LAUNCH OF THE AFRICAN QUEENS AND WOMEN CULTURAL LEADERS NETWORK (AQWCLN) 
3-7 SEPTEMBER 2013 - UGANDA
DRAFT DECLARATION
We the African Queens and Women Cultural Leaders meeting in Kampala, Uganda from 3rd - 7th of September 2013 for the purpose of launching the African Queens and Women Cultural Leaders Network,
RECOGNIZING the “Harare Call for Action” calling for the creation of a Women’s Cultural Leaders Network;
CONSIDERING the deliberations of the African Queens and Women Cultural Leaders Network (AQWCLN) Brainstorming Meeting held in Accra Ghana in October 2012;
REAFFIRMING AQWCLN’s vision for a unified, peaceful, prosperous and dignified Africa where women and girls enjoy their full range of social, economic, political and cultural rights;
where men and women have equal access to opportunities, with traditional and cultural institutions playing a leading role in development.
REAFFIRMING AQWCLN’s mission to establish meaningful networking amongst traditional and Cultural Women Leaders from all over Africa towards creating a continent wide positive cultural revival for the implementation of programs to protect and promote the rights, welfare and development of women and children.
DEEPLY CONCERNED about the discrimination, exploitation and lack of empowerment of women and children, especially the girl child in Africa;
RECOGNIZING the critical role of women cultural leaders in development and in protecting and promoting the rights of women and children;
ACKNOWLEDGING the rich African cultural heritage including the role of languages and the benefits African people can realize from its similarities and linkages and its important role for unity, security, survival and credibility;
RECOGNIZING the important role that culture can play in promoting African integration through African cultural renaissance and pan-Africanism;
ACKNOWLEDGING the African Union Charter for African Cultural Renaissance of 2006 aimed at promoting culture as an important contributor to development;
ACKNOWLEDGING the United Nation Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW);
ACKNOWLEDGING the UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of diversity of Cultural Expressions of 2005;
Acknowledging international, regional and national instruments relating to women and children rights signed by our governments including:
• The African Union Protocol to the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights on Rights of Women in Africa
• Protocol to the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa; the Solemn Declaration on Gender Equality in Africa in Africa, the African Union Gender Policy and other instruments which address Gender Equality and women’s Empowerment across ten thematic areas.
Therefore RESOLVE TO:
1. ADOPT the report of the AQWCLN Brainstorming Meeting held in Accra Ghana in October 2012;
2. COMMIT TO promote positive cultural values and practices that empower women.
3. COMMIT further to work with women and men who are custodians of culture to identify and eliminate harmful traditional practices including female genital mutilation and early marriages, among others
4. PROMOTE Africa’s social and economic transformation through greater investments in universal and inclusive education of African people;
5. PROMOTE women’s economic empowerment and leadership;
6. CONTRIBUTE to the expansion of access to quality health care, improved health outcomes and quality of life for women and girls including reduction of diseases e.g. cervical and breast cancer, tuberculosis as well as infant and maternal mortality and new HIV AIDS infections, stigmatization and deaths.
7. COMMIT to prioritize the rights of vulnerable and marginalized groups
8. SUPPORT efforts to alleviate poverty and provide innovative solutions to promote food security;
9. IMPROVE access to quality education for girls and ensure retention and foster girls completion in education at ALL levels of education;
10. CONTRIBUTE to the work on promotion of African languages.
11. ENSURING peace and security across Africa;
12. COMMIT TO promote African integration and pan-Africanism;
13. COMMIT TO establish regional and national African Queens and Women Cultural Leaders Network chapters;
14. COMMIT TO present the AQWCLN launch declaration to the African Union Conference of Ministers of Culture in 2014 for recognition as a framework for engaging with AQWCLN;
15. APPEAL TO the African Union, the UN, diplomatic corps in Africa, and other international partners to continue supporting the African Queens and Women Cultural Leaders Network;
We ACKNOWLEDGE the support from the African Union, UN Women, UNAIDS and the UN family in the establishment of the African Queens and Women Cultural Leaders Network;
We EXPRESS GRATITUDE TO HRH The Nnaabagereka Queen Sylvia Nagginda of the Buganda Kingdom and HRH The Queen Mother Best Kemigisa Olimi of the Tooro Kingdom for the successful co-hosting of the launch of the African Queens and Women Cultural Leaders Network;
We EXPRESS GRATITUDE TO the Government and People of Uganda for their hospitality during the launch of the African Queens and Women Cultural Leaders Network;
We PAY SPECIAL TRIBUTE TO the President of Uganda, His Excellency Yoweri Kaguta Museveni for officially launching the African Queens and Women Cultural Leaders Network (AQWCLN) and his contribution towards promoting culture and pan-Africanism.
Done in Uganda on Thursday the 5th day of September 2013