Over 300 actresses, writers and directors have launched a campaign to help fight sexual harassment in the workplace.
The campaign comes in the wake of sexual abuse allegations made against disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein in recent months.
The initiative, which is called Time’s Up, was announced via a full-page advert printed in the New York Times.
The project is described as a “unified call for change from women in entertainment for women everywhere”.
I stand with ALL WOMEN across every industry to say #TIMESUP on abuse, harassment, marginalization and underrepresentation. Join me! Sign the statement of solidarity & donate to the @TIMESUPNW Legal Defense Fund: https://t.co/7FofMhTaUJ pic.twitter.com/vEB3jYCRgD
— Reese Witherspoon (@RWitherspoon) January 1, 2018
“From movie sets to farm fields to boardrooms alike, we envision nationwide leadership that reflects the world in which we live,” the campaign’s website reads.
“Powered by women, TIME’S UP addresses the systemic inequality and injustice in the workplace that have kept underrepresented groups from reaching their full potential.
“We partner with leading advocates for equality and safety to improve laws, employment agreements, and corporate policies; help change the face of corporate boardrooms and the C-suite; and enable more women and men to access our legal system to hold wrongdoers accountable.
“No more silence. No more waiting. No more tolerance for discrimination, harassment or abuse.”
These donations from all of you are wrecking me ????. THANK YOU for standing up to say: #TIMESUP – The @TIMESUPNW Legal Defense Fund provides subsidized legal support across industries to those who have experienced sexual harassment, assault, or abuse: https://t.co/bvd371K7Pf pic.twitter.com/WfVR6DJxOX
— America Ferrera (@AmericaFerrera) January 1, 2018
The campaign is backed by hundreds of actresses, including Natalie Portman, Reese Witherspoon, Cate Blanchett, Shailene Woodley, Brie Larson, Eva Longoria and Emma Stone – to name a few.
Already, over $13 million had been raised, which will be used to fund legal support for both female and male victims of sexual harassment at work.
The initiative is aimed at those who are unable to meet the payments to defend themselves, such as agricultural or factory workers, caretakers and waitresses.
Time’s up on silence. Time’s up on waiting. Time’s up on tolerating discrimination, harassment and abuse. #TimesUp Sign the solidarity letter & donate to the @TIMESUPNW Legal Defense Fund: https://t.co/eTwKtOboIl pic.twitter.com/q8aok1HTGg
— shonda rhimes (@shondarhimes) January 1, 2018
Back in December, TIME magazine named the “Silence Breakers” (women and men who spoke out against sexual abuse and harassment) as its “Person of the Year” for 2017.
The news comes after the success of the #MeToo movement, which inspired women and men all over the world to share their stories of sexual abuse and harassment on social media.
Between October and December 2017, the hashtag was used across Twitter and Facebook over six million times.
