Time's Up initiative raises $20 million to help those battling sexual harassment and assault cases

'We have had over 1,000 requests for help in a month, so the need is clearly there from all industries — farmworkers, hotel workers, steelworkers'

Some of the founders of The Time's Up initiative gathered together at the MAKERS Conference to celebrate their success, all while discussing the next steps to be taken.

Time's Up has seen 300 women who work in film, television, and theatre band together to create a legal defence fund to help survivors of sexual harassment, champion legislature to punish companies who tolerate harassment, and work towards gender parity in Hollywood leadership.

In the panel discussion, several of the women involved in its creation discussed the purpose of the initiative and the impact it's had, alongside the #MeToo movement, in Hollywood and beyond.

Tina Tchen, a lawyer who is specifically heading up Time's Up's legal defence fund, revealed that the initiative has already raised $20 million in just over a month from over 22,000 donors, receiving help from over 200 lawyers.

She also stressed that the fund isn't intended solely for use by women in Hollywood, but for men and women in any industry who need legal help in fighting against injustice. "We have had over 1,000 requests for help in a month, so the need is clearly there from all industries — farmworkers, hotel workers, steelworkers," she added.

The panel, moderated by director Ava DuVernay, saw Tchen joined by actors Rashida Jones and Natalie Portman, director Melina Matsoukas, agent Maha Dakhil, attorney Nina Shaw, and writer/director/producer Jill Soloway.

You can donate to the Time's Up legal defence fund here.

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