MEDIA ADVISORY.

Africa’s Women’s Day Commemoration and 60th Anniversary of the Pan- African Women Organisation (PAWO)

What: Commemorative activities of the Africa’s Women’s Day observed every 31^st July. 2022 also marks the 60th Anniversary of the Pan- African Women Organisation (PAWO)

When: 31^st July 2022, 9AM SAST

Where: The Commemoration will be held at the Parliament, Windhoek, Namibia which will also be open to audiences and participants  virtually on https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJIlcOyurTwrG92tblcYrANwcMkUgRI3PvAy

Who: Convened by the African Union Commission Directorate of Women, Gender and Youth and the Pan- African Women Organisation (PAWO).

Background
The 31st of July, is commemorated annually as Africa’s Women's Day. It is celebrated as a remembrance of the contributions that African women played in the liberation of Africa from colonialism and apartheid and to recognizing the critical role that women continue to play in the development of the continent.  2022 marks an important milestone as the Pan African Women's Organisation (PAWO) turns 60 years.

The African Union Commission in collaboration with PAWO and partners will hold a hybrid (in-person and online) High-Level event in Windhoek, Namibia to commemorate the 60th PAWO anniversary under the highlighted theme: 'Towards the African Women's Decade: Realizing Women's Human Capital through accelerated social and economic development, addressing the scourge of violence, food insecurity and good nutrition on the African continent'.

Activities will include an award ceremony in recognition of the achievements of African women over the 60 years; a women's march to bring visibility to the highlighted thematic areas; as well as a tree planting ceremony to signify and contribute to efforts towards food security and good nutrition

The overall objective of PAWD is to celebrate 60 years of existence of PAWO and many other women organizations that contributed to raising awareness of the contributions and achievements of African women to Africa's development.

The specific objectives are as follows:

• Commemorate the contributions of African Women to the development of the continent, including gender equality and women's empowerment
• Review successes and highlight strategies for the new African Women's Decade in relation to different thematic areas such as a) Women's Human and Financial Capital
• Ending Violence against Women and Girls (VAWG) and
• Food security and good nutrition

Learn more about the work of Directorate of Women, Gender and Youth on https://au.int/en/wgyd

For further information please contact:

Doreen Apollos, Directorate of Information and Communication | African Union Commission | E-mail: ApollosD@africa-union,org | www.au.int|Addis Ababa | Ethiopia

Priscilla Mawuena Adjeidu | Directorate of Women, Gender and Youth| African Union Commission | E-mail: AdjeiduP@africa-union.org | www.au.int|Addis Ababa | Ethiopia

Directorate of Information and Communication | African Union Commission,   E-mail: DIC@african-union.org I Website: www.au.africa I Addis Ababa | Ethiopia Follow Us: Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIn | Instagram | YouTube