Emma Watson's UN speech calls on universities to address sexual violence on campus

In a speech introducing a university initiative from the UN Women movement HeForShe, Emma Watson called on learning institutions to address the issue of sexual violence on college campuses.

The actress and UN Women goodwill ambassador addressed the United Nations in New York on Tuesday in support of the HeForShe IMPACT 10x10x10 University Parity Report, which features ten university leaders who've committed to fixing gender imbalances within their own institutions.

Though Watson's speech also called for equal pay and representation in university leadership positions, her focus was on the scourge of campus sexual assault.

She said:

"And so importantly right now, the experience must make it clear that the safety of women, minorities and anyone who may be vulnerable is a right and not a privilege. A right that will be respected by a community that believes and supports survivors and that recognizes that when one person's safety is violated, everyone feels their own safety is violated. A university should be a place of refuge that takes action against all forms of violence."

This isn't Watson's first time addressing the UN General Assembly-- In 2014 she helped launch HeForShe with a speech that called on men to join the fight for gender equality.