Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that Canada is proud to have been chosen as the host country for the global Women Deliver Conference, which will bring over 6,000 world leaders, influencers, advocates, academics, activists, and journalists from more than 150 countries to Vancouver.
Joined by Women Deliver’s President/CEO Katja Iversen, Minister of International Development and La Francophonie, Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of Status of Women Maryam Monsef, and Sophie Grégoire Trudeau, Prime Minister Trudeau symbolically made the announcement in front of the ‘Women are Persons!’ monument on the grounds of Parliament Hill in Ottawa.
“Prioritizing the health, rights, and well-being of girls and women is not optional, but in fact, foundational to drive change and progress for all, and this is reflected in our new feminist foreign policy,” said Prime Minister Trudeau. “Canada is proud to host the next Women Deliver Conference as a global convener to bring us all further in advancing human rights for women.”
The Women Deliver 2019 Conference – the world’s largest of its kind – will present new knowledge, promote solutions, and serve as a fueling station for accelerating action, including policy changes and investments, for the health, rights, and well-being of girls and women and achieving a more equal world.
This conference will come at a time when support for the empowerment of girls and women is more critical than ever in order to maintain and increase the gains in health, education, and economic participation of women, as well as close the existing gaps in reproductive rights and health care services that advance gender equality for women and girls in the developing world.
As a leading global advocate for the health, rights, and well-being of girls and women, Women Deliver brings together diverse voices and interests to drive progress for gender equality, with a particular focus on maternal, sexual, and reproductive health and rights. We build capacity, share solutions, and forge partnerships, together creating coalitions, communication, and action that spark political commitment and investment in girls and women.
“At Women Deliver we believe that evidence, solutions, and action speak the loudest. They are what give hope and spur action to do better for girls and women,” said Katja Iversen, President/CEO Women Deliver. “Canada is showing strong political leadership for women’s health and rights, and we at Women Deliver are thrilled to have our fifth global convening in Canada, a country that is steadfastly dedicated to promoting gender equality at every turn.”
The Women Deliver 2019 Conference will engage a broad spectrum of voices, including indigenous populations, youth, and those impacted by conflict, with an additional 100,000 participants anticipated to be joining virtually. It will continue the momentum generated at Women Deliver 2016, held in Copenhagen, Denmark. That conference – one of the first major global conferences following the launch of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – was attended by nearly 6,000 people from 169 countries. The conference presented more than 100 solutions to improve the lives of girls and women and spurred action across the globe.
“Canada’s goal is to empower women and girls in every sense of the term because we know this will ultimately change the world for the better,” said Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau. “That is why our new, and Canada’s first, feminist international assistance policy places the rights of women and girls at its heart.”
“Canada is at the forefront of the global efforts toward gender equality,” said Minister Maryam Monsef. “Hosting the Women Deliver Conference enables Canada to convene world leaders and advocate top share promising practices, coordinate our efforts and strengthen the movement for gender equality.”
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Katja Iversen encourage all to use this unique opportunity and make June 2019 ‘Women Deliver Month’ throughout Canada across all sectors – including arts, sports, and business; in every province and city – and show the world that women’s health and rights are core Canadian values.
To learn more about Women Deliver 2019, read the WD2019 FAQ and visit wd2019.org.
