#offtherecord Editorial

I traveled to Rwanda to cover the famous Women Deliver 2023 conference. Here is what’s going to happen next!

Joanna Sochaby
Leave a Comment on I traveled to Rwanda to cover the famous Women Deliver 2023 conference. Here is what’s going to happen next!
I was one of over six thousand lucky feminists from 170 countries who traveled to Kigali, Rwanda, to participate in the July global Women Deliver 2023 Conference. The goal of the conference: To promote gender equality and protect the rights of women and girls globally.

You might be wondering, why Kigali? There are several reasons for that. First of all, the WD conference has never been held in Africa (the last one was held in 2019 in Vancouver, Canada. We covered it as well!).

Rwanda places very high in global rankings when it comes to advancing gender equality. The World Economic Forum, for instance, ranks the country first in Africa and sixth globally in this area. Also, more than 60% of the seats in the Rwandan Parliament (Chamber of Deputies) are held by women! Rwanda has also been named a leader in advancing gender equality in the context of technology and innovation. As part of the Generation Equality Forum, Rwanda committed to bridging the gender gap in digital access by 2026. These are a few of the reasons listed on WD2023 website, and a few more described by President and CEO Maliha Khan in an interview with W Insight that will soon be posted on our website!

World leaders such as Malala Yousafzai, the brave Afghan educator Shabana Basij-Rajih, former U.N. Executive Director Dr. Phumzile Mlambo-Ngucka, several Heads of State, globally recognized politicians and activists spoke at the plenary stage, committing to take concrete steps to advance gender equality. 

I took part in the conference as a WD2023 media scholar, and my goal was to cover the conference through the eyes of the multiple women leaders I was fortunate to interview, including: 

•          Dr. Maliha Khan, President and CEO at Women Deliver

•          Stacey Abrams, politician, voting rights activist, novelist

•          H.E. Dr. Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, former Vice President of South Africa, ex-Executive Director at U.N. Women

•          Maria-Noel Vaeza, Generation Equality Project Executive at U.N. Women

•          Esther Mwaura-Muiru, Global Advocacy Director for Landesa, Stand for Her Land Campaign.

I cannot wait to share all the interviews with you very soon. Stay tuned!

And for Polish speakers, please find below a short video documentary from the trip:

About Women Deliver 

Women Deliver is a leading global advocate that champions gender equality and the health and rights of girls and women, in all their intersecting identities. Our advocacy drives investment – political and financial – in the lives of girls and women worldwide. We harness evidence and unite diverse voices to spark commitment to gender equality. For more information, please click here.

Leave a comment