In celebration of International Women’s Day, I had the chance to attend a very special event—the launch of HeForShe Arts Week in New York City. Earlier today, UN Women hosted an intimate conversation with individuals who are truly making an impact in the world. Such figures included Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka (the UN Women Executive Director), Chirlane McCray (the First Lady of NYC), Forest Whitaker (artist, social activist, and UNESCO Special Envoy for Peace), and Emma Watson (who needs no introduction). Having attended the hour-long launch event, I can now reveal some exclusive deets, straight from Ms. Watson herself!
For those unfamiliar with the specifics regarding International Women’s Day, the event began in NYC in 1908. Throughout the years, there have been significant improvements, but there is still much more that needs to be done before gender equality is achieved. This is where the UN and HeForShe come into the picture. UN Women is a sector of the UN that strives to achieve gender equality through a proactive approach. HeForShe is an initiative that launched in 2015, with the hope that we can reach global gender equity by 2030. With the launch of HeForShe Arts Week, the movement hopes to diminish the gap between men and women.
“All of us have a role to play in achieving gender equity,” McCray said at the event. “As honorary chair of the commission of gender equality, I am a fierce believer that the government must play a central role in creating a city where every girl and woman feels safe and is treated fairly,” she added. Through art, HeForShe hopes to convey this message of gender equality. From March 8 to 15, HeForShe Arts Week will showcase the work of dancers, actors, musicians, and visual artists. “Through arts, we can challenge norms peacefully, yet productively,” Mlambo-Ngcuka said. Considering the impact that art can elicit, the UN is confident that Arts Week will be a massive success. “They reflect and shape our sense of identity, our attitudes, and our cultural views. I hope this partnership with the arts community will foster new questions and new conversations on women’s rights,” Mlambo-Ngcuka added.
As Emma Watson shared her opening remarks, it was clear that she feels passionately about the subject of gender inequality. “With HeForShe, we’re trying to build a global community with people from all walks of life and all genders to create new, normal societies of equality,” the actress and self-proclaimed feminist said during her speech. “Social progress can inspire art, and the arts can inspire social progress. HeForShe is the next page in that story, and I’m very proud to be launching it today,” she added.
Although there are countless steps being taken to inform the public of this inequality, Emma emphasizes that this is not sufficient. “It’s also about making them feel it in their bones. Emotionally, this is what changes us; it makes us act. You can’t un-watch great films. You can’t unread incredible books. You can’t unsee groundbreaking art. They change you forever.”
Forest Whitaker’s comments also echoed the idea of gender equality. While the initiative was started by women, it doesn’t mean that men can’t take part in the movement. Rather, they should feel encouraged to work alongside women, treating them as equals and working towards societal changes together. In 2012, Forest started his own foundation, focusing on peace and development within communities. Today, his foundation has worked with 5 countries, training citizens in “gender sensitivity” and getting more women involved in village affairs.
You might feel as though achieving gender equality is a daunting task, but Emma reassures us all that small steps can be taken. The first step in creating change is recognizing the issue, and realizing that work needs to be done. By “developing goals and outlining what we can achieve by 2030,” HeForShe hopes to make an even larger global impact.
Emma’s advice for people who want to participate in the change? “Be an active bystander,” she said. By speaking up (and encouraging others to do the same) when you witness any form of injustice, you can make a difference. At the end of the day, the solution to gender inequality lies within all of us. “It’s how we live our daily lives,” Emma said.