Beyoncé, Chris Martin, Pharrell Williams, Ed Sheeran headliners at the grand #SheIsEqual closing concert in Johannesburg

Beyoncé, Chris Martin, Ed Sheeran, Pharrell Williams and a series of other international and African artists will join the international # SheIsEqual campaign on December 2 at a grand final concert in Johannesburg. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Development Cooperation Alexander De Croo, who initiated #SheIsEqual and launched the campaign in June in Brussels, is ambitious. “This will be the largest ever campaign to support women’s rights and the Sustainable Development Goals.”

Alexander De Croo: “With #SheIsEqual, we want to raise € 500 million and improve the lives of 20 million girls and women. I am honoured that international stars like Beyoncé, Chris Martin, Pharrell Williams and Ed Sheeran back this objective. I am convinced we will succeed with their support.”

Alongside Beyoncé, Chris Martin, Pharrell Williams and Ed Sheeran, the concert will feature JAY-Z, Cassper Nyovest, D'banj, Eddie Vedder, Femi Kuti, Sho Madjozi, Tiwa Savage, Usher and Wizkid. Oprah Winfrey, Naomi Campbell, Sir Bob Geldof, Gayle King and Forest Whitaker are also heading to Johannesburg.

Honouring Mandela

#SheIsEqual will be part of the Global Citizen Festival Mandela 100 in Johannesburg. “This major closing concert will also honour the legacy of Nelson Mandela,” said Alexander De Croo. “This year will mark the 100th anniversary of his birth. He dedicated his entire life to the defence of human rights and the ideal of a free and democratic society where everyone receives an equal opportunity. Mandela was right to say that if you want to change the world, you must support women. His legacy has inspired a whole new generation to give girls and women more opportunities and ban extreme poverty.”

The objective at the closing concert in the FNB stadium in Johannesburg is to gather 100.000 global citizens who have been active in supporting the Sustainable Development Goals. People can register to participate from 21 August with the Global Citizen app, by searching for “Global Citizen” on Facebook Messenger, or via GlobalCitizen.org.za. As with other Global Citizen festivals, the entry tickets are free for those who take action.

Launch in Brussels

In early June, Alexander de Croo launched the international campaign #SheIsEqual with the international NGO Global Citizen. The campaign also has the support of the government of Luxembourg, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Procter & Gamble. #SheIsEqual builds on the global #SheDecides movement that Minister De Croo, together with his Dutch colleague Lilianne Ploumen, started last year after U.S. President Trump cut the funds for international organisations and NGO’s working on women’s rights through family planning.

Deputy Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, together with UNFPA Goodwill Amabassador Goedele Liekens, will travel to South Africa to campaign for women’s rights and launch a final offensive for #SheIsEqual. President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, Amina J. Mohammed, President of Ghana, Nana Akufo-Addo, Prime Minister of Norway, Erna Stolberg, WHO Director-General, Dr. Tedros and head of the World Food Program, Ertharin Cousin, will also attend.