BY LISA FRENCH

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the landmark Fourth Conference on Women held in Beijing in 1995, when 189 countries signed an action plan aimed at empowering women.

Over the two-decade time span, African women and women of African descent have recorded laudable achievements in a wide array of areas: Politics, business, education, and more.

To mark these achievements, the African Union/Diaspora African Forum (AU/DAF), in collaboration with the United Nations Women, is hosting a high-profile event dubbed “The African Women of Excellence Awards Gala Dinner” at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City, New York on September 12. This event, which is in line with the African Union’s declaration of 2015 as the Year of Women Empowerment and Development Towards Africa’s Agenda 2063, will be televised and live-streamed.

The award categories include: “The Living Legends Award” honoring outstanding African women elders who have made global impact at significant personal sacrifice for the benefit of the growth and freedom of Africa, Africans and the global family; and “The Women of Excellence Award” honoring women who have made significant global contributions that have positively impacted the lives of African women and women of African descent.

The selection process is conducted by the African Union/Diaspora African Forum Awards Committee which will identify, shortlist, select, notify and profile final awardees under both categories.

This is the second award ceremony organized this year by the African Union/Diaspora African Forum for African women. The previous one was held in collaboration with the Republic of South Africa, the African Union Commission, and NEPAD Planning and Coordination Agency, on June 12 in Sandton City, South Africa.

The African Union/Diaspora African Forum, headquartered in Accra, Ghana with full diplomatic status, “was formed to support development in Africa,” in the words of its founder and chairperson, Ambassador Erieka Bennett.