Women Commend AU Heads of States For their Empowerment
The recently concluded 25thAfrican Union (AU) Summit in South Africa, in which the Chairman, President Robert Mugabe, acknowledged with delight the presence of more women than previous summits is a remarkable demonstration of Heads of States commitment to the theme “2015 Year of Women’s Empowerment and Development Towards Africa’s Agenda 2063.” (Photo: Mrs. Maude Peacock in South Africa)
Six Sierra Leonean women, including Mrs. Maude Peacock (GCOR), President of the Women’s Forum Sierra Leone, attended the summit in various capacities.
Madam Aminata Kallay, Honorary Consul of South Africa to Sierra Leone; Hon. Haja Musu Kandeh, former Minister of Social Welfare, Gender and Children’s Affairs (SWGCA); Hon. Dr. Bernadette Lahai, Minority Leader and Fourth Vice President of the Pan-African Parliament; Mrs. Rasie B. Kargbo, Ex-Ambassador/State Chief of Protocol; Mrs. Razie Bash-Kamara, Presidential Media Specialist and Mrs. Maude Peacock, President of the Women’s Forum, the National Women’s Umbrella Organization in Sierra Leone.
Mrs. Maude Peacock, (GCOR), President of the Women’s Forum Sierra Leone used the opportunity to acclaim President Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma for affording women the privilege to benefit from the ideologies of Heads of States thereby deepening their horizon, appreciation and confidence in dealing with gender issues.
She enlightened that the summit represented the voices of the African people succinctly channeled by their 53 Heads of States and informed that Agenda 2063 is deeply rooted in Pan-Africanism and African Renaissance.
According to Mrs. Maude Peacock, the Summit provided a robust framework to address past injustices and the realization of the 21st Century as the African Century, adding that Agenda 2063 looks back fifty years after the OAU was formed in 1963, then looked ahead to the next fifty years 2063, articulating that Agenda 2063 also visualizes an “integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in the international arena.”
The President of the Women’s Forum Sierra Leone continued that this vision could not be realized without relying on the potentials of African people, especially its women, youths and caring for the children, adding that by 2025 the hand held hoe, the main agricultural equipment for women farmers in Africa, would be retired to the museum.
She furthered that the agricultural sector, through which “women feed Africa,” would be modernized, made more productive, profitable and attractive to the continent’s youths and women, disclosing that by 2063, Africa is envisaged to be people-centered and caring, puts children first, has empowered women to play their rightful roles in all spheres of life, has full gender equality in all spheres of life and has engaged and empowered youths.
She went on to assert that women across the African continent gathered in South Africa as part of the 26th Gender is my Agenda Campaign (GIMAC), identified practical and actionable recommendations and best practices to ensure that women are the center of Africa’s Agenda 2063, underscoring that as we commemorate 2015 as the Year of Women, “we are unified in our demand that Africa moves from “Solemn Declarations to Solemn Deliverables” to protect the rights of women and to promote Gender Equality.
The Sierra Leone delegation in South Africa
She revealed, “Our President’s African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) report to the AU was commended by several Heads of States, including the Chairman of the APRM, Madam Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, Presidents Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe and Jacob Xuma of South Africa. For the advancement of women in Sierra Leone, foundation has been laid and a lot done. We are most grateful. But Mr. President, we shall not relent!!! We want more!!! The year2015 is for Women as declared by AU.”
She also disclose that the Women’s Forum would celebrate the achievements of Hon. Dr. Bernadette Lahai as Fourth Vice President of the Pan-African Parliament; Hon. Isata Kabbia, Pan-African Parliament Treasurer and Mrs. Jamesina King, Ex-Chairperson, Human Rights Commission, recently elected as a member of the Regional Human Rights Council.
She concluded that the celebrations would take place on Saturday 27th June 2015 at the YWCA Hall at 4 p.m. prompt.
Credit SLENA
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