Shemona Otu-Ansah

Representatives from the Bahá’í International Community were delighted to meet the Minister of Gender, Family, and Children, Micheline Ombaé Kalama (@MichelineOMbae), and with the Minister of Youth, Grace Emie Kutino (@GraceKutino), both of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, at a side event hosted by the Mission of the DRC to the United Nations this past week during hashtag#CSW70. The Bahá'ís of the DRC are committed to the promotion of peace, and to advancing the welfare of all and are looking forward to collaborating with the institutions serving their country.

BIC Addis Ababa Representative @ShemonaMM reflects on her conversations during #CSW70 with actors from across the African continent, highlighting the importance of creating spaces at the community level that bring together diverse voices and foster transformation.

“What does it take to build a culture of peace, when the world is moving so decidedly in the opposite direction?”, Doris Mpoumou @mpoumoudoris, Special Representative of UN Women to the African Union. The Bahá'í International Community was honored to participate in the “Women's Leadership: Advancing Disarmament, Justice and the Culture of Peace” parallel event held during #CSW70. The event brought together women peacebuilders, disarmament advocates, and civil society voices to explore the critical role women play in advancing a culture of peace. Grounded in the principles of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and UN Security Council Resolution 1325, conversations such as these highlight that lasting peace and gender equality are inseparable goals, and that women’s participation at every level of society is a prerequisite for peace. BIC Representative @LNkunzimana joined as a respondent, listening and echoing key concepts shared throughout the event. She closed the meeting with these words: “How do we ensure that people see they can make different choices that lead to peace? This is a responsibility we each hold at a personal level—in our homes, in our communities, and in the institutions that represent us."

At a #CSW70 roundtable hosted by the BIC Addis Ababa Office, participants explored the connections between power and justice and how both may need to be reimagined to advance gender equality across the African continent. One of the speakers, Carole Osero-Ageng'o, Board Chair of FEMNET @agengocarole, spoke about the idea that real power must be understood “as the ability to act together.” The Office’s representative to the African Union, @ShemonaMM, reflected on what progress can be made when justice is employed as a compass for collective decision-making, helping diverse communities build unity in thought and action. The group discussion then examined how societies can move away from paradigms of domination toward more constructive expressions of power—rooted in the meaningful participation of all. Participants concluded that insights from grassroots experiences show that justice is the practical expression of a deeper truth: individual and collective progress are inseparable.

We are pleased to share that the Baha’i International Community -Addis Ababa Office will be co-hosting a dialogue at the 70th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women #CSW70 on dismantling trafficking networks through financial accountability and community-led prevention. Co-hosted with the Government of Uganda @MoGLSD, @NAWOUga, the Coalition to Stop Trafficking in Persons, and the Pan Pacific and South East Asia Women’s Association International, the event brings together global voices exploring justice, ethical leadership, and community action to address human trafficking. 📅 19 March 2026 🕗 8:15–9:45 PM (EAT) Scan the QR code on the poster to join. #BahaiUg #CSW70 #EndHumanTrafficking #Justice #GenderEquality

BIC Addis Ababa Representative @ShemonaMM was invited to contribute to an important conversation on the intersections of justice, entrepreneurship, and education. She posed the question: “What is needed to create consultative spaces that allow communities to take their development into their own hands?” In her remarks, she drew on grassroots examples of social change driven from within communities, showing that even small-scale efforts can shine a light on how societies can advance. One such initiative in Katuyola, a village in Zambia, has been underway for decades. Young people once had little access to secondary education. When youth, parents, and community leaders began consulting together about their shared responsibility, they founded a community secondary school open to all young people. The result is a powerful example of a community mobilizing its own resources to advance justice and opportunity.

Delegates from Kenya, Ethiopia and the United States attended the Seventh Session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (#UNEA-7) in #Nairobi, #Kenya, from 8-12 December, representing the Bahá’í International Community in discussions on global environmental challenges ranging from chemicals and waste to artificial intelligence.

