Human Rights of Women
United Nations to Launch the African Queens and Women Cultural Leaders Network (AQWCLN) – 4th -6th September 2013 - Uganda
United Nations in Uganda is pleased to announce the launch of the African Queens and Women Cultural Leaders Network (AQWCLN) scheduled to take place in Uganda with the opening ceremony at Commonwealth Speke Resort Munyonyo on 4th September and the closing ceremony in Fort Portal on 6th September 2013. UN Women, in collaboration with UNAIDS and the African Union are supporting the establishment of AQWCLN - a female cultural leaders’ network involving African Queens, Queen Mothers, Princesses and women cultural leaders. AQWCLN seeks to implement programmes that discourage harmful traditional practices while protecting and promoting the rights of women and girls.
‘The establishment of AQWCLN is a response to the “Harare Call to Action” adopted in May 2012 at a high level meeting, “Accelerating Action for Women Empowerment and Gender Equality in the area of HIV and Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights: Getting to Zero in Africa,” hosted by the GlobalPOWER Women Network Africa,’ said Mrs. Ahunna Eziakonwa - Onochie, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Uganda.
One of the commitments from the Harare Call to Action was the need to establish meaningful partnerships with religious, traditional and cultural leaders in the implementation of programmes to protect and promote the rights of women and girls and work with the African Union Commission (AUC) in promoting the Campaign for Accelerated Reduction of Maternal Mortality in Africa (CARMMA) and sexual and reproductive health as well as in combating harmful traditional practices.
The queens and women cultural leaders pledged to identify model best practices for change and to work with religious, cultural and traditional leaders on the continent to implement programmes that promote the rights of women and girls. It is upon this background that the meeting called for the formation of a Women’s Cultural Leaders Network.
AQWCLN aims to build strong networks that will act as meaningful and effective partners in enabling Africa to fulfil its aspirations as a unified, peaceful and prosperous continent. The network will leverage cultural influence at policy and grassroots levels to achieve results in a number of areas, including:
• Promoting positive cultural values and the eradication of harmful traditional practices;
• Enhancing efforts to secure peace across the continent;
• Expanding access to quality health care and improving health outcomes for women and girls;
• Improving access to quality education for women and girls;
• Promoting women’s economic empowerment and leadership; and
• Supporting efforts to alleviate poverty, and providing local solutions to promote food security.
The AQWCLN launch will be co-hosted by HRH Queen Sylvia Nagindda of Buganda Kingdom and HRH the Queen Mother of Tooro Queen Best Kemigisha Olimi. This is an Africa wide event that will bring together Queens, Queen Mothers, Princesses, women cultural leaders and representatives of UN agencies, amongst other dignitaries.
For more information please contact:
Sanyu Nkiinzi Kagwa, Communication Officer, UN Women
Telephone: +256-417-112 100/182 ; Cell phone: +256-755 – 888 333
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Michael Wangusa, Communication Officer, UN Resident Coordinators Office
Telephone: +256-417-112 100/194; Cell phone: +256-772 – 651 465
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.