NGO Executive Director receives "Women of Substance" Award

Accra, Dec. 2, GNA - Ms Bineta Diop, Executive Director of Femmes Africa Solidarite (FAS), an international women's organization concerned with women's empowerment and conflict resolution has received an award dubbed "Women of Substance" in recognition of her achievements. The award, which is the first in the series, also aims at raising the profile of those who do their work out of the limelight and to encourage emerging leadership.

A statement issued by FAS said Ms Diop had conducted numerous peace missions to conflict areas and was instrumental in the achievement of gender parity within the Commission of the African Union in July 2003. Ms Diop currently serves as a member of the advisory board to the International Committee of the Red Cross and has published widely in the field of women's best practices in peace building.

The award presented by the African Women Development Fund (AWDF), an NGO also recognized the important role Ms Diop plays in promoting the rights of African women and the superb role model she is for her generation and forthcoming ones. Other recipients for 2005 were: Ms Asha Haji Elmi Amin, Founder, Save the Somali Women and Children, Ms Yvonne Chaka Chaka, a musician, Dr Musimbi Kanyoro, General Secretary of the World YWCA, Ms Josephine Ouedraogo, Acting Deputy Executive Secretary of United Nations Economic Commission for Africa and Ama Ata Aidoo, an accomplished Ghanaian writer.

AWDF is the first Africa-wide fundraising and grant-making fund, which aims to support the work of organizations working to promote women's rights in Africa.