Denmark has symbolically passed the baton to Canada to host the next Women Deliver conference in 2019.
The conference, holding every three years, is the world’s largest on gender equality and the health, rights, and wellbeing of girls and women.
It is expected to bring over 6,000 world leaders, influencers, advocates, academics, activists, and journalists from more than 160 countries to Vancouver from 3-6 June 2019.
Denmark’s development cooperation minister Ulla Tørnæs symbolically passed the baton – a Women Deliver ceramic arrow – to Canada’s minister of international development and La Francophonie, Marie-Claude Bibeau at an event at the ongoing UN General Assembly in New York.
“Both Canada and Denmark are some of the world’s leaders when it comes to investing in and empowering girls and women,” said Katja Iversen, President/CEO of Women Deliver.
“Today doesn’t just mark the passing of host country duties, but also serves as an important moment to double down on their commitment to women’s rights, gender equality, and sexual and reproductive health and rights – at home and in their foreign policy and development assistant.”
The Women Deliver 2019 Conference will come at a time when support for the health, rights, and wellbeing of girls and women is more critical than ever.
The conference will present new knowledge, promote world class solutions, and serve as a fueling station for action, energy, investment and policy change.
It will continue the momentum generated at the Women Deliver 2016 Conference, held in Copenhagen, Denmark – one of the first major global conferences following the launch of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). During Women Deliver 2016 – more than 100 solutions were presented to improve the lives of girls and women, and spur action across the globe.
“Denmark is already looking forward to WD2019 in Vancouver. We will be there to continue the fight for women’s health, rights and wellbeing. We will continue to deliver!” said Tørnæs.
In addition to thousands of participants, more than 100,000 others will join virtually or in satellite events.
“Women Deliver 2019 is not just a one-off conference. It is a movement to empower women and girls and build a better world. It is an honour and an opportunity for Canada to be the next host!” said Canada’s Bibeau.
