U.N. Goodwill Ambassador and actress Emma Watson has started working on a new campaign, HeforShe, which encourages men to get involved as participants in stopping the oppression of women, the Washington Post reports.

On Saturday, Watson delivered her first speech at U.N. headquarters in New York. The speech was about her thoughts on feminism and on being a feminist. She also called for men to promote the HeforShe campaign.

According to the Telegraph, Watson began her speech saying she "may be dismissed by critics who wondered what 'this Harry Potter girl' was doing at the U.N."

However, the 24-year-old feminist continued her speech with conviction and asked men to "take up the mantle" to speak up for their "daughters, sisters and mothers," the Telegraph reports.

"Men, I would like to take this opportunity to extend your formal invitation. Gender equality is your issue too," she said.

Watson then continued her speech by addressing the stigma towards feminism being associated with "man-hating."

"Apparently I am among the ranks of women whose expressions are seen as too strong, too aggressive, isolating, anti-men and unattractive. Why is the word such an uncomfortable one?," she said. "The more I have spoken about feminism the more I have realized that fighting for women's rights has too often become synonymous with man-hating. If there is one thing I know for certain, it is that this has to stop.

"Both men and women should feel free to be sensitive," she said. "Both men and women should feel free to be strong. If we stop defining each other by what we are not and start defining ourselves by what we are, we can all be freer, and this is what HeForShe is bout. It's about freedom."

To learn more about the HeforShe campaign, click here to visit the website.

Watson's full gender equality speech is available to read at the U.N.'s website .

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