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Gender equality campaign launched in Malta

Xinhua, October 4, 2015 Adjust font size:

President of Malta Marie Louise Coleiro Preca launched the UN's gender equality HeforShe campaign on Saturday evening during the 2015 edition of Notte Bianca (White Night), an annual event that lights up the cityscape of Valletta with a nocturnal celebration.

The HeforShe campaign is aimed mainly at males, "engaging men and boys in removing the social and cultural barriers that prevent women and girls from achieving their full potential".

Backed by actress Emma Watson, the organizers of HeForShe claim to have received gender equality commitments from hundreds of thousands of men around the world including heads of state, CEOs and global luminaries since launching in last September.

President Preca was chosen by the UN Women to be one of the 10 heads of state from around the world to promote the campaign. The president is the only woman Head of State from the 10 chosen around the world.

"Regardless of work done, inequality is still strong in today's society and we need to see what we can do to improve the situation," the President said.

The President's Foundation for the Wellbeing of Society revealed a video message during the launch, featuring 10 Maltese male personalities who will be promoting the campaign, which will be spread over a two-year-period.

The HeforShe campaign will promote a number of messages, including that equality is a fundamental right, that equality is not a question that only affects women, and is in face a question of human rights that affects everyone. Endit