Sydney, Australia is set to welcome the 5th World
Conference of Women’s Shelters (5WCWS) in September 2025, marking the
first time the conference will take place in the Southern Hemisphere.
The conference is a joint initiative between the Women’s
Services Network (Wesnet) and the Global Network of Women’s Shelters (GNWS) marking
the largest meeting of women’s shelters and those working to end
gender-based violence.
More than 1,000 attendees and 100 countries are set to take
part in 5WCWS between 15-18 September 2025, at the International Cnvention
Centre Sydney (ICC Sydney).
Karen Bentley, Wesnet CEO , “The 5WCWS will give a massive
boost to the common goal: to end all
violence against women globally. Women’s shelters and women’s specialist
services have been recognised as crucial to ending violence against women and
girls and other forms of gender-based violence.
“The global exchange at these world conferences offers a
unique opportunity to share knowledge and collaborate on a worldwide systematic
approach and combating violence against women and their children and to increase
the safety, independence, and strength of women worldwide. We are so excited to
be able to host this continuing dialogue on a global scale from the past four
world conferences.”
Business Events Sydney CEO, Lyn Lewis-Smith said Sydney is
proud to have been chosen to host the 5th World Conference of Women’s Shelters
in 2025, “an incredible opportunity to have meaningful conversations about
systemic approaches to combating violence against women and providing long-term
support for women as they transition from short-term crisis care to full
recovery from domestic abuse, trauma and deep loss.
“Business events are the ideal platform to raise awareness
among governments, the corporate sector and international organisations to
strive for real change in policy and power,” Lewis-Smith added.
