The African Women all over the world have lost a Good-will Ambassador Barbara Prammer

Wien (OTS) - The African Women's Organisation is very sad and shocked
about the death of President Barbara Prammer. She worked tirelessly
with us for over 16 years and has helped us in many different ways.
Furthermore the then minister of women's affairs campaigned for
Anti-FGM activities in Austria, in Europe and in Africa as well as on
the United Nation Level.

In 1999 Women minister Prammer supported in her capacity a FGM
study in Austria and as a result it showed that FGM was also
practiced in Austria. In 2001 President Prammer took the case to the
parliament and it was criminalized unanimously and thus has been
forbidden in Austria. Her engagement wasn't only limited at home but
she also worked internationally. Barbara Prammer has also been linked
with the African Union and the organisation of Women in Africa. By
conducting a conference in 2002 member of the parliament Prammer made
FGM a EU-wide topic to raise awareness. In return the European FGM
Network awarded her a medall for her engagement against FGM. On march
2001 28 African Organisations decided in Tanzania to name Mrs.
Barbara Prammer a Good-Will Ambassador on the Anti-FGM campaign in
Europe. In this occasion she addressed the African Union and UN
Economic Comission for Africa in 2001. She has then clarified
Austria's and European Union's stand on FGM. She has also visited FGM
affected women in African hospitals. Mrs. Prammer had a discussion on
FGM with various religious leaders. In February 2007 she also
adressed an Anti-FGM day at the UNO-City in Vienna. Overall
Mrs.Prammer her commitment on this work was very high and she leaded
the EU-Action plan in Austria. Her work was not limited to official
occasions but she always had an open office and time for humanitarian
issues.

Mrs. Etenesh Hadis says: "We are grateful for her sincerity, her
honesty and her willingeness to accept all kinds of minorities and to
support their causes. The African Women's Organisation as well as
ACTPEW (African Coalition for Traditional Practices and Empowerment
of Women) based in Africa feels honoured for her work and her
support. For us President Prammer was a very special person and we
are glad to have been able to work closely with her. We wish her
family and her colleagues all the strength."

Sincere condolonces,
Etenesh Hadis & Christiane Ugbor and the Team of African Women

ORIGINAL APA-OTS TEXT - THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS PRESS RELEASE IS SUBJECT TO THE EXCLUSIVE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE ISSUER | NEF

print