National Council of Negro Women

Hesham Elswify (President of African Express); Nicole Lee (President of TransAfrica Forum); Dr. Avis Jones-DeWeever (Executive Director of NCNW); First Lady of Ghana, Mrs. Ernestina Naadu Mills; Barbara Perkins and Kathryn Flewellen (President and Executive Director, respectively, of International Black Women’s Public Policy Institute); and Edith Hazel (Deputy Chief of Mission at Ghana Embassy, Washington, D.C.)

 

National Council of Negro Women and Others Partner for Intercontinental Black Women’s Conference in Ghana

NCNW partners with TransAfrica, New York University’s Women of Color Policy Network and the International Black Women’s Public Policy Institute for Black Women’s Empowerment Conference; Event to focus on human trafficking, economic empowerment and women’s health

March 26, 2012 — The National Council of Negro Women (NCNW) recently announced its partnership with TransAfrica, New York University’s Women of Color Policy Network and the International Black Women’s Public Policy Institute to host the 2012 Intercontinental Black Women’s Empowerment Conference.  Facilitation for this international event has been handled by Mr. Hesham Elswify of African Express Travel & Tours.  The conference is scheduled for July 15 – 24, 2012 and will take place in Accra, Ghana. Ghanaian First Lady Ernestina Naadu Mills will also serve as host to the expected 200 conference guests.

The Black Women’s Empowerment Conference will examine ways to more effectively combat the human trafficking of women and children in Ghana and beyond, promote economic empowerment of African and African-American women and address ways to improve women’s health, with a strong focus on mental health, maternal mortality, and the continuing fight against HIV. While distinct and significant, each of these issues impacts the lives and quality of life of women of African descent across the Diaspora.

“As we prepare to celebrate what would be Dr. Dorothy Height’s 100th birthday, this conference honors the legacy of a woman whose concern for black women reached far beyond the United States,” said Dr. Avis Jones-DeWeever, Executive Director of NCNW.  Women of African descent are disproportionately impacted by poverty, are more susceptible to human trafficking or “modern day slavery,” and have shockingly high incidents of HIV infections, so this conference is not only desired, it’s absolutely necessary.”

Through a series of conference workshops, participants will hear from notable advocates and activists who have worked tirelessly for the equality and well-being of women. Invited guests include Secretary of State Hillary Clinton,  California Attorney General Kamala Harris, author and motivational speaker Iyanla Vanzant among many others.

During the 10-day conference, attendees will visit Cape Coast Castle, the first European slave-trading post built in 1482 while holding an in-depth focus on the continuing human rights atrocity of human trafficking, tour the pyramids and Sphinx of Cairo while honoring the women for Egypt for their role in the fight for freedom throughout Northern Africa and beyond, and meet the current Ashanti King and Queen in Kumasi while also exploring ways in which  Africans and African Americans can work together more effectively in pursuit of economic empowerment.

For more information on the 2012 Intercontinental Black Women’s Empowerment Conference, and to be a part of this truly unique experience, contact Mr. Hesham Elswify, President of African Express at 1-877-6AFRICA.