Melbourne has been shortlisted as one of three finalists to host the world’s largest gender equality conference in 2022.
Minister for Women Gabrielle Williams today launched Australia’s bid to bring the Women Deliver conference to Victoria in front of influential gender equality advocates at Parliament House.
The 2019 conference, which was opened by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, was recently held in Vancouver from 3-6 June and welcomed close to 6000 attendees from over 150 countries.
Hosting the four-day conference brings the chance to engage with world leaders on how we can collectively create systemic change on gender equality and eliminate gender-based violence.
It provides a unique opportunity to share our work and learn from other innovative thinkers from across the globe about ways to improve the future for women and girls.
Philanthropist Melinda Gates launched the first global index measuring efforts to end gender inequality at the Vancouver Women Deliver conference, with Australia receiving a score of 85. Denmark was highest at 89.3.
Hosting the conference could inject over $26 million into the state’s economy and allow Victoria to showcase its significant investments of $2.83 billion towards initiatives creating a more gender equitable state such as:
- $882 million for subsidised kinder, to help families with the cost of kinder and support women’s return to the workforce and long-term financial security
- $185 million in funding to end family violence
- $115 million to support and promote women's participation in sport
- $98.8 million for initiatives addressing maternal and reproductive health.
The next step in the bid process, led by Melbourne Convention Bureau, involves the New York based conference organisers visiting Melbourne to see first hand Victorian’s commitment to women and girls’ health and rights.
The host destination will be announced by Women Deliver in mid-2020.
Quote attributable to Minister for Women Gabrielle Williams
“We’re proud of our work on gender equality – we led the nation in instigating the first ever royal commission into family violence and we will create once in a generation reform through our gender equality legislation.”
Quote attributable to Melbourne Convention Bureau Acting Chief Executive Officer Julia Swanson
“Melbourne is a gateway to the Pacific region and brings together cultures from more than 15 Pacific nations. The issues and challenges for women across our region are unique but will resonate with many other countries.”
Quote attributable to Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Martin Pakula
“Melbourne is proudly the business events capital of Australia and with the Melbourne Convention Bureau breaking the $500 million mark for conferences this financial year, we’re perfectly positioned to host this conference that puts the focus on gender equality.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020