Former Namibian First Lady Monica Geingos has been honored with the 2024 Hall of Femme Award by the International Women’s Forum South Africa (IWFSA).

The award acknowledges Geingos’s dedication and determination in advocating for women’s issues. It celebrates women who are committed to advancing gender equality and fostering women’s empowerment globally.

Upon receiving the award, Geingos reflected on the findings of the 2024 SDG Gender Index, noting that nearly 40% of countries, representing over a billion women and girls, have either stagnated or regressed in gender equality.

“These deeply rooted biases result in unequal access to health, political representation, economic opportunities, and legal protections, affecting young girls and women most severely,” she said.

Geingos emphasized the importance of empowering adolescent girls, stating, “When you expose adolescent girls to risk, you jeopardize the development of your country. When you support strong and resilient adolescents, you build strong families, a robust workforce, and a resilient economy.”

She dedicated the award to adolescent girls and young women across Africa, who, she said, inspire her vision of intergenerational solidarity among women to accelerate progress toward an equal society.