Today Emma Watson spoke in front world leaders gathered in Davos, Switzerland during the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting about the progress of United Nations 'He For She' Initiative.

Four months ago, Watson delivered a speech before the UN inviting men to take part in helping women gain equality politically, socially and economically. Her speech has helped to ignite a movement. If you have not taken the time, as I had not, to watch the original speech see it here.

You may find yourself identifying with what she has to say, as I did. I was raised in a family that encouraged me to set goals and work towards them. I was never told I could not do something because I was a girl.

I was fortunate to be raised in an environment surrounded by strong women. Women who did not always have the same advantages that I did. In school I was further enabled to dream of any occupation and work toward a career of my choosing.

I have gone on to higher education, graduated and work in a field that I truly love. I enjoy coming to work each day, and I don't take that for granted. Shouldn't all women have that opportunity? The He For She campaign invites men to help women have the same opportunities that me do.

Learn more about how governments, corporations and universities are encouraged to support the initiative with IMPACT 10x10x10, and watch Emma Watson's speech delivered to world leaders today.

While our leaders can make a large impact financially, we can each do so as well.

"Girls: Who have been your mentors?"

"Parents: Did you make sure you treated your children equally? If so, how have you done it?"

"Husbands: Have you been supporting your female partner privately so that she can fulfill her dreams, too?"

"Young men: Have you spoke up in a conversation when a woman was casually degraded or dismissed? How did this affect you? How did this affect the women you stood up for?"

"Businessmen: Have you mentored, supported or engaged women in leadership positions?"

Consider your own actions, and recall this thought from Watson's speech in September.

"In my nervousness for this speech and my moments of doubt, I've told myself firmly, 'If not me, who? If not now, when?' If you have similar doubts when opportunities are presented to you, I hope that those words will be helpful because the reality is, if we do nothing, it will take 75 years or for me, to be nearly 100, before women can expect to be paid the same as men for the same work—15.5 million girls will be married in the next 16 years as children and at current rates, it won't be until 2086 before all rural African girls can have a secondary education."

"If you believe in equality, you might be one of those inadvertent feminists that I spoke of earlier and for this, I applaud you. We are struggling for a uniting word but the good news is that we have a uniting movement. It is called HeForShe. I am inviting you to step forward to be seen and to ask yourself, 'If not me, who? If not now, when?' Thank you very, very much."

 

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