Launch of Women's Great Lakes Platform in support of the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for the Democratic of Congo and the Region and Press Conference
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, January 28, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- All media are invited to the launch of the Great Lakes Women's Platform (GLWP) which will take place on 28 January 2014 at the Addis Ababa Hilton Hotel from 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM.
The event will be immediately followed by a press conference in the same venue at 12:30.
Delivering on her promise to ensure that women's voices are heard at the negotiating table and to support female-led initiatives, the United Nations Special Envoy of the Secretary-General (SESG), Ms. Mary Robinson will kick off the Great Lakes Women's Platform (GLWP) on 28 January 2014. Under her direction, and in collaboration with other implementing partners, the GLWP over the next three years aims to ensure that women in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the region are fully integrated in the Peace, Security and Cooperation (PSC) Framework for the Democratic Republic of Congo. Coined the “Framework of Hope” by SESG Robinson, the PSC was brokered by the African Union and the United Nations and signed in Addis Ababa in February 2013 by 11 nations of the region.
The launch marks the roll out of activities and initiatives that will help GLWP carry out its specific mandate to support women's organizations and movements through the provision of grants and to advocate for expanded donor contributions to women's groups in the region.
In addition to remarks by the SESG Robinson, the event will feature statements by senior officials from other partner organizations, including the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Dr. Dlamini-Zuma, who will officially perform the launch of the GLWP , the Executive Secretary of the International Conference of the Great Lakes Region, Professor Alphonse Ntumba Luaba, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict, Ms. Zainab Hawa Bangura, the Founder of Femmes Africa Solidarité (FAS), Ms. Bineta Diop and President and CEO of Global Fund for Women, Dr. Musimbi Kanyoro, Julienne Lusenge, Executive Director of the 'Fonds des Femmes Congolaises'. Gender Ministers from the regional governments of Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda and Uganda will also speak. The event will be facilitated by the President of the Institute for Social Transformation, Dr. Thelma Awori. The Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, Dr. Carlos Lopes, will provide the welcome statement.