The 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children Campaign (16 Days) will launch at Johannesburg Expo Centre (NASREC Showgrounds), on 25 November 2022, under the theme: “Socio-Economic Rights and Empowerment to build Women’s Resilience against Gender Based Violence and Femicide: Connect, Collaborate, Contract!”

The theme seeks to expose society’s unequal ownership of the economy, increasing women’s susceptibility to abuse. Building Women’s Resilience against Gender-Based Violence and Femicide seeks to address barriers women face in accessing the economy through providing platforms for women to connect and contract.

The launch event will take the form of a Women Trade Expo which will bring together hundreds of women-owned businesses from across South Africa to showcase their products and services, to connect with buyers, and to collaborate and network with other women in business.

There will also be breakaway sessions which aim to inform and empower through information sharing sessions on the day.

The economic empowerment of women remains a key priority of government, as it is considered a central tenet to ensuring a more equal society for all. Economic empowerment is one of the most powerful routes for women to achieve their potential and advance their rights. It promotes women’s ability to reduce household poverty, hunger and food insecurity, as well as reducing the heightened levels of inequalities they face on a daily basis.

Source: Government of South Africa