So many celebrities appear in this powerful International Women’s Day video—and everyone should watch this

It’s International Women’s Day, and people around the world are taking the opportunity to both celebrate women’s accomplishments and demand gender equality. And in that spirit, activist and singer Annie Lennox joined a number of other celebrities in making a special video project encouraging Global Feminism. Variety reports that Lennox and her NGO, The Circle, partnered with Apple Music to create the video, along with Sammy Andrews and Deviate Digital. They also had help from actors and singers including Ed Sheeran, Mary J. Blige, Gwendoline Christie, Richard E. Grant, Dua Lipa, Hozier, Richa Chadha, and Eddie Izzard.

Lennox provides a voiceover for the video, which begins by describing the many ways that women’s rights have improved over the past century. But while the former Eurythmics singer notes that things have gotten better for many women, she explains that many more still lack basic human rights. She cites startling statistics, like the fact that 603 million women live in countries where domestic violence has not been outlawed.

"Around the world, we still have a very long way to go before every woman and girl has access to equal rights," she says at the end of the video. "That is why we stand together as Global Feminists."

Today is #IWD2019
I made a short film with @TheCircleNGO @AppleMusic @maryjblige @ninanesbitt @lovegwendoline @DUALIPA @Hozier @RichardEGrant @AdeAdepitan @eddieizzard & many more familiar faces to help shine a light on why #GlobalFeminism is so important. Pls watch & share 🙌 pic.twitter.com/PJWZhHzRJr

— Annie Lennox (@AnnieLennox) March 8, 2019

The stars involved also picked songs for an Apple Music playlist that accompanies the video. Tracks on the playlist range from “Respect” by Aretha Franklin to “Don’t Rain On My Parade” sung by Barbra Streisand to “Rebel Girl” by Bikini Kill.

Head over to @applemusic to check out a playlist we made for #InternationalWomensDay⁠ ⁠ with all the contributors to our #GlobalFeminism film. @AnnieLennox @ninanesbitt @maryjblige @dualipa @edsheeran @emelisande https://t.co/ufJigeyEZa #IWD2019⁠ ⁠

— The Circle (@TheCircleNGO) March 8, 2019

Sioned Jones, executive director of The Circle, told Variety, “Global Feminism is at the heart of what we do as we strive for a more equal and fairer world for women and girls.”

"On this International Women’s Day having a chance to remind us all of the huge inequalities and injustices that remain for millions of women and girls across the globe is important in ensuring no one is left behind in being able to realise their basic human rights," Jones continued. "We thank Annie, Apple Music and all the contributors who have given up their time and support to this film and we all stand together as Global Feminists.

Harper’s Bazaar reports that Lennox is also encouraging social media users to photograph themselves with a sign stating the reason they support global feminism. Participants can share the image with the hashtag #OneReasonWhyImAGlobalFeminist.

For #InternationalWomensDay I spoke with @edielush & @claudiagonzalez on the @globalgoalscast about #globalfeminism, music and @TheCircleNGO #IWD2019 Listen here: https://t.co/H0LBFFhtcI https://t.co/E84GhlZqyN pic.twitter.com/eCGIAQFaqf

— Annie Lennox (@AnnieLennox) March 8, 2019

This International Women’s Day, we’re thinking of all the women who aren’t afforded the same rights that we are, and we’re taking the time to help in any way we can. Lennox’s global feminist movement is a great reminder of the importance of standing up for all women, everywhere.