Ahead of the 7th AU-EU Summit taking place in Angola from 24-25 November, the Bahá’í International Community (BIC) has published a statement addressing African and European Heads of State and Government calling for candid reflections on the African–European partnership. To foster a relationship that promotes shared prosperity for all, according to BIC representatives, it is essential to cultivate processes which enable the people and nations involved to play a genuine and meaningful role. Joint learning and shared ownership of the decisions that shape their collective future are essential to achieve these goals. Titled “For the Well-Being of All: Embracing a New Foundational Paradigm on the 25th Anniversary of the AU–EU Partnership”, the new BIC statement says the assumptions and approaches underlying the partnership must be rethought, while addressing a range of themes, including the implications of interdependence and an expanded conception of progress and development. To read the statement in full and learn more about the BIC’s work towards the Summit visit our website 🔗 bic.org/news/bic-addre… #africaeurope #aueu #aueusummit #aueupartnership

In the final lead-up to the #G20 Summit, the BIC Addis Ababa Office was joined by national affiliates from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Malawi, South Africa, Uganda and Zambia. They collectively engaged with thought leaders, youth groups, government representatives, the media, and regional officials to discuss considerations for a peaceful and prosperous Africa.   The African Union’s official admission as a permanent member of the G20 in 2023 marked a significant development for our continent, offering an opportunity for the collective priorities of all member states to be represented. During their week-long engagement, they participated in several key events: * The 5th Youth Symposium, hosted by the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) at the Pan African Parliament in South Africa; * A roundtable discussion on the future of multilateralism, organized by the Institute of Global Dialogue * The T20 Summit, convened by prominent global think tanks where they engaged in discussions on the care economy and the future beyond Agenda 2030. * They held a conversation with senior officials at the South African Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) regarding gender equality on the continent and explored pathways to promote this principle. * The Baha’i Office of External Affairs in South Africa also convened a roundtable discussion on social cohesion which was another occasion to explore root causes of social disintegration and alternative pathways ahead.  This collective effort provided valuable insights and deepened understanding of Africa’s diverse governance and development needs.  Shemona, representative of the Office also attended the Pan African Solidarity Forum hosted by AU-ECOSOCC, setting the tone for discussions on how African civil society can shape global governance outcomes. AU institutions, #EU embassies, RECs, civil society organizations and global CSOs were in attendance.

Bani Dugal, Principal Representative of the Bahá’í International Community to the United Nations, speaks outside UN Headquarters on the BIC’s engagement during the United Nations General Assembly high-level week. Throughout the week, we will be participating in conversations addressing pressing global issues, including on topics related to governance, peace, gender equality, climate change, the role of youth, and the constructive contribution of religion in society.

Faith leaders, policymakers, and academics from around the globe convened at the recent #G20 Interfaith Forum in Cape Town to offer an ethical and moral perspective to the agenda of the G20 Leaders’ Summit, which is taking place for the first time on the African continent in November this year. Representatives from the Baha’i International Community offices in Addis Ababa and New York were amongst the many voices who contributed to the discussions on peacebuilding, gender equality and sustainability. The interconnectedness between different groups and nations was emphasised throughout the conference reminding us that fairness, justice, and dignity matter to all. The significant role of faith communities was also highlighted, as was their ability to inspire hope and create conditions for empowering communities.

Was at #UNFSS2025 last week. Discussions were framed around commitments to transform #foodsystems and the promotion of community-led resilience models. A fantastic opportunity to meet other food system enthusiasts who are doing amazing work in advancing the field of agriculture

The conference was an opportunity to strengthen the collaboration between the two Unions and address the pressing challenges facing the agri-food systems of both continents. © European Union 2025 #AUEU4farmers #foodsystems #foodsecurity #AUEU #AUC #EUC

Our Office participated in the 6th AU-EU Agriculture Ministerial conference held in Rome with our colleagues from Brussels. The event was attended by African and European ministers and commissioners of agriculture, AU and EU ambassadors, farming organizations, and UN agencies.

📢 The #AUEVAWGConvention was adopted at the 38th AU Summit in Feb 2025. The final legal text is now out! This is a defining moment for Africa—let’s unite for ratification, implementation, and accountability. Find out more on the convention👉🏽: au.int/en/aucevawg

Moderated a session on gender equality at landmark conference introducing #AU to G20. Explored role of Faith Communities in advancing the SDGs, Agenda 2063, and the #G20 Process.  #Agenda2063 #SDGs #FaithInAction #GenderEquality #FORB #G20 #InterfaithDialogue

BIC representatives discuss how redefining power, fostering inclusive dialogue, and moral and spiritual educational programs are advancing equality of women and men. Full story on: news.bahai.org/story/1785/