DIRECTORATE OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION

Press Release Nº239/2013

AUC Chairperson met delegation from Global Power Network Women Africa

Brussels, Belgium, 3 December, 2013: The AU Commission Chairperson HE Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma received a delegation from the Africa region of the Global Power Women Network on Monday, 2 December 2013. Global Power Women Network Africa brings together women Ministers, Parliamentarians and Judges to address issues of HIV and AIDS and more generally women’s empowerment.

The Global Power delegation who met Dr. Dlamini Zuma was led by H.E. Professor Viola Adaka Onwuliri, Acting Foreign Minister of Nigeria and H.E. Mme Kaba Hadja Kougoi Barry, Minister for Diaspora Affairs of Guinea. Global Power Africa pledged their support to the Chairperson of the AUC, as the first woman to occupy this position, and look forward to working together to ensure women’s empowerment.

The meeting discussed areas of cooperation between Global Power Africa and the African Union Commission, including on such issues as HIV/AIDS, campaigns against gender-based violence, the celebration of twenty years since the landmark UN Women’s Conference in Beijing in 2015 and the mid-mark for the African Decade of Women.

Experiences on how to move forward women’s representation in Parliaments, Governments and the Judiciary were also shared, as well as the need for a greater focus on the economic empowerment of women. Dr. Dlamini Zuma highlighted the Africa Maritime Indaba, where women present were keen to ensure that as we revive the African Maritime sector, women play a critical role as owners and professionals.

Ministers Onwuliri and Barry also handed over the Global Power Abuja Commitment of 2013 to AUC Chairperson.

FPG/