Despite huge contributions of women, there yet remains a lot more to be done in giving women a more balanced access to opportunities and removing practices that harm and put women at disproportionate risks.
Practices like female genital mutilation/cutting and other demeaning practices have over the years deprived women the joy of a balance access to equal opportunities in a world largely dominated by man.
This year marks 100 years of the International Women’s Day (IWD) and to celebrate the event the IWD is presenting yet another unique global opportunity to once again focus on women-related issues, inspire and celebrate women everywhere.
So come March 8, 2011, The IWD as part of events marking this day and to honour the resilience of African women, will be presenting for screening, the first time in Nigeria, the incredibly dramatic and inspiring movie – Desert Flower.
Desert Flower is a triumphant true-to-life story of Waris Dirie, an African woman who overcame the trauma of female circumcision at age five and early marriage at age thirteen to become a famous New York City supermodel.
Waris was appointed as the United Nations’ Special Ambassador for the elimination of female genital mutilation/cutting by Kofi Annan; She is also the African Union’s Ambassador of Peace and Security and works for women through her foundation- Desert flower foundation.
“I am very much looking forward to travelling to Africa once again to present the movie Desert Flower”, says Waris Dirie, who also attended the movie’s premiere in Addis Ababa / Ethiopia in 2010. “I wrote the book for the women of Africa and I want this movie to be shown all over Africa!”.
Through this movie and the première, we seek to champion the cause of women and bring the attention of decision-makers and the public back to the issue of Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting so we can eradicate the practice in one generation.
This is why we are working with several organisations to promote and deliver this event.
Organisations include the United Nation’s Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA), Waris Dirie and her foundation, Lufthansa, United Nations agencies, the German Consulate general, EDC (Pan African University), Metro Taxi, Revlon and many other forward-thinking corporations who are passionate to ensure a favourable life for all women.
The event which will be held at the Genesis Deluxe Cinemas, Palms Mall- Lagos on the 3rd of March 2011, at 7pm, is expected to host several high profile guest from the government and corporate world, several organisations working for the better life of women and humanity, and members of the diplomatic community
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