Yesterday, The United Nations celebrated the launch of a new agency — UN Women — which combines all the different women’s organizations under one leader, former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet. The agency has a $500 million yearly budget and the goal is to press governments around the world for a “new era of gender equality.”

Hollywood stars Geena Davis and Nicole Kidman both celebrated the agency’s launch (albeit Kidman was there by video link). These two women are the most active and consistent voices for feminist concerns.

Davis reiterated her pressure on Hollywood to get its house in order:

Gender stereotypes remain deeply entrenched in today’s entertainment and there has been no significant progress over the last 20 years…What message are we sending to girls if there are so few female characters. If the characters are devalued, stereotyped, sidelined or simply not there at all…and what message are boys taking in about the importance, value and worth of girls.

Here’s a historical perspective on the fight for global women’s rights