As the world marks International Women’s Day 2026 under the theme “Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls”, Women Deliver is calling for changes in how global systems operate and how power and resources are distributed.

Dr Maliha Khan, President and CEO of Women Deliver, speaks to Dr Tareq Salahuddin of The Daily Star about decolonising aid, defending gender justice, and why the next decade could redefine global cooperation.

Since the last Women Deliver Conference in Kigali, Rwanda, in 2023 (WD2023), the global gender equality landscape has shifted sharply. Across regions, movements are facing widening pressure on rights and civic space while also accelerating movement-building, cross-border collaboration and youth leadership in response.

Women Deliver has today announced the first speakers confirmed for the Women Deliver 2026 Conference (WD2026), taking place in Narrm (Melbourne) from 27–30 April 2026.

Consultations to create a global Feminist Playbook - organized by Women Deliver and its vast network of partners - are responding to growing political pressure on gender equality and human rights, with feminist leaders, movements and communities across regions describing the process as timely and urgently needed.

The conference provided a platform for young people all over the world to advocate for the policies and solutions they felt were most important.

Women Deliver, a New York-based global organisation, awards Grameen Bank Founder Dr Muhammad Yunus for his innovation in women empowerment.