PRESS RELEASE

In parallel of the New York Forum AFRICA organized by Richard Attias and Associates and the Omar Bongo Foundation, CECILIA ATTIAS FOUNDATION FOR WOMEN AND SYVLIA BONGO ONDIMBA FOUNDATION FOR FAMILIES JOIN TOGETHER TO LAUNCH “DIALOGUE FOR ACTION AFRICA” (DFAA)

Major International Forum Addressing Women’s Advancement to take place in Libreville, Gabon on June 11, 2012

NEW YORK, LIBREVILLE, February 10, 2012 - Cecilia Attias, President of the Cecilia Attias Foundation for Women, in collaboration with Mrs. Sylvia Bongo Ondimba, First Lady of Gabon and President of the Sylvia Bongo Ondimba Foundation For Families are proud to host the Dialogue for Action Africa on June 11, 2012 in Libreville, Gabon.

This day-long forum will provide a global platform to a unique and dynamic group of the world’s leading women and men in business, NGOs, academia, and government to resolve Africa’s greatest challenges for women. The Dialogue for Action Africa will allow the world’s leaders to collaborate to identify solutions and to connect our unique group with partners across Africa and beyond and will attract a targeted audience of NGO leaders, business executives, media experts and political and academic leaders.

Building on the success of the 2010 Dialogue for Action in New York, this forum will address the urgent issues that must be resolved today to ensure a prosperous, healthy, and safe environment for African women.

Participants in DFAA bring with them their experiences as experts, educators, business people,victims and heroes to confront the most urgent challenges facing African women: education and literacy; access to business and entrepreneurship; improved health systems and maternal care; and safety and security. Through innovative collaboration and discussion, the group will addresses these four areas to create a Plan of Action to bring about sustainable solution. The plan will be presented to the G20 in Los Cabos, Mexico few days after the DFAA.

“To support women, is to support our families and our communities. Women are the bedrock of our society and, thanks to their formidable energy, contribute greatly the economic development of our countries and the creation of more just and unified societies. It is for these reasons that women have been at the heart of my agenda since taking office as first lady of Gabon,” Mrs. Sylvia Gabon Ondimba commented, “ These actions in favor of women are in compliance with the Millennium Development Objectives, which recognize the central role women and mothers play in our society. We’re so pleased that Gabon will be host to the Dialogue for Action Africa and gather the world’s foremost leaders to come up with innovative solutions for the advancement of women everywhere.”

Cecilia Attias, added, “At a time of instability in the western world, we must invest in a sustainable future. Women represent well over half of the African population, where access to education, employment, healthcare, and safety are particularly limited. They also hold much potential to be part of the solution. I look forward to welcoming the world’s leading thinkers to Gabon to find take action to invest the future of African women.”

The Dialogue for Action Africa will be held in conjunction with the New York Forum AFRICA, an annual platform that assembles the world’s leading business, economic and regulatory officials for two days of action oriented discussion and debate.

For more information please contact:

Cecilia Attias Foundation For Women

Katie Eid

• +212 794 8801 x 119

• katie.eid@richardattiasassociates.com

Victoria Vincent

• +212 794 8801 x 111

• Victoria.vincent@richardattiasassociates.com

Or

Fondation Sylvia Bongo Ondimba pour la Famille

Maï-Linh Hamisultane

• +241 44 32 72

• m.hamisultane@fondationsbo.org

Lisa-Marie Bongotha

• +241 44 32 72

• presse@fondationsbo.org

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