Conference in Monrovia, Liberia, 7 to 8 March 2009.
7 March 2009
Minerals and Energy Minister, Ms Buyelwa Sonjica will lead a South African
delegation to the International Colloquium on Women's Empowerment, Leadership
Development, International Peace and Security 2009, scheduled for 7 to 8 March,
2009, Monrovia, Liberia.
The colloquium, conceptualised in 2006 during the inauguration of Africa's
first female President, Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, will bring together 400
international participants and 400 Liberian national participants, including
female leaders; Heads of State and government; ministers; Chief Executive
Officers (CEOs), Presidents and Executive Directors; and non-governmental
organisation (NGO) and community leaders. The conference, co-convened by
President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia and President Tarja Halonen of
Finland, seeks to create an environment for women and their champions around
the world to discuss, learn, demonstrate and act on the benefits and lessons
learned from women in leadership.
The colloquium has been organised to coincide with the International Women's
Day and its goals and theme leads for development include:
* empower women to be more effective leaders by linking them with their
peers from around the world and sharing best practices
* support the implementation of United Nation Security Council (UNSC)
Resolution 1 325 on women, peace and security to ensure that women are
protected from the worst abuses in times of conflict and to empower them to
play their rightful and vital role in helping their countries prevent, end and
recover from conflict
* contribute to the achievement of Millennium Development Goal (MDG) three on
Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women, including building capacity and
resources of government and non-governmental institutions to work for women's
rights and economic empowerment
* demonstrate the clear gender dimensions of climate change, environment
protection and sustainable development, and
* launch the Angie Brooks International Centre on Women's Empowerment,
Leadership Development, International Peace and Security, in Monrovia to
support the implementation of action emerging from the colloquium through,
inter alia, training and research.
The colloquium is co-chaired by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Liberia,
Honourable Olubanke King-Akerele, and the Minister of Gender and Development of
Liberia, Honourable Vabah Gayflor.
On its part South Africa has, through the Spousal Office and the Office on
the Status of Women, both in the Presidency, and the Department of Defence
(DoD), spearheaded programmes that seek to assist women from conflict-ridden
countries in Africa to contribute to the culture of peace on the continent and
beyond. This goal is achieved through facilitating dialogue among these women
with the South African Women in Dialogue (SAWID).
The South African government has demonstrated its political will and
commitment to change the lives of women in the country, among others through
signing important international conventions on the rights of women, in
particular the Convention on the elimination of all forms of discrimination
against women (CEDAW).
In addition South Africa has always been at the forefront of the campaign to
ensure that women are equitably represented at all levels of decision-making,
including national security and the promotion of regional and global peace.
Minister Sonjica and her delegation will return to South Africa on Monday, 9
March 2009.
Enquiries:
Ms Nomfanelo Kota
Cell: 082 459 3787
Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
7 March 2009
