Johannesburg, 7 March 2025 – This global symbolic bell-ringing ceremony, spearheaded by the World Federation of Exchanges (WFE) in collaboration with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the Sustainable Stock Exchanges (SSE) Initiative, UN Global Compact, and UN Women, underscores the critical role of financial markets in advancing gender equality.

This year’s campaign aligns with the International Women’s Day 2025 theme: “For ALL Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment”. Marking the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, this moment calls for bold action to dismantle systemic barriers and accelerate gender parity.

“At the JSE, we believe that true empowerment stems from equal access—to education, investment opportunities, leadership positions, and financial resources,” said Vuyo Lee, Director of Marketing and Corporate Affairs at the JSE. “This year’s theme challenges us to remove systemic barriers and amplify the voices of women and girls, ensuring that gender equality becomes embedded in the financial landscape and broader society.”

The JSE continues to lead by example, with women making up 55% of its Board and 78% of its Executive Committee. Additionally, the bourse’s listing requirements mandate all listed companies to institute a policy for promoting gender diversity at board level, and to report their performance against it. Moreover, through initiatives like the #SheInvests campaign, the JSE actively promotes financial literacy and investment participation among women, equipping them with the knowledge to build lasting wealth and economic independence.

“The path to gender equality requires collective effort,” continued Lee. “The private sector has a crucial role to play in transforming entrenched inequities, and at the JSE, we are committed to fostering a financial ecosystem where women and girls thrive — not as an afterthought, but as a core pillar of sustainable economic growth.”

In her speech at the Ring the Bell for Gender Equality event, Phuthi Mahanyele-Dabengwa, Board Member of UN Global Compact and CEO of Naspers South Africa highlighted that the United Nation’s 5th Sustainable Development Goal of achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls is still yet to be reached in every country by 2030. She further added that, “according to the UN Women, closing the gender gap could give the global economy a $7-trillion-dollar boost”. She concluded her address by underscoring that events such as the annual Ring the Bell for Gender Equality are important to ensure that every woman and girl is empowered with the tools and knowledge to ensure access to equal opportunities to advance in their careers and lives.

ENDS

ABOUT THE JSE

The Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) has a well-established history of operating as a marketplace for trading financial products. It is a pioneering, globally connected exchange group that enables inclusive economic growth through trusted, world-class, socially responsible products, and services for the investor of the future. It offers secure and efficient primary and secondary capital markets across a diverse range of securities, spanning equities, derivatives, and debt markets. It prides itself on being the market of choice for local and international investors looking to gain exposure to leading capital markets on the African continent.

The JSE is currently ranked in the Top 20 largest stock exchanges in the world by market capitalisation, and is the largest stock exchange in Africa, having been in operation for 135 years. As a leading global exchange, the JSE co-creates unlocks value & makes real connections happen. www.jse.co.za 

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