Social media has been turning purple in solidarity with the local nonprofit organisation Women for Change, which has called on women in South Africa to withdraw from the economy for one day to protest against gender-based violence.

Over the past week, much of South African social media has turned purple to raise awareness for gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) ahead of the G20 Women's Shutdown organised by the non-profit organisation Women for Change.

The organisation has called for women in SA to withdraw from the economy on Friday, 21 November by staying away from work and not spending money, and to wear black and participate in lie-ins across the country.

More than one million people have signed a petition by the organisation calling for gender-based violence to be declared a State of Disaster. Included in the petition are demands for the National Registry of Sex Offenders to be made public, harsher sentencing for those convicted of femicide, gang rape and child sexual violence, and comprehensive gender-based violence education programmes to be implemented in schools.

The organisers have asked women to stay away from work and avoid spending money on Friday to raise awareness around GBV. Men, and women who...