Mrs Graça Machel is engaging with global leaders at the United Nations General Assembly. The 73rd session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA 73) opened on 18 September 2018 themed; Making the United Nations Relevant to All People: Global Leadership and Shared Responsibilities for Peaceful, Equitable and Sustainable Societies.
Below are some key highlights of what Mrs Machel and representatives from the Trust have been up to:
Diamond Empowerment Fund
The Graça Machel Trust Board Member Ms. Josina Machel received a donation on behalf of the Trust worth $130,000 from the Diamond Empowerment Fund to support our innovative work in education in Tanzania.
PMNCH Accountability Breakfast
Mrs Machel spoke about effective national/regional political and social accountability mechanisms and how this work complements and is complemented by evidence-for-action from global monitoring and review reports.
Nelson Mandela Peace Summit
Mrs. Machel delivering remarks at the opening plenary at the Nelson Mandela Peace Summit in honor of the centenary of the birth of Nelson Mandela (video credit: eNCA)
Interviewed on CNN
Mrs Machel spoke to Amanpour where she emphasized that courageous leadership is what the world is missing right now. Listen to the interview here
Debating on the future of Africa
“The big trees are falling now its time for the [young people] to stand and be counted” – Graça Machel
On the margins of the Mandela Peace Summit, Mrs Machel joined Kumi Naidoo on a debate hosted by the South African Broadcasting Cooperation (SABC) to discuss the future of the continent in connection to Mandela’s legacy. (Video credit: SABC)
UNICEF Youth 2030
Graça Machel delivered remarks at the UNICEF Youth 2030 Youth Strategy Launch and Launch of Generation Unlimited Partnership
ENDS
The Trust supports and mobilises civil society networks on issues of ending child marriage, ending violence against children, ending female genital mutilation and promoting children’s rights, to carry out advocacy and action across Africa. Special focus is placed on Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania and Zambia where child marriage continues to be a problem largely driven by poverty, gender inequality, harmful traditional practices, conflict, low levels of literacy, limited opportunities for girls and weak or non-existent protective and preventive legal frameworks.
Education is a fundamental right for all children, which is also a vehicle for social, economic and political transformation in communities, countries and the African continent at large. Recent studies indicate a lack of progress in some of the critical commitments aimed at improving education quality, access, retention and achievement, particularly for girls. In most African countries, girls may face barriers to learning, especially when they reach post-primary levels of education. By implementing multi-dimensional approaches to education which includes core education, personal development, life skills and economic competencies, the Trust partners with funding partners, governments, civil societies and the private sector to improve education access.
The Nutrition and Reproductive, Maternal, New-born, Child and Adolescent Health and Nutrition, (RMNCAH+N) of the Children’s Rights and Development Programme aims at promoting the Global Strategy for women, children and adolescents’ health within the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) agenda. The strategy emphasises on the importance of effective country leadership as a common factor across countries making progress in improving the health of women, children and adolescents.
Through its Early Childhood Development (ECD) plan, The Trust will seek to put into action the new science and evidence Report that was presented by Lancet Series on Good and early development – the right of every child. This will be achieved by mobilising like-minded partners to contribute in the new science and evidence to reach all young children with ECD. The Trust’s goal is to be a catalyst for doing things differently, in particular, to rid fragmentation and lack of coordination across ECD sectors. In response to evidence showing the importance of political will in turning the tide against the current poor access and quality of ECD. Even before conception, starting with a mother’s health and social economic conditions, the early years of a child’s life form a fundamental foundation that determines whether a child will survive and thrive optimally.