HeForShe

HeForShe
DIA (Brand & Design Studio, NY)[1] · Public domain · source
Name	HeForShe
Type	United Nations solidarity movement
Founded	2014
Founder	UN Women
Headquarters	New York City
Leader title	Global Advocate
Leader name	Emma Watson
Region served	Global

HeForShe is a solidarity campaign initiated by UN Women in 2014 to engage men and boys in advancing gender equality alongside women and girls. Launched at the United Nations with advocates from academia, corporate sector, finance, and civil society, the campaign has sought partnerships across universities, sports federations, media outlets and cultural institutions to promote commitments and measurable actions. Its public profile has been shaped by speeches, high-profile ambassadorships, and collaborations with institutions such as HeforShe IMPACT 10x10x10 partners to drive policy change and corporate practice.

Background and Origins

HeForShe originated as an initiative of UN Women under the leadership of former Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka and senior staff who coordinated with representatives from UNDP, the UNESCO, and delegations from member states including France, Canada, Japan, UK and United States. The public launch in 2014 featured a speech by actor and activist Emma Watson at the UN General Assembly Hall, framed by precedents in gender advocacy such as Goodwill Ambassador initiatives, earlier campaigns like UNiTE to End Violence against Women and advocacy by individuals including Ban Ki-moon, Michelle Bachelet, and Hillary Clinton.

Campaign Goals and Principles

The campaign articulates goals aligned with international frameworks including the UDHR, the CEDAW, and the SDGs—notably SDG 5 on gender equality. Its principles emphasize allyship across sectors, targeted policy commitments by institutions such as WEF constituents, IMF policy dialogues, and legislative change championed in parliaments such as the European Parliament, national legislatures, and provincial assemblies in federations like Australia and Canada. The movement encourages public figures, including leaders from security alliances, ILO partners, and IOC affiliates, to make time-bound pledges.

Major Initiatives and Programs

Key initiatives include the IMPACT 10x10x10 campaign, partnerships with academic institutions like Harvard University, University of Oxford, University of Cape Town, and Peking University, and corporate engagements with firms such as Unilever, Goldman Sachs, Accenture, and IKEA. Programs extend to collaborations with UNICEF on youth outreach, WHO on health-related gender disparities, and IOM on displacement-related issues. The campaign has promoted toolkits and policy guidance adapted for stakeholders including philanthropic foundations, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Ford Foundation, and regional bodies like the African Union and the OAS.

Notable Events and Public Campaigns

Notable milestones include the 2014 launch at the United Nations Headquarters featuring Emma Watson, follow-up summits convening ministers from UK, Rwanda, Mexico, and India, and corporate commitment announcements at forums such as the World Economic Forum in Davos. High-profile collaborators have included artists and public figures linked to institutions like Royal Shakespeare Company, Met Museum, BBC, CNN, and sports organizations including FIFA and the International Olympic Committee. Regional campaigns partnered with entities such as UN Women Philippines, UN Women India, UN Women Latin America and the Caribbean, and national NGOs like Women’s Aid and Care International.

Criticism and Controversies

Criticism has come from scholars and activists associated with Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and feminist researchers at institutions like Goldsmiths, University of London, University of California, Berkeley, and London School of Economics who questioned emphasis on male allyship versus structural change. Commentators in outlets like The Guardian, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and academic journals linked to Oxford University Press argued that visibility-driven campaigns risk depoliticizing demands central to movements including #MeToo, Everyday Sexism Project, and grassroots organizations such as Ni Una Menos. Debates also involved corporate partners such as PwC and Deloitte, and raised governance questions invoking standards from bodies like the International Labour Organization and legal frameworks under CEDAW.

Impact and Evaluation

Evaluations by independent researchers tied to World Bank units, academic studies at Columbia University, Stanford University, and monitoring reports by UN Women itself have documented mixed results: increased pledges from institutions including universities and corporations, measurable policy shifts in some partner organizations, and awareness-raising documented in media outlets such as BBC News and Al Jazeera. Critics have pointed to limitations in long-term behavioral change metrics and challenges in attribution noted in analyses by OECD and United Nations Development Programme. Ongoing assessment efforts involve collaborations with think tanks such as Chatham House, Brookings Institution, and research centers at Goldman School of Public Policy to refine indicators and measure progress toward SDG 5.

Category:United Nations