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 Watson, 24, who rose to fame as Hermione in the Harry Potter
movies, gave her first major speech as a United Nations Women's
Goodwill Ambassador in New York on Saturday, launching the "HeForShe"
campaign to unite men and women for gender equality.
The initiative urges men to join the fight against violence and
discrimination of women and by 1600 GMT (12:00 p.m EDT) on
Tuesday, more than 70,000 men and boys had signed online
pledges, according to the HeForShe online active map on the
campaign's website.
The target is to mobilize one billion men and boys over 12
months with an online map showing exactly where men sign up.
"I hope we can all finally change laws and mentalities in order
to establish what is nothing more than common sense," Watson
posted on her Twitter account on Tuesday.
As the campaign gained momentum, men from all walks of life
pledged to "take action against all forms of violence and
discrimination faced by women and girls".
British actor Simon Pegg, known recently for playing Scotty in
the Star Trek movies, tweeted: "Husband to a wife, father to a
daughter, son to a mother. You bet I'm on board."
Organizers credited Watson's powerful speech for having such an
impact and driving up numbers signing to the campaign.
"We are all very humbled by the numbers. I have to point out
that Emma has been a very instrumental part ... her speech was
so powerful," Elizabeth Nyamayaro, senior advisor to U.N.
Women's executive director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka told the
Thomson Reuters Foundation.
Watson, who was appointed to the U.N. role in July, received a
standing ovation as she called on men and women to reclaim
feminism for the benefit of all.
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She disclosed how she became a feminist after being told she was too
"bossy" for wanting to direct a play aged eight.
"But my recent research has shown me that feminism has become an
unpopular word," said Watson, who studied at Britain's Oxford
University and Brown University in the United States.
"I was appointed six months ago and the more I have spoken about
feminism the more I have realized that fighting for women's rights
has too often become synonymous with man-hating. If there is one
thing I know for certain, it is that this has to stop."
So far Watson has dedicated her humanitarian efforts as a Goodwill
Ambassador to promote the empowerment of young women.
She has visited Bangladesh and Zambia to promote girls' education,
and has recently returned from Uruguay.
Mlambo-Ngcuka said the engagement of young people was critical to
advance gender equality in the 21st century.
"I am convinced that Emma's intellect and passion will enable UN
Women's messages to reach the hearts and minds of young people
globally," she said in a statement.
(Editing by Belinda Goldsmith)
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