorship aims to create a world where every woman is free and capable of shaping her own destiny.
2. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
   • The Ara Lumiere brand provides sustainable employment and economic independence for over 100 women survivors of acid attacks.
   • The initiative offers vocational training, promoting inclusive economic growth and productive employment for a vulnerable group.
3. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
   • The project focuses on the social and economic inclusion of a marginalized group, directly addressing inequality.
   • In 2022, the Ara Lumiere project received the CNMI Sustainable Fashion Award for Social Impact, recognizing its value in reducing social disparities.
4. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
   • This appointment represents a significant partnership between a major fashion industry institution (CNMI) and a social impact leader.
   • It demonstrates how cross-sector collaboration can leverage platforms like fashion to achieve sustainable development objectives.

Official Statements

Carlo Capasa, President of CNMI

Mr. Capasa stated that the appointment reinforces CNMI’s determined pursuit of social responsibility. He highlighted Ms. Wahab’s work as a powerful example of how the fashion industry can generate a tangible, positive impact, aligning industry goals with global social targets.

Kulsum Shadab Wahab, Women Empowerment Ambassador

Ms. Wahab affirmed her commitment to carrying the stories of women survivors forward with determination and responsibility. She outlined her objective to utilize fashion and social engagement as platforms to drive global change and promote a world where all women are empowered, strong, and free.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 5: Gender Equality
   • The article is centered on women’s empowerment, directly aligning with SDG 5. The appointment of a “Women Empowerment Ambassador” on the “International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women” explicitly addresses the goal of achieving gender equality. The work of Kulsum Shadab Wahab focuses on supporting “women who have survived gender-based violence” and ensuring their “freedom, dignity, and equal rights.”
2. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
   • The article highlights the Ara Lumiere label, an initiative that provides “training opportunities and economic independence” to women survivors of acid attacks. By stating that the label “employs more than 100 women,” it directly connects to the goal of promoting sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all.
3. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
   • The work of the Hothur Foundation and Ara Lumiere focuses on a specific, vulnerable group: “women who have survived acid attacks.” By providing them with employment and support, the initiative works to reduce inequalities and promote the social and economic inclusion of a marginalized community, which is the core of SDG 10.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres.
   • The article’s timing (International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women) and its focus on supporting “women who have survived violence” and “acid attacks” directly relate to efforts to address and eliminate gender-based violence.
2. Target 8.5: By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men… and equal pay for work of equal value.
   • The article provides a concrete example of working towards this target through the Ara Lumiere label, which “employs more than 100 women who have survived acid attacks, offering them training opportunities and economic independence.”
3. Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of… sex, disability… or other status.
   • The initiative described in the article directly empowers and promotes the social and economic inclusion of women who have survived violence, a group that often faces significant social and economic exclusion. The project’s recognition with the “Social Impact Award” underscores its success in this area.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Indicator for Target 8.5: Proportion of youth (aged 15-24 years) not in education, employment or training. (Adapted for the specific group)
   • The article provides a direct, quantifiable indicator of progress: the “more than 100 women who have survived acid attacks” who are now employed by the Ara Lumiere label. This number serves as a direct measure of providing employment and economic independence to a specific vulnerable group.
2. Indicator for Target 5.2: Proportion of ever-partnered women and girls aged 15 years and older subjected to physical, sexual or psychological violence by a current or former intimate partner in the previous 12 months, by form of violence and by age. (Implied action-based indicator)
   • While the article does not provide data on the prevalence of violence, it implies an action-based indicator: the number and scale of programs providing support and economic opportunities to survivors of gender-based violence. The existence of the Hothur Foundation and the Ara Lumiere brand, along with the “Social Impact Award” they received, serve as qualitative indicators of effective action being taken to support survivors.
3. Indicator for Target 10.2: Proportion of people living below 50 per cent of median income, by age, sex and persons with disabilities. (Implied progress indicator)
   • The article implies progress toward this indicator by mentioning that the initiative offers “economic independence” to over 100 women. This suggests a direct effort to move a vulnerable population out of poverty and economic exclusion, thus reducing inequality. The number of women achieving economic independence is the key implied metric.

4. SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Table

Source: us.fashionnetwork.com