International Women’s Day Marks Official Countdown to Women Deliver 2016 Conference

Global conference to spotlight solutions to toughest challenges facing girls and women

New speakers announced, virtual conference now open for registrants

8 March 2016, New York – This International Women’s Day, Women Deliver is calling on global leaders –
across sectors, regions and generations – to take action and accelerate universal gender parity, the
official theme of this year’s campaign. The upcoming Women Deliver 2016 Conference, taking place in
Copenhagen, Denmark from 16-19 May, will build on the day’s themes and emphasize solutions, impact
and action to advance the health, rights and wellbeing of girls and women.

“We must strive to create a world where girls and women have choice, not chance,” said Her Royal
Highness Crown Princess Mary of Denmark, Patron of the Women Deliver 2016 Conference. “A world
where a woman can decide for herself if, when and with whom to have a baby; a world where she does
not risk unnecessarily dying in childbirth; and where she is economically empowered and financially
literate.”

At the conference, more than 200 plenaries, concurrent sessions and side events will focus on solutions
and how we can achieve the biggest impact for girls and women by emphasizing health, rights, gender
equality, education and economic empowerment. When girls and women are healthy and have a chance
to learn and earn there are also positive ripple effects across development – families are healthier,
communities are stronger and nations are more prosperous.

“I am both very proud and excited that Denmark is hosting the Women Deliver 2016 Conference,” said
Danish Minister for Foreign Affairs Kristian Jensen. “Investing in girls and women is crucial for a
sustainable future for all. It is my hope that the Conference will help put concrete action behind the new
Sustainable Development Goals in order to create real improvements for girls’ and women’s health and
rights.”

More than 5,000 global and local leaders, policymakers, researchers, private sector, NGO
representatives and young people from 150 countries are expected to participate in the Women Deliver
2016 Conference. Confirmed speakers include:

• Amina J. Mohammed, Minister of the Environment, Federal Republic of Nigeria

• Annie Lennox, Singer, Songwriter, Political Activist and Philanthropist

• Cecile Richards, President, Planned Parenthood Federation of America & Planned Parenthood
Action Fund

• Chamki, Muppet from Galli Galli Sim Sim, Sesame Street India

• Jessica Biel, Actor; Ambassador for WomanCare Global’s “If You Don’t Tell Them, Then Who
Will?” Campaign

• Tawakkol Karman, Nobel Peace Laureate; Founder & Chairwoman, Women Journalists Without
Chains

• Yvonne Chaka Chaka, Performing Artist; Founder, Princess of Africa Foundation; Goodwill
Ambassador, UNICEF & Roll-Back Malaria

• And multiple heads of UN Agencies, including UNAIDS, UNFPA, UNICEF, UN Women and WHO
“The Women Deliver 2016 Conference is all about building courage, strength and innovative spirit to
drive development with the understanding that solutions works best with girls and women at the
heart,” said Women Deliver CEO Katja Iversen.

The Conference will also feature several special events, including an Appy Hour, Arts and Cinema Corner,
Speakers’ Corner, Career Fair and Social Enterprise Challenge. Additionally, for the first time, the
Women Deliver 2016 Conference will have an online counterpart, Women Deliver Live, which will allow
virtual participants to access plenaries, high-level talks, press conferences and VIP roundtables.
Women Deliver 2016 Conference registration is now open. Registration for Women Deliver Live can be
found here. Members of the media are invited to apply for press accreditation to register for the
conference at no cost.

To receive the latest updates on Conference speakers, schedules, and events, subscribe to our
newsletter and follow Women Deliver on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

WHAT: Women Deliver 2016 Conference

WHEN: 16-19 May 2016

WHERE: Bella Center, Copenhagen, Denmark

SOCIAL: Join the conversation by following #WD2016

WEB: www.wd2016.org

CONFIRMED SPEAKERS: Access the full list of high-level speakers here.

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ABOUT WOMEN DELIVER:

As a leading global advocate for girls’ and women’s health, rights, and wellbeing, Women Deliver brings
together diverse voices and interests to drive progress, particularly in maternal, sexual, and
reproductive health and rights. It builds capacity, shares solutions, and forges partnerships, together
creating coalitions, communication, and action that spark political commitment and investment in girls
and women.

Women Deliver believes that when the world invests in girls and women, everybody wins.