And this event happening the day after with the United Nations calls africa day may 25th each year to celebrate the continents achievements and reflects on its challenges. It also comes on a day where the African Economic outlook was posted today. Wall street journal saying the trend indicates that african economies will return to closely tracking emerging asian ones as the worlds Fastest Growing regions progress is patchy, they write and precarious. East africa writes the wall street journal is seen growing at 5. 6 this year, still turbo charging the expansion while economies are expected to stagen an impressive recovery with a 5 growth. But wall street journal writes that Southern Africa wants the continents economic leader mainly because of south africas performance is becoming a drag on the overall growth in the economy. That reporting on the outlook for the african economy from the wall street journal. Youre watching cspan 3, were live at the u. S. Institute of peace in washington. We will hear from therwandan ambassador to the United States. Part of a broad panel also discussing peace building and development efforts. They are a few minutes late. So we will get started when they get started here on cspan 3. And i wanted to give you a look, too at our prime time programming coming up across the cspan networks tonight. Here on cspan 3 at 8 00 eastern, its more American History tv. Our focus tonight, the 150th anniversary of the confederacys surrender at appomattox. Well feature authors and historians on cspan 2. Meanwhile at 8 00. Well have former treasury secretary hank paulson at 8 00 eastern. Hosted by the National Constitution center. Speakers include a senior official from Koch Industries who talks about unlimited Political Campaign spending in the wake of the Citizens United decision. Heres a preview. My point of view people should be able to give money anonymously or on the record. It should be up to them to decide and not the government. Remember, the bill of rights. Im going to paraphrase the late great William Brennan here. But basically, the bill of rights, the framers didnt lay out what our rights were. They made sure that government couldnt infringe upon those rights because they were presumed to be preexisting. And my point of view is to the extent that people want to disclose. There were a lot of disclosures laws that were compelled and we were talking before we got on here, if charles koch and david koch get credited or blamed whatever your point of view is for every single penny spent on conservative or libertarian cause or issue or candidate. So there is no dark money with regard to the kochs in my opinion. But the reality is, theres a cost to disclosure and from a cost benefit analysis in my opinion, i dont quite see who really pays attention to this other than activists on each side that want to harass, intimidate, create lists try to out them. Weve seen it over time and see both sides do it. I know they do it on our side against us with the kochs. And a number of death threats. And im not asking for sympathy or empathy. Im saying it comes at a cost. And who really benefits from the disclosure . Just part of a tonights program on free speech issues. Its from the National Constitution center in philadelphia and the whole thing starts at 8 00 eastern. And thats over on cspan. Here on cspan 3, we are live this afternoon at the u. S. Institute for peace in the nations capital. Waiting for a start of a discussion on Women Leadership in africa. Should get underway shortly. Good afternoon, everybody we are complete. Im delighted to welcome everybody this afternoon. Im the president of the United States institute of peace. And for those who are here for the first time we were founded about 30 years ago as an independent federally funded Bipartisan Institute that is really dedicated to a World Without violent conflict. And so its in that spirit that im delighted to welcome you all here today. And as we mark todays africa days event, which is i think, commemorating a very critical moment in moving towards a peaceful africa with the 1963 founding of africa, of the africa union. We have a wonderful set of guests with us today. I like to extend a special warm welcome to our cohost this afternoon, ambassador mohammed of egypt. Thank you for joining us this afternoon. And, especially warm welcome to ambassador mutild of rwanda who are with us here today. And i know there are a number of other ambassadors who are coming in and out. So, please feel welcomed were delighted to have you with us today. And, of course, im always happy to see ambassador princeton limon who i worked with through the years. And we will also have him here. Ambassador lymon for sudan and south sudan. So two years ago on the 50th anniversary of the African Union, the 53 nations set out a plan for the next half century. And i think, incredible set of vision and foresight. And they came together for the agenda 2063 which was a road map that put together a vision of the continent as a prosperous and peaceful africa that was going to rekindle unity and selfreliance among the african nations. And i think all of us are well aware, you cannot accomplish that kind of vision without the full inclusion and participation of women. And so, quite appropriately, the African Union declared 2015 as the year of womens empowerment and development. Which is obviously the right way to