United Nations under-secretary general and executive director of UN Women to deliver 2020 Chief Albert Luthuli Memorial Lecture
The Luthuli Museum is proud to announce that Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, the UN Under-Secretary General and Executive Director of UN Women will deliver the 2020 Chief Albert Luthuli Memorial Lecture, on 28 November 2020.
The theme for this year’s Chief Albert Luthuli Memorial Lecture is: "The 1995 World Conference on Women: Where to for South Africa and the rest of the African continent?"
This year’s 14th Luthuli Memorial Lecture theme becomes important considering that “South Africa is going through a dark period, where the scourge of gender-based violence and femicide continues unabated, despite efforts to combat it. We need to earnestly ask ourselves about the future for the upcoming generation,” said Important Mkhize, Chairperson of the Luthuli Museum Council.
Civil rights activists recently made a call to government for "effective legislation to combat" gender-based violence against women. The South African President Cyril Ramaphosa termed this scourge against women as "South Africa’s second pandemic" and requires a programme of action by all concerned groups.
Chief Albert Luthuli was a staunch advocate for gender equality; human rights and peaceful coexistence among all beings. This year’s Luthuli Memorial Lecture adds its voice to many in raising public awareness, critical debate and action against this crime against our common humanity.
Due to the current global pandemic, this year’s Memorial Lecture will be delivered virtually live from the UN Women offices in New York on Saturday, 28 November 2020 at 3pm, South African time.
For enquiries, please contact: Valentia Mthembu on contact number: 082 899 8819/032 559 6822/23 or e-mail address: [email protected]. Visit the Luthuli Web site on: www.luthulimuseum.org.za National Cultural Institution Council members: I Mkhize (Chairperson), Dr M Mchunu (Deputy Chairperson), Dr AN Luthuli, Advocate J Ralefatane, M Luthuli; S Mabilane; Dr L Konar. www.luthulimuseum.org.za.
About the Chief Albert Luthuli Memorial Lecture
The objective of the Memorial Lecture is to promote the principles and values of Chief Albert Luthuli, namely peace, human rights, justice and the coexistence of people in harmony irrespective of race, colour or creed. The Lecture provides a platform for public awareness; critical debate and action on issues important to society.
Previous speakers at the Lecture have included former President of the Republic of South Africa, Mr Thabo Mbeki; the former Zambian President K Kaunda; the former Mozambican President Joachim Chissano; the former President of the Republic of South Africa, Mr Jacob Zuma; the former Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court, Mr Sandile Ngcobo; the former Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr Frene Ginwala; Minister N Mthethwa, MP; Dr Brigalia Bam, former Chairperson of the RSA Independent Electoral Commission and Dr Ishmael Noko, former Secretary-General of the Lutheran World Federation and the former Minister in the Presidency, Mr Jeff Radebe; poet and writer, Dr Wally Serote and the RSA Public Protector, Advocate Busisiwe Mkhwebane; the former Botswana President, Mr Festus Mogae; the Chief Justice of the Republic of South Africa, Mr Mogoeng Mogoeng, and Ms Samia Ayaa Nkrumah, the daughter of Ghana’s first President, Mr Kwame Nkrumah.
About the Speaker
Ms Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka is United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN Women. She was sworn into office on 19 August 2013 and brings a wealth of experience and expertise to this position, having devoted her career to issues of human rights, equality and social justice. Ms. Mlambo-Ngcuka has worked in government and civil society, and with the private sector, and was actively involved in the struggle to end apartheid in her home country of South Africa.
From 2005 to 2008, she served as Deputy President of South Africa, overseeing programmes to combat poverty and bring the advantages of a growing economy to the poor, with a particular focus on women. Prior to this, she served as Minister of Minerals and Energy from 1999 to 2005 and Deputy Minister in the Department of Trade and Industry from 1996 to 1999. She was a Member of Parliament from 1994 to 1996 as part of South Africa’s first democratic government.
Ms. Mlambo-Ngcuka began her career as a teacher and gained international experience as a coordinator at the World YWCA in Geneva, where she established a global programme for young women. She is the founder of the Umlambo Foundation, which supports leadership and education. A long time champion of women’s rights, she is affiliated with several organizations devoted to education, women’s empowerment and gender equality.
She has completed her PhD on education and technology at the University of Warwick, United Kingdom.
About the Luthuli Museum:
The Luthuli Museum is a site of international historical significance. It celebrates the life and legacy of a Chief Albert John Mvumbi Luthuli, a human rights champion, an exemplary African leader and the first African to be awarded the 1960 Nobel Peace Prize. The Luthuli Museum was officially opened on 21 August; 2004 by President Thabo Mbeki. It includes the original 1927 home of Chief Albert Luthuli that is situated on 3233 Nokukhanya Luthuli Street, Groutville, KwaDukuza, KwaZulu Natal Province.