LEYMAH GBOWEE MAY BE ON TO SOMETHING...

Women’s Rights activist Leymah Gbowee, gave the world much to think about. The Executive Director of “Women Peace and Security Network Africa” was speaking at the 2010 Women In the World Conference with CNN moderator, Christiane Amanpour.

Leyma Gbowee: “I think you all, the women of America, can do a lot of good. There are a lot of influential women in this room. One group of powerful people that Africans tend to overlook are the first ladies of Africa. How do you engage your first lady to call a summit of African first ladies to talk about---NOT come and do FASHION parade---talk about rape and sexual violence?”

Christiane Amanpour: But would they? Would they…?

Leyma Gbowee: If Michelle Obama called the African First ladies, everyone would come running. And let her start—I mean simple things—let’s set benchmarks…talk to the first lady of the Coco—let’s set benchmarks…If the cases of rape comes down 10% or just 1% next year, you--we can continue this engagement at another level. I mean, first ladies run Africa and people tend to forget that. Everything they say to their husbands is law and gospel…”