Avon is committed to its programme to end Violence against Women in South Africa. Since 2008, the company has been selling Empowerment products to raise funds towards this cause. Strategic partnerships with People Opposing Women Abuse (POWA) and the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) have enabled consistent and sustainable progress by ensuring greater awareness as well as supporting existing programmes to help victims.

Avon has also been involved in numerous innovative initiatives to end Violence against Women including lending it’s support to the Man Up Campaign which hosted the first-ever, youth-led, global summit to stop violence against women and girls during the 2010 FIFA World Cup

In 2011, Avon worked to further strengthen the relationship with POWA through a donation from the sales of the Empowerment bracelet launched by Avon Global Ambassador and Honorary Chair of the Avon Foundation for Women Reese Witherspoon, globally on Wednesday 8 March in celebration of Women’s Day. It also further donated R432 000 during the Believe World Tour.

Globally, Avon has risen to the challenge by launching several initiatives to end violence against women including establishing the Avon Global Centre for Women and Justice at Cornell Law School and supporting the Global Partnership  To End Violence against Women, a  three day conference in partnership with Vital Voices and the U.S Department of State.

Light Up to Speak out candle lighting ceremony Avon held its inaugural Light Up to Speak Out candle lighting ceremony to commemorate victims of abuse in December 2011 is during the designated 16 days of activism. The event was held in association with POWA (People Opposing Women Abuse), a non-profit organisation that is actively working towards eradicating violence against women in the country. The purpose of the Light Up to Speak Out candle lighting ceremony is to highlight the extent of the problem in South Africa as well as to communicate the decisive steps that Avon has taken to help solve this problem through its strategic partnership with POWA.