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YouTube launches two new initiatives to support female filmmakers

YouTube launches two new initiatives to support female filmmakers

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The video network has partnered with the United Nations

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YouTube is launching a global production program and partnering with the United Nations in an effort to highlight and support women's voices across the platform. The video networks will invest in videos created by female filmmakers through the global YouTube Spaces program, which puts women in front of and behind the camera. And the year-long UN partnership will see a group of female creators advocating for gender equality as the first "change ambassadors" for the United Nations' Sustainable Development Action campaign.

Over the past few months, YouTube has invited a select group of women to serve as creative directors and mentor other female creators at its production facilities known as YouTube Spaces across the globe. Six YouTubers — Anna Akana (US), Alexys Fleming (US), Julia Veiga Faria (Brazil), Em Ford (UK), Nilam Farooq (Germany) and Kuma Miki (Japan) — were selected as creative directors in their respective YouTube Spaces and helped film over 50 videos including vides produced by Michelle Phan and GloZell that cover everything from original scripted content to women's issues to tributes to female leaders throughout history.

Those videos will begin rolling out today.

YouTube-UN-ChangeAmbassadors

YouTube creators Ingrid Nilsen, Louise Pentland, Jackie Aina, Yuya, Chika Yoshida, Taty Ferreira, and Hayla Ghazal named at the UN.

As for the partnership with the UN, YouTube has selected Ingrid Nilsen, Jackie Aina, Yuya, Taty Ferreira, Hayla Ghazal, Louise Pentland, and Chika Yoshida as the first group of women on the platform to serve as Change Ambassadors for the U.N's Sustainable Development Action campaign. The women will work with the UN during their year-long appointment to "inspire and activate their global fan communities" and create videos to promote gender equality.

YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki told The Hollywood Reporter the new initiatives are about empowering women to speak their minds. "YouTube has always been a platform where women of all ages and backgrounds can find their voice and tell their stories," Wojcicki said. "Through our global YouTube Spaces program and new partnership with the UN, we'll strengthen female voices on YouTube and around the world."