Equatorial Guinea's First Lady Awarded For Her Leadership In Social Development

NEW YORK, June 14, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --  In a speech at the Millennium Development Goals 2013 Women's Progress Awards, Constancia Mangue Nsue de Obiang, First Lady of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea, received the Millennium Development Goals 2013 Women's Progress award at a gala hosted last night by Voices of African Mothers, Reed for Hope Foundation and Bethesda Counsel held at the United Nations. Mrs. Obiang was honored for her leadership in social development in the country and her contributions to improving the standard of living of Equatorial Guinea's women and children.

Mrs. Obiang will also become chairman of the board of Voices of African Mothers.

The First Lady has led the efforts in her country to promote social development and has helped change societal attitudes toward women in Equatorial Guinea.

The Millennium Development Goals 2013 Women's Progress awards recognize  "the unwavering leadership, accomplishments, contributions and commitment of the courageous First Ladies of Africa"

Nana-Fosu Randall, Voices of African Mothers founder, praised Mrs. Obiang for her exemplary leadership and contributions to making women and children a top priority in Equatorial Guinea. "The First Lady of Equatorial Guinea has done a wonderful job towards women and children promotion. Our board members are honored to have the First Lady as the Chairman of our board."

In her remarks, the First Lady recounted the country's efforts to integrate women into the economy and improving the standards of living for children and women.

"I would like to highlight that our fight against marginalization was the inspiration behind the establishment of a non-governmental organization called CANIGE, Committee for the Support of the Equatoguinean Child," Mrs. Obiang said. With the creation of CANIGE, we assumed the commitment to be fully involved in the care, protection, training and integral promotion of the Equatoguinean child… because we believe they should be the center of our individual and collective efforts in order to obtain the United Nations objectives for the development of the millennium."

CANIGE promotes and assists with the education of adult women and adolescents. It manages the distribution of medicine and equipment for children's health, educational and day-care centers.

"Children and women are the core of society, the present and future of all nations," Mrs. Obiang said. "CANIGE contributes to the reduction of the maternal and children mortality rate and poverty, as well as the social integration of the incapacitated."

Mrs. Obiang joined other First Ladies of Africa and other women in senior leadership positions to honor the contributions and commitments of African women who are leading and serving the African continent. The honorees have selflessly dedicated themselves to improving the lives of women on the African continent. Together they showed their appreciation for the honorees at the awards gala.

The First Lady called on bilateral partners to work with Equatorial Guinea and support the country in its  efforts to achieve the millennium development goals. Equatorial Guinea's government has adopted special programs for the promotion and protection of women and children.

In addition to Mrs. Obiang, Denise Bucumi Nkurunzia, Burundi, Antoinette Sassou Nguesso, Republic of Congo-Brazzaville, Monique Kapuwa Kande, Democratic Republic of Congo, Mintou Doucoure Epse Traore, Mali, Dr. Malika Issoufou Mahamadou, Niger, Lisbeth Venetiaan-Vanenber, Suriname, Mama Salma Kikwete, Tanzania and Thankozani Khupe, Zimbabwe were also honored with the Millennium Development Goals 2013 Women's Progress awards.

The First Lady is the Honorary Chairwoman of CANIGE, member of the National Committee of the Fight against Aids, honorary Vice Chairman of the Association for National Solidarity for the Disabled (ASSONAM) and holds similar positions in associations throughout Africa, such as Mission for Peace of the First Ladies of Central Africa. She has participated in numerous international meetings on women's rights. The Inter-American University of Humanistic Sciences of Buenos Aires granted the First Lady a Doctor Honoris Causa.

About Equatorial Guinea
The Republic of Equatorial Guinea (Republica de Guinea Ecuatorial) is the only Spanish-speaking country in Africa, and one of the smallest nations on the continent. In the late-1990s, American companies helped discover the country's oil and natural gas resources, which only within the last five years began contributing to the global energy supply. Equatorial Guinea is now working to serve as a pillar of stability and security in its region of West Central Africa. The country hosted the 2011 Summit of the African Union. For more information, visit http://www.guineaecuatorialpress.com.

SOURCE Republic of Equatorial Guinea