Emma Watson demands colleges keep female students safe

Actress Emma Watson has made a passionate plea to colleges across the nation to keep female students safe.

The Harry Potter star addressed the UN General Assembly on Tuesday (20Sep16) in New York, and called for the reform of campus sexual assault policies during a speech on gender equality.

Emma, who is a UN Women Global Goodwill Ambassador, addressed the same assembly two years ago with her powerful HeForShe speech. She has now called on universities across the country to show women their safety is important.

Emma asked colleges to do better when it comes to serving female students, in particular tackling the widespread issue of campus sexual assault.

The 26-year-old told the council at the Museum of Modern Art in Manhattan universities need to "make it clear that the safety of women, minorities and anyone who may be vulnerable, is a right, not a privilege.

"A university should be a place of refuge that takes action against all forms of violence. That's why, we believe, that students should leave university believing in, striving for, and expecting societies of true equality... in every sense and that universities have the power to be a vital catalyst for that change."

Emma also cheered the possibility of Hillary Clinton becoming the first female President of the United States.

"I don't know if I would have believed you if you had told me two years ago before I made my HeForShe speech that we might have the first female president of the United States," Emma said, referencing the 68-year-old Democratic Party presidential nominee.

The actress gave the speech as part of the UN Women's HeForShe initiative, which aims to draw men into the fight for global gender equality.