5WCWS Wrap up
Thank you to everyone who attended the 5th World Conference of Women’s Shelters (5WCWS). The 5WCWS conference report has been finalised and can be download here.
Hosted by Wesnet and held in the Southern Hemisphere for the first time, the conference took place at the International Convention Centre in Sydney, Australia from 15 to 18 September 2025. The event brought together 1,200 delegates from more than 60 countries and featured over 200 speakers sharing global insights, research and strategies to end gender-based violence.
Across social media and post conference feedback, delegates described 5WCWS as powerful, inspiring and deeply connecting. Many spoke about the emotional impact of hearing from global leaders, the collective strength of being part of a movement spanning more than sixty countries, and the sense of solidarity and shared purpose created across the four days.
The program included 12 keynotes and more than 200 concurrent sessions covering a broad range of critical themes including:
- Addressing all forms of gender-based violence
- Safety, wellbeing, recovery and healing
- The continuum of prevention and response
- Anti oppression and inclusion
- Breaking down barriers and driving systems change
- Justice and human rights
- Current research and evidence
- Sustainable funding and resourcing
- Technology and innovation
- Global collaboration and partnership
Alongside keynotes, plenaries, workshops, study tours and regional caucuses, the conference created space for connection, learning and collaboration between advocates from around the world.
Our hope is that delegates were left with new strategies, tools and partnerships to strengthen their work, along with renewed energy and commitment to our shared goals: supporting victim-survivors, strengthening services, holding perpetrators to account and working collectively to prevent gender-based violence globally.
Learn more: fifthworldshelterconference.org
