Press release: Queen Rania Al-Abdullah, of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, UN Women Goodwill Ambassador Anne Hathaway and actor Winston Duke make global call to action for gender equality at the HeForShe IMPACT Summit

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UN Women Goodwill Ambassador Anne Hathaway moderates a panel discussion between HeForShe IMPACT Champions. Photo: UN Women/Celeste Sloman
UN Women Goodwill Ambassador Anne Hathaway moderates a panel discussion between HeForShe IMPACT Champions. Photo: UN Women/Celeste Sloman 

(New York, 26 September)—On the sidelines of the 73rd Session of the UN General Assembly, Her Majesty Queen Rania Al-Abdullah, of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, award-winning actor and UN Women Goodwill Ambassador Anne Hathaway, and actor and activist Winston Duke joined world leaders, global CEOs, university presidents and activists to unveil groundbreaking solutions to achieve gender equality around the world. Most notably, HeForShe released three distinct products at the Summit, based on the work of its HeForShe Champions:

  • The HeForShe Proven Solution on How to Achieve Parity in Global Leadership: Emerging from the work of HeForShe IMPACT Champion PwC Network, which has moved from 18 per cent female representation on its Global Leadership team to 47 per cent in just 15 months, the solution sets out a roadmap for other organizations.
  • The HeForShe Emerging Solutions for Gender Equality Report, containing 34 concrete emerging solutions on how to achieve gender equality. These solutions address a wide range of issues, including closing the gender pay gap, ending gender-based and sexual violence, and achieving parity across society.
  • Last, HeForShe unveiled its first HeForShe Male Allies Guide for Gender Equality – Tips for Understanding and Managing Your Emotions, built on a programme pioneered by the Government of Finland, a HeForShe IMPACT Champion, to enlist army conscripts to prevent violence against women. 
(L-R) President of Iceland Guðni Th. Jóhannesson; Her Majesty Queen Rania Al-Abdullah, of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan; President of Malawi Arthur Peter Mutharika; UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka; President of Finland Sauli Niinistö; and UN Women Goodwill Ambassador Anne Hathaway. Photo: UN Women/Amanda Voisard
(L-R) President of Iceland Guðni Th. Jóhannesson; Her Majesty Queen Rania Al-Abdullah, of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan; President of Malawi Arthur Peter Mutharika; UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka; President of Finland Sauli Niinistö; and UN Women Goodwill Ambassador Anne Hathaway. Photo: UN Women/Amanda Voisard  

Welcoming the solutions, Ms. Hathaway said, "Today, the men on stage with me are here because they are throwing a huge rock through the glass ceiling".

The newest HeForShe Champions, officially announced at the Summit are: Chief Executive Standard Bank Group, Sim Tshabalala; and Secretary-General of the World Organization of the Scout Movement, Ahmad Alhendawi.  

Her Majesty Queen Rania Al-Abdullah, of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan speaks at the HeForShe IMPACT Summit. Photo: UN Women/Celeste Sloman
Her Majesty Queen Rania Al-Abdullah, of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan speaks at the HeForShe IMPACT Summit. Photo: UN Women/Celeste Sloman 

In the lead-up to the event, HeForShe launched #MorePowerfulTogether, inviting landmarks around the world to turn off half their lights to demonstrate the power lost when women are underrepresented. The summit underlined this message by bringing together champions from all corners of society to demonstrate that we are truly more powerful together.

Actor and activist Winston Duke speaks at the HeForShe IMPACT Summit. Photo: UN Women/Celeste Sloman
Actor and activist Winston Duke speaks at the HeForShe IMPACT Summit. Photo: UN Women/Celeste Sloman 

In a closing call to action Mr. Duke said: "As an actor I have always been told that there are no small roles; and in the world of gender justice I've found no statement to be more true. To every single man and boy tuning in to this conversation today, I ask: I am HeForShe, are you?"

See the full list of speakers here

VIDEO & IMAGES: LINK

REPORT AND PRODUCTS: LINK

HeForShe is a UN Women solidarity movement for gender equality, serving as an accelerator for the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The movement engages men to stand with women as advocates for gender equality. The HeForShe IMPACT Summit was hosted by HeForShe Title Sponsor BNP Paribas and the PwC Network.

Media contacts: 
charlotteh[at]unops.org; Tel: +1 917 442 6804
hilary.donnell[at]fleishman.com; Tel: +1 480 363 7491