kickoff the agenda 2063. And it is a time in which the African Union is calling on all africans to seize the opportunity to focus on Practical Solutions and Measurable Results for women on the continent. So in this spirit, were just delighted to host todays Panel Featuring our ambassadors from rwanda who will highlight womens roles in peace building and development along with our friends from women well i guess youll do your own introduction. So i wont do that now. But we have an incredible panel who will really focus on all the ways that women are critical agents of change. And understanding that the agenda 2063 is a very important framework to move us forward on this. And 2015 lays the foundations. And from the usip perspective, women are absolutely critical for laying the foundation for peace building and for enabling the vision of the agenda to really come to fruition. And so its with great pleasure that i welcome you all here today. And with even greater pleasure i turn it over to ambassador and were also joined here by susan markum from usaid. Delighted to have you, as well, ambassador. Thank you so much. Thank you very much. Ambassadors, members of the diplomatic core. Friends of africa and distinguished guests. Happy africa day celebration. On behalf of the group accredited to the United States of america in washington, d. C. , i seized the opportunity to express our gratitude to the United States institute of peace to host this event on the sidelines of africa day 2015 celebrations. Most especially i want to thank the president of the u. S. Institute of peace. And the team for this wonderful event organizing in conjunction with our ofafrica day 2015 for organizing the committee. For his excellency the ambassador of the arab republic of egypt and the team who have worked tirelessly to ensure a successful celebration to africa day 2015. Our topic today women of africa peace building and Development Supports the overarching theme of the africa union theme of year of the Women Empowerment and the Development Towards Africa agenda 2063. That we as africans particularly women while reflecting on the common challenges we still face in the global environment. African women have made gains in political and social development over the continent. There are still widely generalized within the corridors of power. And when applying for jobs and continue to face social exclusion from education. The agenda 2063 calls on africa stake holders to Work Together to build a prosperous and united africa. Shared values and common destiny. All our people starting with women and girls into the center of africa development. In addition to empowering its people africa seeks to harness the competitive advantages such as history culture and Natural Resources in order to reposition itself in the world. In order to become a prosperous africa, strong influential and worthy partner. We need to strengthen our institutions. Promote a Good Governance, democracy, human rights justice and rule of law for daughters and sons of africa. Today, we are standing on the shoulders of the african giants. A timeless legacy we are called to preserve and expand. The legacy of selfdetermination we claim for African Women was well articulated by our forefathers. Our generation and future generations should for united, democratic and prosperous africa. A way to building inclusive and integrated africa that cherishes and nurtures the girls and women of our continent. Im honored to represent the country that has taken it to another height of spirit of selfdetermination for all its people. Have more chances of thriving make me feel compelled to share some of the measurements that supported the acceleration of women progress in rwanda. Strong political will to empower women and girls guided by the solid principle of gender rights is inalienable rights. Social, economic, and political inclusion. And empowerment of women, layers of government and Civil Society. The creation of a prominent and family promotion coupled with a systemic highlevel campaign and the changing of peoples mind set about the gender rights took us where we are. Where we can claim to have 64 women in our parliament. Intentionally invested in promoting general health. If theres one successful factor that we can build on, it has been inclusiveness. Inclusiveness of all fabrics of society. For this particular case Women Participation in all spheres of government has enabled society to heal faster develop quicker and grant sustainable development. Ladies and gentlemen, its women have been regarded as the backbone of africa and societies by and large a dream across the continent. History has taught us that Women Empowerment and the Economic Development are closely related. On the one hand, we know that the development can play immeasurable and reducing inequality between men and women. On the other hand, it translates into development. We must however acknowledge that relationships of the Women Empowerment and the development too weak to be sustaining. And that continues commitment to equality for the sake is the need to bring about the equality between men and women. Presented the great majority of democracy, its clear that africa can only reach its full potential by fully including them in the Development Agenda. In the quest between empowerment, countries must put in place and promote conducive policies that grant womens