New technology, legal reform, feminism 2.0 round out global women's congress

7 July 2011, OTTAWA – On the heels of the release of UN Women’s flagship report, “Progress of the World’s Women: In Pursuit of Justice”, 2000 women from more than 90 countries will use the final day of the largest gathering of women from around the world in Canadian history to name legal reforms and “2.0” strategies as refreshed approaches to advancing women’s equality.

Topics for discussion under the theme of this final day of the global feminist congress – “Breaking Ground” – cover new technology, legal reform, activism 2.0, and the empowerment of girls and families.

“Everywhere, women are changing rules, seizing opportunities, and not asking for permission,” says Rianne Mahon, co-chair of the congress, the 11th in a series which began in 1981.

“What better way to close Women's Worlds 2011 than by describing the world we want?

Programmatic highlights for Women’s Worlds 2011 on Thursday, 7 July:

  • closing plenary featuring Samhita Mukhopadhyay, editor of feministing.com, Sebenzile Matsebula, South African disAbilities rights activist, and Canada’s Kathleen Lahey, leading LGBT advocate
  • The Women's Court of Canada: Inventing Institutions of Resistance
  • Défis d'un partenariat entre femmes acadiennes et francophones du Canada atlantique
  • Shifting the Paradigm towards a Maternal Economy
  • Activism 2.0: Exploring social engagement through the lens of "empathic action"

Photo highlights:

  • Closing plenary: 2:30-4:30pm, Ottawa Convention Centre
  • Closing ceremony: 4:30-5:30pm, Ottawa Convention Centre
  • Farewell Street Party: 5:30-11pm, Tabaret Lawn, University of Ottawa (featuring Eternia, DJ Ruby Jane, The No Shit Shirleys, Luv2Groove, Ottawa Stilt Union, and hosted by Maja Bee

WW 2011 (www.womensworlds.ca) is an international and interdisciplinary congress that will explore how issues like equality, human rights, economics, labour, education, environment, and development relate to women. This is the largest gathering of women from around the world to ever take place in Canada and aims to enhance women's leadership skills and organizational capacity.

WW 2011 is co-hosted by Carleton University and the University of Ottawa. 

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Media credentials

Official program

For details and to arrange interviews:

Caitlin Kealey
Media Relations, Women’s Worlds 2011
caitlin@womensworlds.ca
(011 1) 613 818 7956

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