Actress Emma Watson spoke to global leaders at the World Economic Forum in Davos on Friday regarding plans to spread the United Nations' new gender equality initiative worldwide.

The "Harry Potter" star appeared in her role as U.N. Women Goodwill Ambassador and shared plans for the yearlong initiative, IMPACT 10X10X10, which addresses deficiencies in women's empowerment and gender equality and presented alongside a panel including U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka.

According to the UN, the IMPACT 10X10X10 campaign is a part of the HeForShe initiative and is a "one-year pilot effort that aims to engage governments, corporations and universities as instruments of change positioned within some of the communities that most need to address deficiencies in women's empowerment and gender equality."

Watson said she has received an overwhelming response since speaking at the launch of HeForShe in New York last September. In that 2014 speech, Watson invited men to join in the global fight for gender equality and female empowerment.

"I've been stunned by the amount of men in my life that have contacted me since my speech to tell me to keep going, and that they want to make sure that their daughters will still be alive to see a world where women have power and equality, economically and politically," Watson Friday.

Watson concluded her speech with optimism.

"It is my belief that there is a greater understanding than ever that women need to be equal participants in our homes, in our societies, in or governments, and in our work places," she said.

Ki-moon also spoke about the campaign's success.

"HeForShe has signed up fathers who want to raise empowered daughters; leaders who know their societies will be stronger when there are as many women in parliament and in business as men; and ordinary people who are fed up with violence and discrimination against women -- and want to be part of a global force for change," Ki-moon said.

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