NIGERIA: President Banda to Attend High Level Global Women Network in Nigeria

President Dr Joyce Banda will leave the country on June 26 for Abuja Nigeria where she is expected to attend a High Level Global Women Network on 27 and 28 June 2013.

According to press release from the State House authored by Presidential Press Secretary Steve Nhlane, the President will depart through the Kamuzu International Airport in Lilongwe at 09:00 hours in the morning.

The Global Power Network aims at reviewing and identifying strategies for accelerating the implementation of the global and regional commitments for women and gender equality and HIV/AIDS in Africa and adopting the post 2015 priorities.

The conference will review the continent's performance in HIV response for women and girls, as well as in women's health, empowerment and gender equality.

The press statement states that the conference will also review the state of sexual and gender-based violence in Africa, including during the conflict and post-conflict situations and assess the effectiveness of multi-sectoral prevention and management efforts to address them.Among other things the conference will come up with a set of agreed priorities for women and girls, gender equality and HIV/AIDS, for inclusion in a post-2015 sustainable development framework.

Other outcomes are that the conference will compile strategies, policies and effective and promising practices for accelerating the implementation of global and regional commitments for women and girls, gender equality and HIV/AIDS in Africa.

The conference will also document the state of gender based violence in Africa as well as come up with an up to date performance report on HIV response for women and girls as well as women's health, empowerment.

As Co-Chair of the UNAIDS and Lancet Commission, from AIDS to Sustainable Health the President will pledge to utilize the Malawi leader, she is also expected to pledge her role to push for the continued prioritization of women and girls' rights and health in the HIV response.

Dr Joyce Banda being the current SADC champion for AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, she is also expected to advocate for the cause of women in the region.

The Global Power Women Network Africa is a network of African women who are also elected and appointed representatives that are at decision-making table and it is jointly funded by UNAIDS, African Union, ECOWAS and the host government.