The SDG Champion Prize Ceremony 2025, jointly organized by Human Harmony Nepal, Project 100, and the World Conference Council with the support of the Government of Nepal, recognized Ranjeeta Priyadarshini of India for her outstanding contributions to SDG Goal 3: Good Health & Well-being and SDG Goal 5: Gender Equality.
Ms. Priyadarshini, a passionate social activist from Odisha, is the founder of the global “Paid Period Leave” movement, a groundbreaking initiative advocating for workplace dignity and women’s rights. Inspired by personal experience, she has become a leading voice for menstrual equity and policy reform, ensuring that women’s health needs are recognized and respected in professional environments.
A law student with PhD research background, she has addressed the United Nations multiple times, including the 79th UN General Assembly in 2024, where she championed the cause of paid menstrual leave worldwide. Her advocacy influenced the Odisha government to announce a one-day paid leave policy in 2024, and inspired Karnataka’s landmark decision in 2025 to grant 12 days of paid menstrual leave annually—a historic step toward gender-sensitive workplace policies.
She also organized the first International Conference on Paid Period Leave in New Delhi, engaging leaders from over 40 countries, and building a global coalition for menstrual rights and workplace equality.
By honoring Ranjeeta Priyadarshini, the SDG Champion Prize Ceremony 2025 celebrated her pioneering role in advancing health, dignity, and gender equality, underscoring the importance of inclusive policies in achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.