Abdoulaye WADE  

A determined and visionary leader, the President of Senegal, His Excellency Abdoulaye Wade believes in the promise of democratic change and in the expansion of opportunies for all people. President Wade has been a tireless champion for African unity, democratization, sustainable socio-economic development and peace-building.

A lawyer by training, President Wade is studied and taught law in France and later served as Dean for the Law & Economies Department at the University of Dakar.

Today, President Wade is leading a country that is helping to lead a continent. President Wade has consistently declared that there can be no democracy without women enjoying full rights. This exceptional President was one of the first Heads of State in West Africa to actively promote women to positions of power within his administration. President Wade strongly believes that women should be in high-level position so that they can take part in key decisions and of society. In his own worlds President Wade has said that "The fate of woman must be left up to men -that would be a tremendous mistake. That would be unilateral, and I can tell you that things will go much better if we leave it to women to close the gap between men and themselves." In other worlds, the President supports that women have control over their own destinies and will carve out their own leadership paths given the right opportunities.
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Thabo Mwulyelwa Mbeki  

Struggle and engagement are the leitmotivs of His Excellency Thabo Mbeki, the President of South Africa. A strong advocate for continental unity. President Mbeki has consistently used his good offices to engage in the revitalization of the continent and the advancement of the diverse peoples of Africa.

President Mbeki received his Mater's degree in economics from Sussex University and went on to pursue a celebrated career, which always had the freedom of his country as its core objective. Since his election in June of 1999, President Mbeki has enlarged the opportunities and freedom for women in his country. He is quick to point out the central role that women played in the fight for freedom against the apartheid regime and the continued importance of championing women's engagement as South Africa transforms into a truly plurastic society.

President Mbeki government has actively promoted women to high-level leadership positions. The South African government is rated 13th in the world for the percentage of women in parliament by the Inter Parliamentary Union. The government of President Mbeki has also pushed the private sector to promote women and a fuller expansion of freedom for women at their core.
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Bineta DIOP -
Founder and Executive Director Femmes Africa Solidarité

African women have shown strength, tenacity and steadfastness in working to build peace and reconcile conflicts in their communities, countries and continent. The past two years in particular have proved to be an exciting and productive time for Femmes Africa Solidarité, as we have witnessed significant accomplishments in terms of integrating a gendered perspective into the peacemaking process. Most notable perhaps, has been the commitment to establishing a Pan-African Centre for Gender, Peace and Development in Dakar, Senegal with the vision of encouraging knowledge dissemination between African women leaders, international organizations and communities of women working for peace and security on the ground.
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