Last September, Emma Watson launched the United Nations' #HeforShe initiative with one of 2014's most powerful speeches on gender equality. The campaign's success, evident in the 1.2 billion social media conversations it sparked, has stunned her, she told world leaders today in Davos, Switzerland. "I couldn't have dreamed it, but it's happened." Watson then introduced the campaign's next phase, Impact 10x10x10, and delivered a second rousing speech on equal rights.
Impact 10x10x10 is about "engaging governments, businesses, and universities, and having them make concrete commitments to gender equality," she said.
Watson explained that people have struggled with figuring out what the next step is after signing the petition, but that the answer is personal. "Men and women want to help, but they aren't sure how best to do it. Men say they've signed the petition. What now? The truth is the 'what now' is down to you. What your #HeForShe commitment will be is personal. And there's no best way. Everything is valid. "
Watson then noted the campaign's effects on her:
"I've had my breath taken away when a fan told me that since watching my speech she has stopped herself from being beaten up by her father. I've been stunned by the amount of men in my life that have contacted me since my speech to tell me to keep going. And that they want to make sure their daughters will still be alive to see a world where women have parity economically and politically. While I would love to claim that this campaign and the results of it are a result of my incredible speech writing skills, I know it is not."
She also highlighted that it's not just important for women that females are represented in society, it's important for all of us: "It is my belief that there is a greater understanding than ever that women need to be equal participants in our homes, in our society, in our governments, and in our workplaces, and they know that the world is being held back in every way because they are not," she said. "Women share this planet 50-50, and they are underrepresented, their potential astonishingly untapped."
The new initiative forwards this dialogue—and Watson emphasizes it is a dialogue. "I'm here to ask you what is the impact you can have?" she asked leaders at the closing of her speech. "How? What? Where? When? And with whom? We want to help. We want to know, and we want to hear from you."
Watch the full speech below.
You should also check out:
The Famous Men Supporting the #HeForShe Gender Equality Campaign
Emma Watson Thanks Huge Number of People Who've Tweeted About #HeForShe
Emma Watson Insists Feminism Is Not 'Man Hating' in Inspiring Speech
From: ELLE US
