EVAW attends Empire Awards

The British film magazine awards gave a platform to campaigners and women in entertainment who are calling ‘TIMES UP’ on sexual harassment and inequality in the workplace.

The UK Justice and Equality fund was the 2018 Empire awards charity of the evening. The fund, which was set up by a group of UK based women in the entertainment industry and inspired by the #me too and TIMES UP movement, launched last month with an opening donation of £1 million from actress Emma Watson. The fund aims to bring an end to the culture of harassment, abuse and impunity by resourcing an expert network of advice, support and advocacy organisations and projects, and is run by leading UK women’s fund Rosa.

Actors supporting the TIMES UP movement are pictured at the awards ceremony. Many award recipients, including film maker Steven Spielberg, used their acceptance speeches to talk about how the movement was creating a ‘watershed moment’ for attitudes towards sexual harassment in the entertainment industry. Amma Asante also highlighted the need for a diverse and inclusive film industry.

British actress Ophelia Lovibond was accompanied to the awards by Marai Larasi, Executive Director at Imkaan and Andrea Simon from the End Violence Against Women Coalition to raise awareness of the work of UK specialist women’s sector organisations in supporting victims and survivors of violence and abuse. These organisations are often underfunded and struggle to meet demand for their services.

For more information on the Justice and Equality Fund and to donate please visit: www.gofundme.com/Justice-and-Equality-Fund

Photo includes: Tallulah Rose Haddon; Simona Brown; Stefanie Martini; Amma Asante; Terri White; Marai Larasi; Ophelia Lovibond; Andrea Simon; Dafne Keen; Anya Taylor-Joy; Hayley Squires; Alexa Davies; Emily Beecham; Pippa Bennett-Warner; Joely Richardson; Vanessa Kirby