Since the International Conference on Women held back in 1997 I Beijing, China, the world has engaged in affirmative action towards the political, cultural and socio-economic empowerment of women on a global scale. However, despite the concerted efforts since then, progress in this regard has been limited for a variety of reasons. In the Southern Hemisphere in particular, cultural factors have worked against socio-economic empowerment of women despite clear indications from more culturally enlightened societies around the world that such empowerment works in favor of higher living standards among men, women and children alike.

Indeed, the situation in such culturally enlightened societies provides a model for the rest, which the latter would be in good stead to imitate. The purpose of the planned conference therefore is to establish the socio-economic and cultural factors that are working against the development and empowerment of women in relatively culturally unenlightened societies; establish the advantages of moving from such situations to societies where women are empowered and therefore able to contribute fully to societal progress; and establish the social and economic dynamics requisite to move from the predominant gender inequality in the southern hemisphere to the inclusive beneficial gender equality in the northern hemisphere.

The accompanying awards scheme aims to identify women from all around the world who have contributed in pivotal ways to the socio-economic emancipation of women in their respective societies and on a global level; and to publicly acclaim them for their endeavors and for the impacts they have made. Awardees will include women whose efforts in this regard are still ongoing, with a view to encouraging and supporting those efforts.