Come Friday, March 15, 2019, the United Nation Commission on the Status of Women UNCSW will be premiering Dr. Queen Blessing Itua’s ‘Empowered’ movie. The launch and premiering will take place at the Church Center for the United Nations at 6:00 pm prompt.

Speaking on the program, Itua said the movie is based on excerpts from her book, ‘We Are The Blessings of Africa’, which was endorsed by the wife of Nigerian President, Aisha Buhari.

In an interview with African Cable Network (ACN), Itua made known that the movie is basically calling on the empowerment of women as a critical first step and the link to sustainable development.

Revealing what prompted the production of the movie, Itua said, “We have not harnessed our collective strengths for sustainable development. The result is extreme poverty, hunger, unrest, increased crime rates; kidnapping; ritual killing; women exploitation through sex trade; engagement in human trafficking; labor exploitation; domestic work enslavement, drug abuse, etc.”

“It is critically important that we advocate the empowerment of women and girls because all hands are needed on deck and we are stronger together.

“Women and youths alike must be “empowered” to rise to leadership in curbing the unrealistic and unhealthy taste that causes our motherland a waste of natural resources. When women are fully involved, only then can we make good progress, and only then can we truly prevent or even eradicate poverty.”

Itua further stressed that the movie outlines the strategies for economic empowerment and sustainable community development as the solutions for the eradication of human trafficking, gender-based violence, victimization of women, and poverty eradication.

This, according to the recipient of President Barack Obama Lifetime Achievement Award, is critical because to thoroughly prevent and eradicate human trafficking, one must not only build awareness but must follow awareness education with real actions that address the common root behind Africa human trafficking, mainly community development and poverty eradication.

Speaking on the strategic goal of her organization, the founder/executive president of Global Empowerment Movement Corporation, USA (GEM USA), said the organization is committed to building a coalition of community-based organizations comprised with a membership of indigenous women and girls.

According to her, the grassroots movement will lead an intensive campaign for women and girls’ leadership rights by providing advocacy training and lobbying National Parliament and policy-makers for policies that are friendly to women, especially indigenous and rural women, and girls. Additionally, GEM will provide women training in farming, economic enrichment, capacity development, networking to deal with crises and countering corruption.

The organization, Itua said it’s currently promoting anti-human trafficking movie to address the issue of woman trafficking and the need to focus on prevention, awareness education, poverty eradication, etc.

In order to effectively deploy women and youths empowerment, Itua said the need for more funding cannot be overemphasized. “Funding is gravely needed” Itua added.