United Nations under Secretary general and Executive Director of UN Women Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka was honoured with the Woman of Substance Award earlier this month.

The Woman of substance award has been given to nine women who are business and social leaders engaged in business transformation, community development and nation building.

The African Women Chartered Accounts ( AWCA ) which presented Mlambo-Ngcuka with the award hosted a luncheon with business women to celebrate the special occasion.

The grateful Mlambo-Ngcuka thanked the organisation for the award but also took some time to highlight some of the issues which are close to her heart, the most important being violence against women.

Mlambo-Ngcuka told guests that her main focus is to fight violence against women across the globe.

She also added that if the country wants to move forward the focus needs to be on all the women even the poorest of the poor.

“The world should look to women for more conflict resolution as they are in a better position to advice on the violence that affects them the most,” she said.

Past Woman of Substance Award recipients include:

• 2005 - The late Minister Stella Sigcau

• 2006 - Ms Gloria Serobe

• 2007 - Ms Wendy Luhabe

• 2008 - Ms Sindi Zilwa

• 2009 - Ms Monhla Hlahla

• 2010 - Ms Nonkululeko Gobodo

• 2011 - Ms Futhi Mtoba

• 2012 - Dr Brigalia Bam

• 2013 - Ms Philisiwe Mthethwa