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Time's Up, a new effort to combat workplace sexual harassment and assault in a wide range of workplaces across industries, was announced on New Year's Day, according to a PopSugar article.

The Time's Up announcement letter specifically addressed women working in janitorial services, agriculture and garment factories, as well as those who are undocumented. The open letter appeared in the La Opinion magazine, a Spanish-language newspaper, and The New York Times. It stated that a $13 million legal defense fund has been established supporting those who’ve experienced abuse in the workplace.

Time's Up's mission statement recognizes that while we need to raise consciousness about the problem of misogyny, tough conversations and personal stories must go hand in hand with a methodical undoing of the systems and laws, the article said.

The initiative also includes:

• Legislation to penalize companies that tolerate persistent harassment, and to discourage the use of nondisclosure agreements to silence victims

• A drive to reach gender parity at studios and talent agencies that has already begun making headway

• And a request that women walking the red carpet at the Golden Globes speak out and raise awareness by wearing black

The group was formed by 300 prominent actresses, female agents, writers, directors, producers and entertainment executives to fight systemic sexual harassment in Hollywood and in blue-collar workplaces nationwide. Time’s Up members include producer Shonda Rhimes, actresses Ashley Judd, Eva Longoria, America Ferrera, Natalie Portman, Rashida Jones, Emma Stone, Kerry Washington and Reese Witherspoon; the showrunner Jill Soloway; Donna Langley, chairwoman of Universal Pictures; the lawyers Nina L. Shaw and Tina Tchen, who served as Michelle Obama’s chief of staff; and Maria Eitel, an expert in corporate responsibility who is co-chairwoman of the Nike Foundation.

But the entertainment industry isn't the only group pushing for stricter enforcement. It was recently reported that the U.S. Congress would make changes to require sexual harassment training for businesses.

Read more about the Time's Up program here.