Prime Minister Ibrahim Mahlab will deliver Egypt's speech at a special session on women empowerment at the African Summit held here for two days with the participation of 54 heads of state and government from African countries.

Egypt is expected to present two reports on gender equality and status of discrimination against women.

Mahlab is chairing Egypt's delegation which groups Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and Minister of Environment Khaled Fahmy.

The Summit will kick off with a speech of South African President Jacob Zuma and then Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, current President of the African Union, will inaugurate the summit. Also, African Union Commission Chairwoman Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma will deliver the summit's communique.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will also deliver a speech seeking to issue a resolution to support the Palestinian people's right to establish their own state and condemning the Israeli violations against Palestinians.

The mid-year gathering will focus on issues including migration, security, women empowerment, trade and investment. The African Union has declared 2015 the year of women's empowerment and development toward Africa's Agenda 2063.
Source: MENA