Africa-Press – Angola. The First Lady of Angola, Ana Dias Lourenço, announced in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, that Angola will host this year’s Resource Mobilization Gala for the implementation of projects of the Organization of African First Ladies for Development (OAFLAD).
Speaking at the closing of the 30th OAFLAD Assembly, as vice-president of the organization, Ana Dias Lourenço said that the active participation of the members will not only be essential for the success of the initiative, but also fundamental for the mobilization of other partners and allies who can join this collective effort.
The First Lady stressed that Angola has sought to strengthen policies and programs that promote women’s empowerment, girls’ education, social protection and economic inclusion, with special attention to the most vulnerable communities.
Ana Lourenço shared two successful experiences carried out in Angola: the “Born Free to Shine” Campaign, which contributed to reducing mother-to-child HIV transmission rate from 26% in 2019 to 14% in 2021.
The “We Are All Equal” Campaign, implemented over a year, the First Lady said, focused on combating gender-based violence, especially violence against children and adolescents.
The First Lady of Angola highlighted that the “We Are All Equal” Campaign raised awareness among the Angolan population about reporting cases of domestic violence.
Ana Lourenço said that it generated engagement from the Justice bodies and resulted in an increase in the sentence for offenders from 3 to 12 years of effective imprisonment for cases of abuse and rape of minors.
The First Lady announced the construction of a youth campus this year in the province of Cunene, in southern Angola, which will offer integrated health and well-being services, HIV/AIDS counseling and testing, and vocational training.
On behalf of the organization, Ana Dias Lourenço thanked them for their commitment and dedication to the work, which reinforced the legitimacy and relevance of the collective mission at the continental level in Africa.
During the 30th OPDAD General Assembly, which took place on February 13, African First Ladies reaffirmed their commitment to placing women and girls at the centre of climate adaptation strategies.
The event, held under the theme ‘Building resilience for women and girls in the face of climate challenges, conflict, and shaping sustainable futures’, emphasized the commitment to creating a fairer world in which women and girls feel safer and can envision a more sustainable, secure, and humane future.
