Dialogue for Action Africa to Convene Women's Issues Forum June 11, 2012

NEW YORK, May 18, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

- Experts and speakers dedicated to the empowerment of African women to gather in Libreville, Gabon

The Cecilia Attias Foundation for Women, in association with Mrs. Sylvia Bongo Ondimba, the first lady of Gabon, will be hosting the 2012 installment of Dialogue for Action Africa (DFAA) in Libreville, Gabon. Dedicated to helping women in Africa lead safe, productive, and healthy lives, the forum seeks to creatively address the salient issues faced by African women.

In addition to special remarks by Cecilia Attias and Sylvia Bongo Ondimba, DFAA will feature a unique collection of inspiring experts and speakers from academia, government, NGOs, the private sector, and the medical community. Cecilia Attias comments: "The diversity and expertise of Dialogue for Action Africa's speakers is astounding. Their dedication to women's issues is truly inspiring and their insights will be enable us to promote African women's issues through actionable initiatives."

These initiatives will culminate in a Plan of Action for Africa, which will be presented at the G20 Summit in Los Cabos, Mexico in June. At the G20, DFAA's conclusions will become part of the global agenda and will be discussed by the world's most influential leaders and policy makers. Creating this bridge between DFAA and government leaders is key to producing change at an institutional level and is an innovative example of public-private partnerships.

Confirmed DFAA speakers and participants include: Cecilia Attias, Founder and President, The Cecilia Attias Foundation for Women; Sylvia Bongo Ondimba, First Lady, Gabon; Dame Patience Goodluck Jonathan, First Lady, Nigeria; Chantal Compaore, First Lady, Burkina Faso; Her Royal Highness Princess Lalla Salma, Morocco; Chantal Biya, First Lady, Cameroon; Azeb Mesfin, First Lady, Ethiopia; Dr. Malika Issoufou Mahamdou, First Lady, Niger; Irina Bukova, Director General of UNESCO; Hon. Aicha Bah Diallo, FAWE Chairperson and Network for Education for All in Africa (REPTA); Pascal Chaigneau, Affiliate Professor of Education, Sorbonne Paris Descartes University; Holly Gordon, Executive Director, 10x10; Sade Baderinwa, Emmy Award-winning news Anchor/Reporter WABC-TV; Dr. Amy Lehman, Founder Lake Tanganyika Floating Health Clinic; Magatte Wade, Founder and CEO Tiossano; Vickie Remoe, Founder and Creative Director How4Do productions; Casey Cobell, EVP & Country Director Indego Africa Rwanda; Philisiwe Buthelizi, CEO National Empowerment Fund; Fatime Christiane Ndiaye, Sr. Gender Specialist International Labour Organization; Denise Epote, TV5 Monde; Elizabeth Dearborn Davis, Co-Founder of the Akilah Institute for Women; Edna Adan Ismail, Founder Edna Adan Hospital; Nahid Toubia, Chair, White Ribbon Alliance Sudan; Coumba Toure, Founder and President of ADA foundation; Dr. Deqo Mohamed, Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Hawa Abdi Foundation; Jeffrey Gettleman, NYTimes East Africa Bureau Chief and Pulitzer Prize winner; Yomi Abiola, Model, Activist and journalist; Zainab Salbi, Founder Women for Women International; Esther Ibanga, Pastor, Women on the Plateau Peace Initiative; and Letty Chiwara, Chief of Africa Division, UN Women.

With special messages from: Arianna Huffington, President and Editor-in-Chief, The Huffington Post Media Group; Cherie Blair, Founder, The Cherie Blair Foundation for Women; Angela Dean, Director, Global Business Development at Partner Africa; Ben Stone, CEO, Indego Africa; Ruma Bose, Serial Entrepreneur, Business Executive, Philanthropist and Author; Jill Iscol, President, IF Hummingbird Foundation; Sarah Brown, President, PiggyBankKids, Global Patron of the White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood; Michelle Bachelet, Executive Director of UN Women, Former President of Chile; Minna Salami, Founder, MsAfropolitan blog and Boutique; Ambassador Melanne Verveer, Ambassador-at-Large, Global Women's Issues; and Francoise Girard, President, International Women's Health Coalition.

Dialogue for Action Africa will be held in conjunction with the New York Forum Africa, an annual action-oriented assembly of the world's leading business, economic, and regulatory officials. By collaborating with New York Forum Africa, DFAA is seeking to build crosscutting partnerships between the worlds of business and NGOs.  New York Forum Africa founder Richard Attias comments: "Non-profits and private enterprises have much to share with one another. They can collaborate on a host of topics, from tackling issues related to efficiency and financing to engaging in discussions of mission and ethics. Collaboration between Dialogue for Action Africa and the New York Forum Africa is a step in this direction."

For more information please visit the Dialogue for Action Africa website at: http://www.ceciliaattiasfoundation.org/DialogueForActionAfrica

For more information please contact:

Cecilia Attias Foundation For Women

Katie Eid
+1-212-794-8801 x 112
[email protected]

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SOURCE Dialogue for Action