Beyoncé, Madonna + Coldplay Wrote A Letter For International Women’s Day
“For every girl. Every woman. Everywhere.”
As expected, a boatload of celebrities made their presence felt on International Women's Day, including Beyoncé, Madonna, Coldplay, and John Legend. While they never made it to any actual protests, they did sign an open letter in defense of women's rights.
"Recent legislation and rhetoric have put decades of progress for girls and women at risk," the letter, which was written on behalf of Global Citizen and Chime for Change, read.
"All over the world, women are on the frontlines fighting for our future. Yet millions of girls and women are still denied basic equal rights. And recent policies and appointments in the United States jeopardize its position as a global leader and positive role model on human rights. We stand together to say, in a voice louder than ever, that fighting for gender equality is the emergency and the opportunity of our time," the letter added.
Chime for Change was founded by Beyoncé in 2013 and has attracted a cabal of boldface names since. Julia Roberts, Freida Pinto, Jada Pinkett-Smith, Dakota Johnson, and Salma Hayek all signed the letter, which served to empower women around the word. Read it in full, below.
We have reached a critical moment in history. Recent legislation and rhetoric have put decades of progress for girls and women at risk.
In 2013, we joined with CHIME FOR CHANGE to convene, unite and strengthen the voices speaking out for girls and women around the world. Today, we find ourselves under threat of seeing a generation’s worth of hard-won gains reversed.
All over the world, women are on the frontlines fighting for our future. Yet millions of girls and women are still denied basic equal rights. And recent policies and appointments in the United States jeopardize its position as a global leader and positive role model on human rights.
We stand together to say, in a voice louder than ever, that fighting for gender equality is the emergency and the opportunity of our time.
With every generation, our story has spread wider, become more familiar. The voices telling it braver, more powerful. But our story is far from over.
This is about hearing a call - to join us wherever you are. About raising an alarm - drawing attention where there is work to be done. And about celebrating - those who are already showing us, against impossible odds, what is possible.
We believe that connection empowers us. That every voice matters. That each one of us is needed to achieve change. We believe we can do extraordinary things when we come together.
We fight for education. For health. For justice. For every girl. Every woman. Everywhere. We fight for our future. Because none of us can move forward if half of us are held back.
Join us, and take action for gender equality at GlobalCitizen.org/IWD2017
