Emma Watson to Fight for the Cause of Justice and Equality

Harry Potter star Emma Watson has joined nearly 200 British female actress, activists and entertainers in spearheading a new campaign and called for setting up of the Justice and Equality Fund to fight against inappropriate behavior in the film industry in the wake of the scandal involving Hollywood Producer Harvey Weinstein.

Emma Watson, 27, has donated one million pounds to the fund along with a signature to the open letter that calls for an end to sexual harassment at workplace. Said to be worth £39m according to last year's Sunday Times Rich, Watson has also calls for the campaign to take the shape of a movement like Time's Up campaign to be broadened into a global movement to fight sexual harassment in the workplace, this movement is bigger than just a change in our industry alone.

In the letter Watson and others have jointly added that, we believe we need to use our power as communicators and connectors to shift the way society sees and treats us. This movement is intersectional, with conversations across race, class, community, ability and work environment, to talk about the imbalance of power.

The open letter appeared as the 71st Annual British Academy Film Awards is on, as the group saw it as an opportunity to celebrate this tremendous moment of solidarity and unity across borders by coming together and making this movement international.

This year's Bafta therefore may be remembered less for its films and more for the activism and gesture made by the female artists wearing black on the red carpet.

The 834-word letter, addressed to “Dear Sisters” and conveying the message, "Let's make 2018 the year that time was up on sexual harassment and abuse."

Inspired by the Time's Up and MeToo movements in America, the movement in UK also invites supporters, men and women, to join in donating and working to the new UK Justice and Equality Fund and to spread the word to others and be a catalyst for change.

Since the inception of the Time’s Up campaign earlier this year, it has so far raised $20 million already and with the money they will be helping those who suffered sexual harassment in the workplace to cover their legal costs.

The letter also argues that, there is no question that Time's Up should be and will be a global movement. Some of the actresses will be accompanied not only by their partners, but also by the activists and feminist from across the globe in solidarity with the feminist movement.

The Justice and Equality fund will support organizations and projects across three areas of focus. First area of focus will be to give advice, support, and signposting which will work in order to make sure people know their rights and can access good quality support for local and national issues. 

Another focus will be on legal and policy work, which will support instrumental and changing legal cases that can help improve laws and policies and create a safer future for everyone associated with the film industry and elsewhere and finally the third focus will be to advocacy and prevention causes to create campaigns and alliances that protect women’s rights and promote equality and ensure safe environments.

Emma Watson's large financial commitment was joined by donations from other notable entertainers like Emma Thompson and Keira Knightley. Emma Watson is also a Goodwill Ambassadors to United Nations and time to time who has been speaking on the issue of gender equality over the years. During one of her powerful speech in the year 2014, she discussed the importance of bringing men and women together in support of these issues, “We want to motivate many boys and men who can advocate for the cause of gender equality. And we don’t just want to talk about it, but make sure it is tangible.”

The speech continued, “So, what is our industry’s role in promoting a vision of an equal society? We believe it is huge. In order to change the outlook of the society towards us we have to use the power of communication. We also need to examine the kind of womanhood our industry promotes and sells to the world.” So one can expect some better things ahead with the participation of generous Emma Watson.