What an exciting, inspiring day! We’re so proud to be among over 8,000 advocates, academics, activists, young people, and journalists from over 160 countries in Vancouver for WD2019, on top of the 100,000 people joining from around the world via satellite events and through WDLive.

We’ve already been inspired by the combined power of all our diverse voices—talking about how systems prevent women from reaching leadership roles, the need to translate words into action, the responsibility that comes with power, and so much more—and hope that our sessions today have helped inspire you to harness your power for good!

Highlights from Today

Opening Plenary

Listen to Women & Youth!

Women Deliver Young Leader Natasha Chibesa Wang Mwansa brought the crowd to their feet during the opening plenary panel!
As The Right Honorable Prime Minister Trudeau said:

“You must be thinking Natasha is a leader of tomorrow, but what we must recognize is she is a leader today.”

From reproductive rights to women in leadership, accountability to responsibility, the concept of power took center stage during our opening plenary. We were honored to be joined by four heads of state and powerful advocates in a rousing kick-off to WD2019.

You can watch the full plenary in the WDLive archive.

“When you are a pioneer and the door is opened for you, you make sure the door remains open.”

Her Excellency President Sahle-Work Zewde, first female president of Ethiopia

In tonight’s segment, journalists Martin Aguirre, Thembisa Fakude, and Kgomotso Matsunyane and Plan International CEO, Anne-Birgitte Albrectsen discussed the opening plenary.

Another great feature in the Fueling Station: Power Talks! These five-minute talks complement panel conversations happening in plenaries and concurrent sessions through another powerful format—the single speech. We want to know, how will you use your power?

You can watch The Takeaway, Power Talks and other WD2019 programming on WDLive via Facebook, YouTube, and wd2019.org.

Ethiopia has its first female president, but 40 per cent of girls still marry before 18, Vancouver Sun
A panel of world leaders at WD2019 discussed challenges of increasing women in government and leadership roles, and reducing the number of girls who marry as children.

'Gender equality is under attack': Justin Trudeau opens Women Deliver conference in Vancouver',CBC
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was in Vancouver Monday afternoon to help kick off the official opening of the Women Deliver 2019 global conference.

Social Media Highlights

We’re working to help inspire the world to harness power for good, demonstrate the power of gender equality, and catalyze investment in women-focused organizations and sexual and reproductive health and rights.

Our joint success relies on The Power of Us.

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