The Wor
ld YWCA Council brings the movement together every 4 years to deliberate, make decisions & bond. The World Council is the legislative authority and governing body of the World YWCA. Representatives from each affiliated association come together to elect the members of the World YWCA Board, to set priorities for the coming years work & to determine policy through resolutions and recommendations. The Council also provides practical training & education on the priority issues of the global movement.
In conjunction with the World Council, the World YWCA also organises the International Women’s Summit (IWS) which is a global conference on the cutting-edge issues in the lives of women.
Participants to both events include: YWCA delegates, observers, international, national and community-based women’s rights activists, HIV positive women’s networks, ecumenical, youth organisations, media, researchers, advocates, governmental and inter-governmental representatives and other stakeholders.
The Theme – Why the theme “Women Creating a Safe World” ?
The World Council 2011 and the International Women’s Summit IIWS) will celebrate the achievements, learning and progress of the movement, and examine persisting gaps and challenges to ensure the fulfillment of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) including HIV and AIDS, and the eradication of violence against women (VAW) at the community, national and global levels.
The YWCA believes that women are entitled to live safely and securely, regardless of their HIV status, age, creed, race, gender, sexual orientation, ability or ethnicity. Women may reach their full potential through participation and leadership in creating a safe world, and at the same time, security could be improved for all.
Although laws and policies have been put in place in many countries to address these issues, without resources, strategies and education, they remain inadequate. As a result, community based organisations are actively involved in this challenge, despite a lack of matching resources.
YWCAs and other women’s organisations around the world have for many years been initiating and supporting programmes to address this issue. In some 22,000 communities worldwide, YWCAs provide safe and empowering spaces, free of discrimination, stigma or prejudice, for women, young women and girls.
A safe space for women and girls is about:
- personal, economic and political security
- enjoying universal human rights and being free from discrimination and stigma
- the right to live free from violence both in the private and public spheres, to make choices about where to live and work, to move freely, to participate in all facets of democracy
- having full access to sexual and reproductive health services, including universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support
- demanding a robust effort in prevention and in addressing issues of peace and security in a world of conflict, wars and violence.
This core notion of a safe space requires continued reflection, analysis and renewal. World Council 2011 and the IWS will discuss the many facets of this theme and further define equitable, safe and inclusive spaces and programmes for women. The World Council 2011 and the IWS will be a space for sharing experiences and knowledge and exploring opportunities to expand this work, while recognising the key underlying issues of vulnerability, such as poverty and climate change.
