Amb. Hilda Suka-Mafudze, Permanent Representative of the African Union, to the United States of America (USA), was honored with the Global Fund for Widows Advocate of the Year Award. The award ceremony held on 14 November 2024, during the 16th Annual Gala of the Global Fund for Widows (GFW) in the USA, was a crowd puller. It was attended by many dignitaries, Ambassadors and Head of Missions, and invited guests.
According to the organisers, Amb. Suka-Mafudze is awarded this recognition for her impactful work and leadership in pushing for socio-economic and cultural cooperation with the different Diaspora social groups, and people of African descent, among others, engaging them to contribute to the development agenda of the African Union. The GWF further congratulated the Ambassador for being a career diplomat who, in her capacity as the African Union Ambassador to the United States of America since October 2020, strived to strengthen bilateral ties, advance trade and investment, promote peace and security, and foster cultural and democratic exchanges between the U.S. and all 55 AU member countries.
Thanking the Ambassador for being a committed partner who has always impacted and inspired many people during public addresses as keynote speaker, in high level events and conferences such as the first-ever Congressional hearing on widows in 2022, and the commemoration of widows for International Widows' Day highlighting the challenges widows face and the need for global action.
Accepting the prestigious award, the AU Permanent Representative to USA expressed her appreciation to the GFW and said, the African Union (AU) has a crucial role in advocating for widows’ rights and addressing the challenges faced by millions of widows across Africa. “It is up to us – leaders, community members, and advocates- to amplify the voices of widows. This means pushing for legal reforms that protect their rights, demanding access to social services, and ensuring they are treated with dignity and respect.” The Ambassador noted. “We look forward to working with the Global Fund for Widows (GFW) towards building a future where widows are seen valued and empowered”.
Amb. Madfudze underlined that, widows across Africa face particularly complex challenges, mainstreaming from cultural, legal, and economic structures that render them vulnerable “ I appreciate what the African group within the United Nations is already doing, in collaboration with the Global Fund for Widows, which produced the first-ever UN resolution on widowhood. The resolution aligns with the African Union’s Agenda 2063- a vision for a thriving, inclusive Africa that champions women’s empowerment.” Concluded the AU Representative to the USA.
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