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The First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Mrs. Janet Museveni, has launched a campaign aimed at closing the gender gap in Africa.

The campaign known as ‘we are equal’ was launched yesterday at Serena Hotel during a luncheon in honour of the visiting spouses at the 19th Non-Aligned Movement Summit.

The glamorous event attracted over 100 guests from different countries. Among notable guests included her excellence Angeline Ndayishimiye, spouse of the President of Burundi, Sadia Shahal, wife to the minister of foreign Affairs of Singapore and Mignon Bowen-Philips, wife to the Prime Minister of Guyana.

Her excellence, Angeline Ndayishimiye, spouse of the President of Burundi.

Others were spouses of the representatives like Sustjie Mbumba, wife to the President of the Republic of Namibia, Pen Vimuol, wife to the Deputy Prime Minister of Cambodia and Minister of Education, youth and Sports and Her excellency Philile Thulile DIamini, wife to the minister of foreign Affairs of Eswatini and Judy Christine Uy, Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development.

“Closing the gender gap in Africa is not an act of charity for girls and women, but an act of justice and common sense that will benefit us all,” Maama Janet noted.

‘We are equal will bring together African First Ladies, partners and allies to advance gender equity and close the gender gap across the continent. By working together to dismantle the barriers that hold women and girls back, we can build a future that enables all Africans to thrive,” she said.

First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Mrs. Janet Museveni. (New Vision/File)

Led by the Organisation of African First Ladies for Development (OAFLAD), the campaign drives home an essential truth: ‘We are equal and always have been. Our health care, education, economic opportunities and freedom from violence should be equal too’.

“We are equal. Yet today, many young girls and boys grow up seeing otherwise, hearing otherwise, and learning to believe otherwise. It is easy to forget that we are equal when our rights – to health care, education, economic opportunities, and freedom from violence are not always treated the same,” Maama Janet said.

Fist Lady, Janet Museveni signing at the launch of ‘we are equal’ campaign. (New Vision/File)

One of the objective of the campaign is to align with OAFLAD’s 2019 strategic priorities such as ensuring that women are active participants in the financial decisions that shape their households and communities.

Today (Saturday), the First Lady together with other First ladies will visit the Mulago Specialised Women and Neonatal Hospital.