All Africa Media Networks flagship event the African Elders and Women Intercultural Dialogue (AEWID) will be taking place at the Virtual UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) parallel events, 16th of March, 9am E.S.T, on the theme: Guardians and Guidance of Culture: Inviting global attention to the menace of institutional slavery, forced labour and human trafficking.
Culture experts, religious icons and policy makers has been invited to discuss on charting a path towards the re-interpretation of prejudicial pillars in human relationship hinged on Culture and Religion that has strengthened and institutionalized slavery in some communities.
The event theme takes into consideration the guarded cultural values that is responsible for our denial of the collective need for freedom of all based on our religion and culture , its consequential effects on our environment and communal well being. And why we should dispel the guarded systems that maintains worn out, authoritarian, exploitative and corrupt ways of being and governing which have plagued us for so many millennia.
The African Elders and Women Intercultural Dialogue has featured prominent African voices and institutions, some of the dignitaries to chair this dialogue and grace the event in person are former Vice President and mother of the Gambia Struggle, Her Excellency Mrs. Fatoumata Tambajang Jallow, spouse of former Vice President of Nigeria , Her Excellency Mrs. Amina Titi Abubakar, both co-chaired the 2018 Dialogue in Abuja, while Her Excellency Ambassador Dr. Erieka Bennett, Head of the Diaspora African Forum Mission was the chairperson for the inaugural Dialogue in 2017 held in Accra.
The entire day event of Global African SHEROES Union featuring the AEWID will be piloted by Madam Angela Sayles International Host of the GASU, with Dr Rahab Njeri, Davisha Johnson and Dikeledi Mokoena interfacing and co hosting from Germany , USA and South Africa respectively.
Pivotal voices in the continent like Co-regent of the Bakwai Indu people in the Luba empire of Congo D.R; Queen Diambi Kabatusuila Muatta, Co founder of the African Queens and Cultural Women Leaders Network, Queen Mother Obaapa Awindor of the Afigya-Kwabre district in the Ashanti Region of Ghana.
The Founder of Youth Against Slavery Movement New York Racha Haffar, the former Deputy Vice Chancellor of Imo State University; Prof. Jerome Okonkwo, as well as Deputy Chief of the Diaspora Affairs office of the president Ghana Ms Nadia Adongo Musah has been confirmed.
The Chief Imam of Imo Central Mosque Nigeria Sheikh Suleiman Njoku, the founder of Afrikology Institute Yaa Asantewa Ngidi, the focal person of the West African Women Association of Nigeria an aegis of ECOWAS Dr.Beatrice Ubeku and the first lady of Sierra Leone Her Excellency Mrs Fatima Maada Bio are also expected.
The event will be held under the wisdomic guide of Seestah Imahkus Njinga Ababio the director of the council of African Elders and Women Intercultural Dialogue.
“The heinous crime of Institutionalized Slavery silenced with ill perceived endorsement from religious and cultural beliefs, as well as Forced Labour and Human Trafficking ,must be treated as an emergency at this time in the continent and can be solved when the proposed solutions are agreed from an all-inclusive gathering of the religious leaders, custodian of the cultures ,elders , youths, policy makers and the edict taken home to the affected societies, communities and families.” Cookey Iwuoha the project coordinator for All Africa Media Network asserted.
Each year the NGOCSW Forum runs parallel events to the official session taking place at the UN Headquarters. This provides civil society the opportunity to engage in the processes and participate in the CSW sessions in which more than 500 events that inform engage and inspire grassroots efforts and advocacy needed to empower women and girls is organized by the UN CSW, NGO CSW/NY.
The virtual AEWID is being held on the invitation of Global African SHEROES Union in collaboration with AAMN partners. Leadership Development Foundation, Soren Kierkegaard Academic Institute, One Africa Tours among others. The dialogue will aim to elevate our collective capability of re-designing our cultural systems and intervening in them for the benefit of all.
