Monday, March 9, 2015 4:23am ET by  
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Beyoncé and Lady Gaga sign 'poverty is sexist' letter

Beyoncé and Lady Gaga have lent their support to a letter penned to highlight the 'sexism' of poverty.

Poverty charity ONE has written a message to encourage political leaders to do more for women when it comes to inequality.

The letter has been sent to German chancellor Angela Merkel and the South Africa Minister of Health Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, who are due to host high-profile meetings about women later this year.

A number of big names - such as Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, Meryl Streep and Charlize Theron - have signed the letter, which was written to co-incide with International Women's Day (March 8).

It reads: "Dear Chancellor Merkel and Chairwoman Dlamini-Zuma.

"Thank you for your leadership and the example you offer all girls and women.

"In June this year you will both chair key summits at which you have placed women's empowerment on the agenda – one in Germany, one in South Africa. These meetings are just before the historic global summit on how to finance the new Sustainable Development Goals in Addis Ababa, which will be followed by the unveiling of these goals in New York in September.

"The timing is such that if your summits reach the right agreements, great financing and momentum around girls and women's empowerment can be placed at the heart of the new global goals. That in turn will frame how global policies are decided, and trillions of dollars spent, over the next 15 years.

"For the girl who can't go to a decent primary or secondary school or access healthcare, or who is forced to marry while still a child; for the mothers threatened with death when they give life and who aren't allowed to decide when to have their next child; for the women who can't own or inherit the land she farms, nor open a bank account, own a phone, access electricity or the legal system; for the infant girl who doesn't legally exist because her birth wasn't registered and the government hasn't the capacity to collect data on her or her village; for the women and girls who can't take those who are violent towards them to court nor access justice – let's make sure they all count.

"Put simply, poverty is sexist, and we won't end it unless we face up to the fact that girls and women get a raw deal, and until leaders and citizens around the world work together for real change. Because when we deliver for girls and women, we deliver for everyone."

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Watch Beyoncé in action below: