On International Women’s Day, we released our fifth annual letter to world leaders. This year, over 40 activists from across the African continent contributed to the letter, urging world leaders to make genuine progress in the fight for gender equality.
Their bold statement to world leaders has gained global support since its launch! Over 100 influential figures signed the open letter and are taking a stand for women everywhere.
Thank you to everyone who is using their platform to stand up in the global fight against gender inequality, because none of us are equal until all of us are equal.
Now, it’s your turn to stand alongside the activists who created this letter and the people who are standing in solidarity with them. Add your name to the fight for gender equality.
Dear World Leaders,
We are the women at the frontlines of the fight against gender inequality and global poverty.
Every day we see the determination and dignity of girls and women facing down the toughest challenges. We see real advances and the power of people to achieve change. We won’t surrender this fight, but we need you to play your part.
You promised to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls by 2030, but at the current rate of progress, this will take 108 years. This is unacceptable. We need genuine progress, not grand promises.
We want implementation and accountability at every level – from this year’s G7 Summit to the Global Fund Replenishment; from our African Union leaders to our community leaders. We will be looking for your actions not your words; for funding to follow promises; and policy to turn into practice. It’s both the right and the smart thing to do for everyone.
To accelerate progress men must demand change with us so that we rise united not divided. And women must have a seat at the decision-making table – because you can’t change what you don’t see.
We’re not looking for your sympathy, we’re demanding your action. Because none of us are equal until all of us are equal.
Yours,
Adwoa Aboah, Model, Activist and founder of GURLS TALK
Alan Cumming, Actor
Alec Litowitz CEO, Magnetar Capital; Director of Litowitz Family Foundation
Ali Hewson, Founder, Edun and Nude
Amy Poehler, Actor/Producer
Andrew Zimmern, Chef
Angelique Kidjo, Musician
Angelo Moratti, Founder and President, Angel Capital Management
Armie Hammer, Actor
Asa, Musician
Ava DuVernay, Film director
Avril Haines, Former White House Deputy National Security Advisor
Bisola, Media Personality
Black Queen, Musician
Bono, Lead singer of U2 and co-founder of ONE and (RED)
Bumi Thomas, Musician
Cali, Musician
Calum Worthy, Actor
Carol Browner, Former Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency
Carolin Kebekus, Comedian
Carrie Underwood, Musician
Chelsea Handler, Comedian
Cindy Beedie, Director, Cause We Care Foundation
Connie Britton, Actor and activist
Danai Gurira, Actor and award-winning playwright
David Burtka, Actor/Chef
David Giampaolo, Founder and CEO, Pi Capital
David Oyelowo, Actor
Déborah François, Actor
Diane Whitty, Global Head Philanthropy Centre Private Bank, J.P. Morgan Private Bank
Dr. Shungu Gwarinda, Graça Machel Trust
Dr. Vera Songwe, Cameroonian economist, World Bank
Ellie Taylor, Comedian
Emily Bove, Jury member for the International Prize Simone Veil
Emma Thompson, Actor and activist
Fally Ipupa, Musician
Felicity Huffman, Actor
Gabriela Decidi, Musician
Geraldine Viswanathan, Actor
Hayley Atwell, Actor
Helene Gayle, CEO of The Chicago Community Trust
Helene Gayle, CEO, The Chicago Community Trust
Jan Josef Liefers, Actor
Jennifer Litowitz, Litowitz Family Foundation, Philanthropist
Jennifer Nettles, Musician
Jessica Oyelowo, Actor
Joe Cerrell, Managing Director, Global Policy & Advocacy, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
John Doerr, Partner, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers
John Green, Author
Julia Roberts, Actor
Julianne Moore, Actor
Kasalla, Musicians
Kate Walsh, Actor
Katja Riemann, Actor
Keira Knightley, Actor
Kelly Ayotte, Former U.S. Senator for New Hampshire and New Hampshire Attorney General
Kristin Cavallari, Founder, Uncommon James
Lena Dunham, Actor and writer
Lili Reinhart, Actor
Lily Aldridge, Model
Linda Thomas-Greenfield, American Diplomat, Albright Stonebridge Group, Former Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs
Lynne Benioff, Co-founder Star Community Home
Madame Geingos, First Lady of Namibia
Madeleine Albright, Former U.S. Secretary of State, Author, Chair of Albright Stonebridge Group, and Michael and Virginia Mortara Endowed Distinguished Professor in the Practice of Diplomacy at Georgetown
Madison Ryann Ward, Musician
Marc Benioff, CEO, Salesforce
Mhairi Black, Scottish National Party MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire
Michael Mittermeier, Comedian
Michael Sheen, Actor
Michele Sullivan President, Caterpillar Foundation
Michelle Beadle, ESPN Host
Minh-Khai Phan-Thi, Actor
Mo Ibrahim, Founder and Chair of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation, Founder of Celtel, and Founding Chairman of Satya Capital Limited
Mpho Machambers, Influencer
Naomi Ackie, Actor
Neil Patrick Harris, Actor
Olafur Eliasson, Artist
Olivia Munn, Actor
Omotola, Actor, Philanthropist
Oprah, Executive/ Producer
Paul Polman, CEO, Unilever
Peter Eigen, Founder of Transparency International
Phoebe Robinson, Author, Comedian
Rachel Parris, Comedian
Robin Wright, Actor
Ryan Beedie, President, Beedie Development Group
Samantha Barry, Glamour Editor-in-Chief
Sara Pascoe, Comedian
Sarah Brown, President, Theirworld; Chair, Global Business Coalition for Education
Selmor Mtukudzi, Singer
Sheryl Sandberg, COO, Facebook
Susan A. Buffett, Chairwoman, The Sherwood Foundation and the Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation
Susan Kelechi Watson, Actor
Susan Rice, Former United States National Security Advisor
Tanya Burr, Fashion and beauty vlogger
Theo Clarke, CEO, Coalition for Global Prosperity
Theresia Gouw, Co-founder, Aspect Ventures
Tina Tchen, Former White House Director of Public Liaison
Tom Brady, New England Patriots quarterback
Tom Freston, Chairman of the Board, ONE, and Principal, Firefly3
Toolz, On Air Personality
Trevor Noah, Comedian
Tryo, Musicians
Valerie Jarrett, Former Senior Advisor to the President of the United States & Chair of the White House Council on Women and Girls
Waje, Musician
Wendy Sherman, Albright Stonebridge Group
Zachary Quinto, Actor
