WOW is joining forces with Sierra Leone based girl-focused feminist organisation Purposeful as Programme Partner of the 10th Africa Conference on Sexual Health and Rights, which takes place in Freetown this summer.

The landmark conference takes place from 27 June to 1 July with the theme: “Accelerating the Elimination of Sexual and Gender Based Violence in Africa”. After two years of a global shadow pandemic for women and girls, this is a critical moment for human rights and gender justice on the Continent. The conference will bring together activists, Governments, UN Agencies, development partners and civil society together to learn, connect and build consensus to end violence against women and girls.

The conference is hosted by Purposeful (who WOW has collaborated before to create the Young Leaders Directory) and convened by the African Federation for Sexual Health and Rights. Her Excellency the First Lady of Sierra Leone, Madam Fatima Maada Bio is the Chief Patron of the conference, which is organised in collaboration with the Government of Sierra Leone.

Attendees at the conference will have the chance to engage with globally renowned speakers and leaders, participate in networking opportunities, coalition-building workshops, wellness and healing sessions, and a full programme of arts and culture events. Confirmed speakers include H.E President Julius Madda Bio and First Lady and campaigner Madam Fatima Maada Bio of the Republic of Sierra Leone; UNFPA Executive Director Dr Natalia Kanem; award-winning feminist author Nana Darkoa; ECOWAS Vice President Madam Finda Koroma; CEO of the African Women’s Development Fund Francoise Moudouthe; novelist and screenwriter sensation Namina Forna; and very special guest Yemi Alade plus a whole host of experts, activists and advocates from across the Continent and beyond.

Find out more here.