Brussels, 30 September: The Motherland Tour: A Journey of African Women » with Yvonne Chaka Chaka

Special event in follow-up to the UN MDGs Summit

« The Motherland Tour: A Journey of African Women » with Yvonne Chaka Chaka

Thursday 30th of September

18h00 – 20h45

With opening remarks by Her Royal Highness Princess Astrid of Belgium, Roll Back Malaria Special Representative

The screening will be followed by a panel discussion entitled “Outcomes of the UN Summit and the way forward to reach the MDGs” with (by alphabetical order):

Speakers:                       

• Christoph Benn, Director of External Relations for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria    
• Yvonne Chaka Chaka, RBM and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador
• Mohamed Ibn Chambas, Secretary General, Secretariat of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (TBC)
• Marcus Leroy, Minister Counselor, Special Coordinator for the MDGs, Foreign Affairs Belgium, Belgian Presidency of the EU
• Luis Riera-Figueras, Director of Directorate B – Development Policy and Sectoral Questions, DG Development – European Commission
• Representative from the European Parliament- EU ACP Joint Parliamentary Assembly

Closing remarks:   Philippe Cori, UNICEF Brussels Director

Moderator:       Janos Tisovszky, Deputy Director of the United Nations Regional Information Centre (UNRIC)

When? 30 September 2010, 18h00-20h45

Where?  Polak Room, Residence Palace, Rue de la Loi/Wetstraat, 155. 

Event Programme

18.00
Welcome by Herve Verhoosel, External Relations Manager, Roll Back Malaria Partnership (RBM) 

18h05
Opening remarks by Her Royal Highness Princess Astrid of Belgium, Roll Back Malaria Special Representative

18h15
Introduction and screening of the film: “The Motherland Tour: A Journey of African Women” with Yvonne Chaka Chaka (RBM and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador).

18h40
Panel discussion on the “Outcomes of the UN Summit and the way forward to reach the MDGs”

19h30
Closing remarks by Philippe Cori, UNICEF Brussels Director 

19h40 – 20h45
Reception    

RSVP to Roll Back Malaria Partnership
By Fax: 001 646 626 6080 or
By email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

For more information:

Aude Galli
EU Malaria Policy and Advocacy Manager
Red Cross / EU Office
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Tel: +32 (0) 2 235 09 11

Hervé Verhoosel
External Relations Manager
Roll Back Malaria Partnership (Secretariat) – New York Office
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Tel: + 1 646 626 6043

Jean-Luc Onckelinx (media relations)
Desk Officer for EU and Benelux
United Nations Regional Information Centre (UNRIC)
Cellular phone: 32.476/215.485
E. mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Renowned Singer Yvonne Chaka Chaka, RBM&UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and UN Envoy for Africa is in Brussels to host the screening of her film documentary: "The Motherland Tour - A Journey of African Women”. Yvonne grew up in a township of Soweto before using her music to bring about positive change for those suffering poverty and disease throughout Africa.

The film promotes the significant progress made in recent years on improving the health and rights of women and children in Africa, as well as the critical need for ongoing support. It is the story of Yvonne’s journey throughout Africa as she met and documented some of Africa’s extraordinary women who are pioneering positive change and sustainable progress on issues including malaria and HIV. The film highlights their personal stories and exemplary grass roots work on issues including maternal and child health, women’s empowerment, education, and poverty.

The screening is being staged to maintain global momentum on fighting poverty in the build up to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) Summit and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Pledging Conference being held in September and October this year.  These critical meetings will provide an opportunity for world leaders to assess the progress and challenges ahead in meeting the global goals on poverty by 2015.

After the screening, a panel discussion with high level speakers from the European Commission, the Secretariat of African, Caribbean and Pacific countries, the European Parliament, the Global Fund and the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs will join Yvonne Chaka Chaka to discuss the outcomes of the UN Summit and the way forward to reach the MDGs.