First Lady Of NYC Chirlane McCray, World Leaders, Celebrities, And Activists Launch UN Women's HeForShe Arts Week 2017

Film stars, world leaders, UN officials, New York City representatives and activists came together today at the world's leading performing arts campus, Lincoln Center in New York, to launch the second year of UN Women's HeForShe Arts Week - an initiative launched by UN Women's Global Goodwill Ambassador Emma Watson in 2016 to leverage the arts for gender equality.

Coinciding with International Women's Day and celebrated annually and globally for one-week March 8thto 15th - HeForShe Arts Week 2017 was launched today in partnership with Lincoln Center and City of New York, with further events taking place in London, Paris, Madrid, Bangkok, Santiago de Chile and Sao Paulo.

His Excellency, Bjarni Benediktsson, Prime Minister of Iceland and a HeForShe IMPACT Champion; Édgar Ramírez, Actor and UNICEF's Goodwill Ambassador; and Oskar Eustis, Artistic Director of The Public Theater, took part in lively conversation on the importance of solidarity and role of men in contributing towards a gender equal world. Powerful remarks were delivered by First Lady of New York City, Chirlane McCray, UN Women Executive Director, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Publisher and Vice President, Crain's New York Business; Chair, Women's Leadership Council, Lincoln Center Corporate Fund, Jill Kaplan and Artist Grace McLean.

"I am honored to join the United Nations once again to kick off HeForShe Arts Week on International Women's Day, and help spotlight the inclusion and importance in the fight for gender equality," said First Lady Chirlane McCray. "We greatly value our partnership with the UN and will work to promote this ideal in our city and in the world of art everywhere. I am pleased to represent New York City, where so many women have broken ground as artists and decision makers in art institutions."

- Chirlane McCray, First Lady of New York City

"I'm pleased to be here today as a HeForShe IMPACT champion, taking a stance for gender equality. We have to use all means at our disposal for engaging our men and boys to get involved in achieving gender equality, the arts, the media and wherever we can, as it benefits us all, women and men, girls and boys. The barbershop toolbox that we are launching today with UN Women and HeForShe is a contribution to this as it will allow others to replicate successful conferences we have held around the world with men and boys engaging their peers in a discussion on gender equality."

- His Excellency Mr. Bjarni Benediktsson Prime Minister of Iceland

"We are all shaped by culture, and the arts play a crucial role in reflecting and evolving that culture - for better or worse. This week provokes a closer look at the deep gender biases that still exist within the artistic industries, and having seen and recognized them - to change them for good. The men and women who have committed their support to this HeForShe initiative are vocal advocates and changemakers whose backing and influence can radically change the stereotypes and discriminatory norms that are still holding so many back today."

- Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Under-Secretary-General, UN Women Executive Director

"The arts allow us to resist labels, to be free to be ourselves. We should draw inspiration from them and use them as a platform for change."

- Édgar Ramírez, UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and HeForShe Advocate

"By committing to present a diversity of voices and reaching a wide array of audiences, arts organizations can play a vital role in supporting and promoting equity, both in terms of representation and remuneration."

- Jill Kaplan, Publisher and Vice President, Crain's New York Business Chair, Women's Leadership Council, Lincoln Center Corporate Fund

More than 60 partner institutions in New York City will participate in UN Women's HeForShe Arts Week 2017, highlighting efforts towards gender equality and women's rights, and will support UN Women's work by donating a percentage of proceeds.

Other key events taking place in honor of UN Women's HeForShe Arts Week in New York are:

See full programme on global events here: www.HeForSheArtsWeek.org

• March 8 | Empire State Building
  Learn more: On March 8, 2017 the Empire State Building will be lit magenta in honor of UN Women's HeForShe Arts Week initiative. Watch as magenta illuminate the NYC skyline from dusk till dawn.
• March 9 | The MET Museum
  Learn more: Conversation with Educator - Kiki Smith's Lilith
• March 9 | Gotham Comedy Club
  Learn more: A professional Showcase featuring comics from "The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon", "Late Night with Seth Meyers", "The Late Show", "The Daily Show", Conan on TBS, Comedy Central, HBO
• March 10 | Waitress Broadway Show
  Learn more: Brought to life by a groundbreaking all-female creative team, this irresistible new hit features original music and lyrics by 6-time Grammy® nominee Sara Bareilles
• March 12| Guggenheim Museum
  Learn more: Featuring a dynamic conversation with Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Under-Secretary General and Executive Director, UN Women and Megan Fontanella, Curator, Collections and Provenance at Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum
• March 14 | Tribeca Film Festival
  Learn more: Join Gillian Anderson and Jennifer Nadel in a conversation about their book We: A Manifesto for Women Everywhere.
• March 15 | Movie Premier - The Zookeeper's wife
  Learn more: Special advanced special screening of The Zookeeper's Wife at AMC Theatre Times Square, followed by a panel discussion on gender equality with film lead and two-time Academy Award nominee Jessica Chastain, and Director Niki Caro.

Join the conversation: Follow @HeForShe @UN_Women on Twitter and share your messages using the hashtags #HeForShe #ArtsWeek and #WomensDay

About UN Women HeForShe

Created by UN Women, the United Nations entity for gender equality and the empowerment of women, the HeForShe solidarity movement for gender equality provides a systematic approach and targeted platform where a global audience can engage and become change agents for the achievement of gender equality in our lifetime. Learn more: www.heforshe.org/; www.heforsheartsweek.org/

Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts

Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts (LCPA) serves three primary roles: presenter of artistic programming, national leader in arts and education and community engagement, and manager of Lincoln Center campus. Learn more: http://www.lincolncenter.org/