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African women have always played a significant role in shaping the social, political and economic spheres in the continent .Despite the lack of equality ,the high levels of male chauvinism and traditions that have threatened to hinder access to the girl child because'' a woman's place has always been inferior to the average man''
The African woman has fought and is still fighting. For her seat at the table. At a time when more and more women are stepping out of the shadows to say enough is enough . Inorder to create an Africa that will empower,help and guide the future young generation of girls in the continent to show them they can do anything they want to do and they can be anything they want to be.
The African Union (AU) launched Agenda 2063 in 2013 as a ‘call for action to all segments of African society to work together to build a prosperous and united Africa.
Agenda 2063 outlines the plan for structural transformation and a shared strategic framework for inclusive growth and sustainable development. One of the aspirations articulated in Agenda 2063 is to realize An Africa whose development is people driven, especially relying on the potential offered by its Youth and Women’. Under this umbrella, Goal 15 specifically refers to the need to achieve full gender equality in all spheres of life.
The African Women’s Leadership Symposium is a regional platform that brings together women of power and influence occupying various decision-making positions. A first of its kind, will give opportunity to deliberate how to leverage their leadership, power, influence and access for the development and progress of the African continent in general and the advancement of women and girls’ rights in particular.
Women in leadership from all sectors of society, at varying levels, be it political, corporate, development, arts, sciences and beyond will converge to deliberate on how to best actualize trans formative leadership in their respective contexts and for the greater benefit of the continent.
It will be a vibrant space for animated interactions and discussions on factors that support and those that hinder women’s access to power, influence and resources in society and will also be an opportunity to reflect on how to best collaborate inter-sect-orally so as to further the agenda of women and girls rights in Africa.
This Symposium is also intended to be a space where women leaders can share experiences and find support from each other, and foster linkages; thereby attaining heightened visibility in order to utilize their positions to positively impact on the status of women and girls in the continent.
AWLS will connect African women of power and influence from different regions of the continent to celebrate the contribution of African women towards transformative leadership while building solidarity and collective action. Specifically the objectives are to:
- Mobilise African Women Leaders to buy-in to the concept of transformative leadership for women’s rights
- Create a multi-sectoral space for women leaders from the various sectors of politics, corporate, business, the arts etc in order to strengthen and amplify the call for greater opportunities for women in the continent.
- . Mobilise commitment from participants to adopt deliberate actions, initiatives, projects, approaches, strategies that create space for women and advance women’s rights.
- To promote and enhance inter-sectoral collaboration in championing an initiative that touches at least 1 million women in Africa in the year 2016/17