rights. Though, we must maintain our culture, we also have to be willing to remove the structural barriers imposed by traditional and oppressive practices against women. For africa gender is the annual agenda. Our discussion today will focus on role of women in peace building and development. We recognize that women and girls are the first victims of conflict and violence. And any Political Economic and social frigidity is mostly against women. Must empower and support women in the quest to curtail these predicaments predicaments. I thank my sister, amelia who is here from mosembiq and who leads us in this important discussion. Different careers professions, walks of life, races, we can hold hands and committed to further African Unions, founding fathers, legacy by fighting for womens emancipation. Let us fight discrimination against women and girls and make peace a global priority. And that all our dedicated leaders that promoted democracy liberty and justice. Had we understood injustice, anywhere is a threat to justice. And we needed to uplift all the people of our humanity. Africa 2063 is intending to have full equality for women and girls and for the whole humanity. So we hope at least 50 of elected Public Officials at all levels are coming from women. The economic and political that restricted womens progress is going to start being shattered. As i close theres a young woman from my own country, she said she was talking about Women Empowerment and what it meant for her. She said empowerment is like an engine. You start it and it converts into motion. So what i would ask the audience and for all of us is to empower the African Women and girls to be the premium fuel for our continents sustainable development. I thank you very much for your attention. So now, i pass the microphone to suzanne. Thank you so much, ambassador. And also, i would like to thank nancy and the u. S. Institute for peace and the republic of egypt for having us here today. Im glad to be here to celebrate africa day in this way. This year marks the midpoint of what the African Union has called African Womens decade. The African Union has also declared, as we have discussed, 2015 to be the year of womens empowerment and Development Towards Africa agenda 2063. Africa shares the u. S. Commitment to gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls within the post 2015 Development Agenda and the National Action plan for women, peace and security. The u. S. Strongly supports the Great Strides and commitments many african countries and the African Union have made to increase women and girls em powerment through steps to promote Good Governance and rule of law, accelerate growth, enhance Food Security advance respect for human rights, promote peace and security and improve access to services such as health care and education. But African Women and girls still face significant challenges, including high rates of gender based violence, Educational Opportunities, difficulties accessing credit and employment. Lack of influence in the Decision Making process. Hiv aids and high rates of maternal mortality. Customary laws which may disadvantage them. And many cultural norms which may perpetuate discrimination against women. The United States acknowledges these but also, the Critical Role women will have and will continue to play in accelerating africas development and advancing prosperity and security across the continent. To promote and protect womens rights we within the u. S. Government use our diplomacy and assistance programs to increase political, economic, civic and Educational Opportunities for women. We also remain committed to preventing and responding to gender based violence the economic barriers faced by women and elevating womens meaningful participation at all levels of Decision Making. Especially during peace and political transition processes and post conflict reconstruction. We know that conflict prevention efforts, efforts to end wars and bring about just and sustainable peace, efforts to protect and hold accountable those who commit war crimes and crimes against humanity. And to u. S. International and national security. Womens political participation can lay a foundation. Mediators, witnesses and signatories and peace processes. At the same time, womens meaningful peace building can help set a standard for their leadership. The u. S. Government has taken deliberate steps to support womens leadership and participation in peace negotiations. Community governance initiatives, Security Sector reform and Transitional Justice and accountability processes. For example, the u. S. Government has developed deliberate multitrack approaches to strengthen the active participation of women in conflict resolution and peace building in sudan and south sudan. In nigeria the u. S. Government has promoted women in leadership and peacemaking through a series of conferences and workshops. Training exercises encouraging tolerance across ethnic and religious lines through engagement with influential religious, traditional, and Women Leaders. There have also been interfaith media dialogues, discuss how women and other stake holders could prevent electoral violence in the run up to the 2015 elections and how women could contribute to the political and economic process. Last year at the u. S. Africa leader summit president obama encouraged nations to develop National Action plans on women peace