Women of the Diaspora Summit - Thursday, February 11 at 11:00 am ET (GMT -5 Midnight EST): Djibril Diallo / Rima Salah

I hope this finds you well,
An interesting Summit organized by our
Colleague Djibril,
Warm Wishes,
Rima




Media Advisory:
Women of the Diaspora Summit: Economic Equity and COVID-19

Aviso a los Medios de Comunicación:
Cumbre de Mujeres de la Diáspora: Equidad Económica y COVID-19

Communiqué de Presse:
Sommet des Femmes de la Diaspora: Équité Économique et COVID-19

Women of the Diaspora Summit: Economic Equity and COVID-19

C. D. Glin, President of US African Development Foundation, Olympian Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Epsy Campbell Barr, First Vice-President of Costa Rica, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Executive Director of UN Women, Diene Keita, Deputy Executive Director, UNFPA, Florizelle Liser, CEO of the Corporate Council on Africa, Hon. Olivia Grange, Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Jamaica, Hon. Filsan Abdullahi, Minister of Women, Children and the Youth, Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and young entrepreneurs from Africa and the diaspora are among speakers at February 11 virtual summit.

New York, NY (January 30, 2021) —The African Renaissance and Diaspora Network will convene the second Women of the Diaspora Global Summit virtually on Thursday, February 11 at 11:00 am ET (GMT -5) to coincide with the United Nation's International Day of Women and Girls in Science 2021. With the world facing a deadly pandemic and its debilitating toll on global economies, the summit will examine the harsh and disproportionate impact COVID-19 has on the economic and social conditions of women and girls. High-level officials from Costa Rica, USA, and Ethiopia, and an intergenerational group of women leaders from government, business, academia, and civil society will provide perspectives from the Americas, Europe, and Africa.

"Poverty and hunger are the results of economic inequality between the sexes," says Dr. Djibril Diallo, president of ARDN. "We must therefore ensure that women are taken into account in every economic initiative against the pandemic so as to leave no one behind."

This year, around 435 million women and girls will live on less than $1.90 per day, of which 47 million have been pushed into poverty as a result of COVID-19, according to a recent joint study by UN Women and UNDP. The upcoming Women of the Diaspora Summit will focus on economic equity at the intersection of economic justice, development, and the disproportionate impact COVID-19 has on women's lives and livelihood. In conjunction with the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, this summit includes young women entrepreneurs creating jobs in the technology sector and inspiring girls to study science and mathematics.

Summit special guest speakers include Mr. C.D. Glin, President and CEO of the US African Development Foundation, H. E. Epsy Campbell-Barr, First Vice-President, Republic of Costa Rica; Ms. Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Olympian and founder and CEO of Jackie Joyner-Kersee Foundation; and Hon. Olivia Grange, Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Jamaica, Hon. Filsan Abdullahi, Minister of Women, Children and the Youth, Chancellor, Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia.

Two panels, one on economic inequity and the other highlighting solutions leading to equity, include: Ms. Cido Bento (Center of Labor Relations and Inequalities, Brazil); Florizelle Liser, CEO of the Corporate Council on Africa Ms. Erika Hairston (Edylift, USA) Ms. Regina Honu (Soronko Solutions, Ghana); Ms. Mmabatho Mokiti (DreamGirls Academy, South Africa); Ms. Semhar Ariah (Facebook, USA); Dr. Lezli Baskerville (NAFEO, USA); Ms. Carolyne Ekyarisiima (Apps for Girls, Tanzania); and Ms. Dennia Gayle (UNFPA, Ethiopia). The summit moderators are Ms. Constance B. Newman, Chair of the Board of ARDN and Ms. Marie-Jeanne Serbin-Thomas, publisher of Brune Magazine.

The Women of the Diaspora Summits are one of two programs specifically focused on gender equity that ARDN developed to assist the United Nations in building awareness about the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). One in three women globally experience physical or sexual violence, which can be devastating and deadly. To generate heightened interest in SDG #5, ARDN created the Red Card Pledge Campaign, which invites people to give a red card to stop all forms of discrimination and violence against women and girls. Last September, to broaden knowledge about the need for gender equality, ARDN launched the Women of the Diaspora series of summits in partnership with the Republic of Costa Rica, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) and in collaboration with UN HABITAT, the National Council of Negro Women, and Webster University.

Consequences and costs women and girls face resulting from domestic violence, gender in equality, health inequities, and poverty and innovative solutions that uplift and empower women and girls are the dominant issues explored during the series. The summits engage the expertise and lived-experiences of intergenerational leaders - especially women of the diaspora - who are reimagining and reshaping their communities, companies and countries to forge better futures for women and girls. The takeaways from each summit are specific call-to-action items aligned with reaching the sustainable development goals and elevating women out of poverty. Over 1,300 participated in the first summit on Gender and Racial Discrimination. Domestic violence against women, the climate crisis, and women in sports and culture are among the issues to be discussed in future summits.

For the Women of the Diaspora Economic Equity Summit full schedule, complete list of speakers and panelists, and free registration, please visit www.ardn.ngo.

Media Contact: Arlene.Katzive@ardn.ngo

Djibril Diallo, PhD London
President & CEO, African Renaissance and Diaspora Network