Child Marriage, FGM top topics on 2017 Women's Day

The 2017 International Women's Day celebration takes place on Wednesday, March 8, 2017 at the Accra International Conference Centre; and the main topic to be discussed is ‘Child Marriage and Female Genital Mutilation’.

The event, which is being put together by All Africa Media Network (AAMN) and Society for Social Right and Civic Literacy, is expected to bring together dignitaries from different countries, with the First Lady, Mrs Rebecca Akufo-Addo, as the chairperson for the occasion.

The organisers of the event, which is intended to be a dialogue, hope to come out with a blueprint with which to overhaul practices such as child marriages, female genital mutilation and denial of women their right to inheritance and own lands.

The event also aims at preserving positive cultural norms in spite of the evolving cross-cultural clashes; and propagating cross-cultural intelligence and positive cultural exchange.

It is expected to enrich the audience, concerned citizens and leaders of social institutions such as labour unions, religious organisations, civil society leaders and heads of market women associations from different regions in Africa and beyond.

The Head of Mission, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) Ghana, Mr Tirso Dos Santos, emphasised the importance of the dialogue, saying; "UNESCO considers gender issues an important dimension in its operations and will participate in the dialogue,” he said.

The Programme Coordinator of AAMN, Mr Chinka Iwuoha, appealed for support, sponsorship and collaboration from corporate organisations, civil societies and interested individuals to ensure a successful inter-cultural dialogue.