Reflections from Women Deliver

There’s something deeply powerful about being in a room with thousands of feminists. For a few days at the end of April, the Women Deliver conference brought together activists, policymakers, researchers, funders, and leaders from around the world.  

Over the course of the week, we exchanged ideas, challenged assumptions, celebrated progress, and grappled with the realities that continue to hold women, girls, and gender diverse people back. The halls of the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre buzzed with conversations about rights and justice, and stories of resistance and hope especially in the face of growing challenges. 

For those of us working to end gender-based violence, Women Deliver offered an important opportunity to strategise and take collective action towards a future free from violence. We arrived with the goal to contribute to global conversations that move us closer to a world free from GBV, and left with renewed energy, deeper partnerships, and a plan of action to address the challenges ahead. 

As Lusungu Kalanaga, feminist activist and member of the ACT to End Violence Against Women Strategic Advocacy and Communications Working Group, said: 

 “Being in community with other feminists from around the world made me remember my ‘why’. Collective action has always been our compass in the movement; we stand on shoulders of giants who have moved this world before towards our collective freedom. They passed the baton to us; it is our turn to keep hope alive and to continue the work even when it seems bleak and full of distractions. Change is possible. Women Deliver gave me this timely reminder and reassurance, to not romanticise or pretend away, pretend the weight of the present moment but also to be present, together and resilient, and keep envisioning the future we are working towards. Multiple truths can exist at the same time after all.” 

With the baton firmly in our hands, GBV was framed as one of the most visible and cross-cutting themes at Women Deliver. A series key themes emerged with speakers returning to several questions: How do we sustain progress to end GBV in the face of a polycrisis? How do we respond to evolving forms of violence such as technology-facilitated abuse? And how do we ensure that commitments to gender equality are matched by the resources and political will needed? 

What stood out most was the breadth of perspectives brought into discussions on GBV, with speakers regularly highlighting the interconnected nature of violence, inequality, economic insecurity, conflict, technology, democracy and climate change. Rather than viewing GBV as a standalone issue, conversations increasingly recognised the ways it intersects with structural inequalities, with renewed calls for sustainable solutions and coordinated action across sectors and movements. 

At a time when organisations working to end gender-based violence are being asked to do more with less, conversations about resources surfaced everywhere. But the message was not solely about funding, but also power, political will, and the choices that shape whose safety, rights, and wellbeing are prioritised. As Bettina Baldeschi, Executive Director of The Accelerator for GBV Prevention, shared at the conference: 

“When we talk about funding cuts for women’s rights, gender-based violence or prevention, we should be clear: this is not scarcity. There is money. There is also choice. This is about reprioritisation. This is about whose safety is funded and whose suffering is normalised.” 

Despite decades of advocacy and clear evidence, rates of gender-based violence remain high. In several discussions, participants voiced concerns about shrinking civic space, deep funding cuts, the growing complexity of technology-facilitated GBV, and coordinated attacks from anti-rights actors. These conversations served as a reminder that progress is neither inevitable nor evenly distributed but hard fought and hard won.  

In the face of these challenges, the ACT Strategic Advocacy and Communications Working Group — which the Accelerator serves as the Secretariat — facilitated a session on feminist strategic foresight that asked how we prepare and advocate for different future scenarios. The discussion highlighted the importance of considering how future social, political, economic, and technological shifts may affect GBV and opportunities for prevention. 

The sense of momentum generated by feminist activists at Women Deliver will stay with us long after the conference. We saw examples of survivor-led advocacy influencing policy, front-line organisations driving community change, and partnerships bridging regions and sectors. We heard from young feminists bringing new perspectives to longstanding issues, and witnessed collective efforts to create futures grounded in care and justice for all.  

Women Deliver reinforced the value of collaboration including through our own Working Group. Through joint events, thematic consultations, daily reflections, and ongoing exchanges, we were able to break down silos and amplify shared priorities, drawing on our complementary strengths. In a field where resources are often stretched and challenges can feel overwhelming, these opportunities for connection are critical. They strengthen our collective voice and remind us that none of us are working alone. 

The conversations we participated in during the conference reaffirmed that while the challenges remain significant, so too does the collective determination to address them. We look forward to continuing this work alongside partners to ensure these conversations and commitment translate into lasting change that moves us closer to a future free from violence.