Gender inequality: Stars tell world leaders poverty is sexist

Oprah Winfrey (l), Chadwick Boseman (c), Lena Dunham (r) are among the stars who signed the open letter. /AGENCIES
Oprah Winfrey (l), Chadwick Boseman (c), Lena Dunham (r) are among the stars who signed the open letter. /AGENCIES

Scores of celebrities are calling on world leaders to take urgent action against global gender inequality.

Oprah Winfrey and Meryl Streep are among the big names putting political leaders "on notice" in an open letter led by international charity ONE.

The 140 signatories demand a commitment to help every girl get an education and for leaders to use their power to deliver "historic changes for women".

Black Panther stars Letitia Wright and Chadwick Boseman have also signed.

Actors from the UK - including Michael Sheen, Thandie Newton and Natalie Dormer and the US - including Lena Dunham, Natalie Portman and Issa Rae - took part in the charity's global call to action.

In the wake of recent movements against sexual harassment, Nashville star Connie Britton said in a statement: "We have seen an astounding level of attention paid to the harmful impacts that sexism and systemic gender inequality have on our society."

The Emmy-nominated actress, who endorsed the letter, went on to say, "This year, it is my hope that all of us, especially our leaders, join in the fight for full equality."

The letter describes poverty as sexist and said: "We won't stand by while the poorest women are overlooked."

Media captionThe Afghan girls returning to school

The equality gap between men and women would take 100 years to close at its current rate, the World Economic Forum reported last year.

CaMpaigners hope many other people will sign the open letter.

It has also been endorsed by prominent names outside of the entertainment industry including former US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, Facebook's Sheryl Sandberg, Huffington Post founder Arianna Huffington, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, a former Nigerian minister and Mozambican politician Graça Machel.

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