Prime Minister calls on people everywhere to push further and faster on the road to gender equality

Vancouver, BC, Canada, 16 November 2017 – Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Sophie Grégoire Trudeau today spoke to hundreds of leaders, including government officials, business people, and students, at the Vancouver Convention Centre. They urged leaders to come together around the Women Deliver 2019 Conference and take action to champion the rights of women and girls. They were joined by Women Deliver CEO/President Katja Iversen, Premier John Horgan and Adina Williams, a youth leader from the Squamish Nation.

Canada has long been a leader in advancing women’s rights, and will host the next Women Deliver Conference, from June 3 to 6, 2019, in Vancouver, British Columbia. This global event will bring together 6,000 world leaders, government officials, advocates, academics, activists, celebrities, and journalists from more than 160 countries. Another 100,000 or more people are expected to participate in the conference virtually or via satellite events in Canada and across the globe.

Women Deliver Conference is the world’s largest conference on gender equality and the health, rights, and wellbeing of girls and women. It is an opportunity for people to meet, mobilize, share solutions, and take action to build a healthier, more gender equal world.

“Women Deliver 2019 is a chance for all of us to come together, step up, and do our part to make
gender equality a reality,” said Prime Minister Trudeau. “Everyone benefits when women and girls have
the opportunities they need to prosper – and it’s up to all of us to protect and promote the rights of
women and girls. Together, we can build a better world, where everyone has an equal and fair chance to
succeed.”

Prior to the Vancouver Convention Centre event, the Prime Minister, Ms. Grégoire Trudeau, and Katja Iversen joined Janet Austin, President/CEO of YWCA Vancouver, to visit the YWCA’s Crabtree Corner in East Vancouver. They met with women participating in Crabtree’s programs and services, which include a community kitchen, violence prevention, transitional housing, and childcare. Crabtree helps women reach their full potential and is a great example of the kind of work happening across Canada and around the world that the Women Deliver Conference will shine a spotlight on.

“The Women Deliver 2019 Conference is nothing like a normal conference, and it won’t just take place inside the four walls of this beautiful convention center,” said Katja Iversen, CEO/President of Women Deliver. “There will be discussions, events and action around gender equality taking place coast to coast to coast in Canada, and in capitals and communities around the world. By working together we can make the Women Deliver Conference a firing ramp to propel more, real and rapid progress on gender equality and the health, rights and wellbeing of girls and women across the globe. We are grateful for the support and partnership of Prime Minister Trudeau and Canada on this great undertaking.”

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 engage a broad spectrum of voices, including Indigenous peoples, youth, and those impacted by conflict. It will focus on several issues, from health, nutrition, education, economic and political empowerment, to human rights, good governance, and girls’ and women’s agency and equality.

“As women, we still face inequalities and injustices between genders in our everyday lives. This reality must change and it starts by having these important conversations in our communities. The Women Deliver Conference in Vancouver will be an epicentre for progress to come. I invite all Canadians, women and men, to be part of this life-changing dialogue and journey to create more equality.” – Ms. Sophie Grégoire Trudeau, who has been actively involved in Women Deliver’s work.

“British Columbia is proud Women Deliver has chosen Vancouver to host its 2019 conference. Our government is committed to making the changes necessary to give women and men equal footing in our society, here in B.C. Part of that work means addressing discrimination, breaking down barriers, and creating conditions that support the economic security of women. By putting the well-being and empowerment of women at the centre of our agenda, we can make a difference.” – Premier John Horgan

Women Deliver is seeking suggestions on topics to be covered and speakers to be featured at the
conference. People can submit their ideas or learn more about Women Deliver 2019 at wd2019.org.
Click here for a look back at the Women Deliver 2016 Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark.

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About Women Deliver: As a leading, global advocate for gender equality and the health, rights, and
wellbeing of girls and women, Women Deliver brings together diverse voices and interests to drive
progress for all, 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.

Learn more at womendeliver.org.