Oprah and Meryl among stars to make plea over gender equality

Stars from across the world of entertainment have penned an open letter to world leaders demanding an urgent push for global gender equality.

Oprah Winfrey, Reese Witherspoon, Meryl Streep and Chadwick Boseman have joined forces with British counterparts including Letitia Wright, Michael Sheen and Thandie Newton to back the call being led by the ONE campaign.

The letter warns leaders they are being put “on notice” and asks for a commitment to help every girl get an education.

It hits out at inequality between women and men, particularly in the poorest countries of the world.

Amy Poehler, Amy Schumer, Chelsea Clinton and Ryan Reynolds are also among the 140 signatories – as well as Neil Patrick Harris, Natalie Dormer and Robin Wright.

The letter reads: “Dear World Leaders,

“We’re putting you on notice. “For 130 million girls without an education. For one billion women without access to a bank account. For 39,000 girls who became child brides today. For women everywhere paid less than a man for the same work.

“There is nowhere on earth where women have the same opportunities as men, but the gender gap is wider for women living in poverty.

“Poverty is sexist. You have the power to deliver historic changes for women this year. From the G7 to the G20; from the African Union to your annual budgets; we will push you for commitments and hold you to account for them.”

Meryl Streep has backed the call from the ONE campaign.