The First Lady of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Her Excellency Fatima Maada Bio received a resounding warm welcome from African women in the UK as she joined Dr Pauline Long in launching Global Africa Women’s Week. The event took place in central London with inspirational women from over 25 African countries in attendance to discuss issues that affect African women in the Diaspora and in Africa.
Global Africa Women’s Week, also known as GAWW was founded by Dr Pauline Long through Pauline Long Entrepreneurship Foundation to bring African women together to sensitive on matters that affect the global African woman. It is a movement that encourages African women to take their voices back and be at the forefront of making policies that affect their well-being. The universal African women’s movement is a framework for every African woman to connect through victory, injustices, struggles, business and more.
The theme for GAWW 2019 is ‘African Women Raising The Bar’. Dr Pauline Long said, “we recognise that the African woman has achieved a lot and that must be celebrated however we must do more, it’s time for us all to raise the bar” She added, “we thank the First lady of Sierra Leone, my good friend and sister for her commitment to bring tangible change to the continent particularly with her campaign Hands Off Our Girls.”
Her Excellency Mrs Bio endorsed Global Africa Women’s Week as patron of the movement and encouraged African women to continue doing their bit for the continent. Among issues discussed were FGM, sisterhood within African women, Child marriage, rape, modern slavery, health issues such as cancer and diabetes, period poverty, supporting women in business and more. Her Excellency said, “cancer is the biggest killer in Africa today, it is worse than Malaria, we must make change. We are also losing our young girls to child marriage, we must protect them.”
The official Global Africa Women’s Week 2019 which is a 7-day event for African women all over the world will be announced shortly.
PICTURES FROM THE EVENT
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By GAWW Press Team
