The conference has not been held in the southern hemisphere and is expected to attract 1,000 or more delegates.
The Australian Women’s Services Network (Wesnet) and worked with the Global Network of Women’s Shelters (GNWS) to bring the conference to Australia.
The event was first held in Edmonton, Canada in 2008 and was held every three to four years until 2019. The Sydney conference will be the first meeting of this community in six years.
“The 5WCWS will give a massive boost to the common goal: to end all violence against women globally,” said the CEO of Wesnet, Karen Bentley.
“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.”
CEO of BESydney, Lyn Lewis-Smith called Sydney’s hosting of the event “an incredible opportunity”.
“I am proud that Sydney has 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,” she said.
“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.”
