Karama builds bridges with women across Africa and Latin America at Mujeres por Africa conference

Ayat Mneina (centre) alongside Oby Ezekwesili (r) at the Women Building Bridges event in Madrid

Karama network members joined women leaders from Africa, Latin America and Europe in Madrid last week to mark the 10th anniversary of the Mujeres por Africa (Women for Africa) foundation.

The event, opened by HM Queen Letizia and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, saw contributions from Michelle Bachelet, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, former president of Liberia, as well as Mujeres por Africa president María Teresa Fernández de la Vega, the first woman to serve as deputy prime minister of Spain.

The event hosted discussions on issues such as governance and major global challenges, Social policies and welfare, and Legal equality, political rights and participation in public life. Karama founder Hibaaq Osman co-chaired the session on violence against women and girls & the women, peace and security agenda, alongside Congolese activist Caddy Adzuba, with an introduction from Miguel Ángel Moratinos, UN High Representative for the Alliance of Civilizations.

Karama’s Ayat Mneina co-hosted the session on Economic, technological and digital empowerment alongside Oby Ezekwesili, who served as education minister for Nigeria, while Mouna Ghanem spoke as part of the parade of ideas.