Global Women's Conferences and Events
Women
Conceptual
Strategic participation in global women’s events and conferences is essential for professionals committed to advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment within their organizations and sectors. This comprehensive directory provides decision-makers, program managers, policy advisors, and gender equality practitioners with a roadmap to the most influential gatherings shaping the international women’s rights agenda.
These events serve multiple professional purposes: they offer platforms for thought leadership and organizational visibility, provide access to cutting-edge research and best practices, create opportunities for high-level networking and partnership development, and enable direct engagement with policy-making processes that affect your work. From the UN Commission on the Status of Women’s norm-setting discussions to specialized sector conferences driving innovation, each event represents a strategic opportunity to advance your professional objectives while contributing to global progress.
Whether you’re seeking to influence international policy, showcase organizational achievements, access funding opportunities, recruit talent, conduct market research, or build coalitions, understanding the landscape of women’s events is crucial for maximizing your impact and investment. This directory categorizes events by type and focus area, helping you identify the most relevant platforms for your professional goals and organizational priorities.
Use this resource to plan your annual engagement calendar, prepare compelling participation strategies, identify speaking opportunities, and ensure your organization remains at the forefront of global conversations on gender equality. Each event entry includes practical information for professional participation and networking optimization.
UN and International Government Events
UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW)
The largest annual gathering on gender equality and women’s empowerment, held every March at UN Headquarters in New York. CSW brings together representatives of UN Member States, civil society organizations, and UN entities to evaluate progress on gender equality, identify challenges, and set global standards and policies.
> unwomen.org/en/csw
UN General Assembly High-Level Meeting on Gender Equality
Periodic high-level meetings during the UN General Assembly that focus on accelerating progress toward gender equality and women’s empowerment, often reviewing implementation of global commitments and setting new targets.
> un.org/en/ga/
Beijing+30 Review Conference (2025)
The 30-year review of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, marking three decades since the landmark Fourth World Conference on Women. This major review will assess global progress on women’s rights and gender equality.
> unwomen.org/en/digital-library/beijing
Generation Equality Forum
UN Women’s flagship global gathering for gender equality, bringing together governments, corporations, and civil society to announce ambitious commitments and investments in gender equality. The forum launched in 2021 continues with follow-up events.
> forum.generationequality.org
Women Leaders Network Summit (UN)
Annual gathering of women leaders from government, civil society, and private sector to share experiences, discuss challenges, and develop strategies for advancing women’s leadership globally.
> unwomen.org
Major NGO and Civil Society Events
AWID International Forum
The Association for Women’s Rights in Development hosts this major feminist gathering every 3-4 years, bringing together thousands of women’s rights activists, feminists, and allies from around the world to share strategies, build movements, and celebrate collective power.
> awid.org
Women Deliver Conference
The world’s largest conference on gender equality and the health, rights, and wellbeing of girls and women. Held every three years, it brings together diverse voices from governments, NGOs, private sector, and youth to drive progress and accountability.
> womendeliver.org/conference
Global Summit of Women
An annual international conference that brings together women leaders from government, business, and civil society to discuss economic opportunities, leadership development, and strategies for advancing women’s participation in all sectors.
> globalsummitofwomen.org
Women’s March Global
An annual worldwide protest and advocacy event held on or around International Women’s Day, advocating for women’s rights, human rights, and social justice issues across multiple countries simultaneously.
> womensmarch.com
International Conference on Women’s Leadership
Various organizations host annual or biennial conferences focusing specifically on developing and celebrating women’s leadership across different sectors including politics, business, academia, and civil society.
> Various organizers
Annual Observance Days and Campaigns
International Women’s Day (March 8)
A global day celebrating women’s social, economic, cultural, and political achievements while also marking a call to action for accelerating gender equality. Events are held worldwide including conferences, marches, exhibitions, and networking events.
> internationalwomensday.com
World Menstrual Hygiene Day (May 28)
Global advocacy day raising awareness about menstrual hygiene management, breaking taboos, and advocating for policy changes to support menstrual equity and girls’ education.
> menstrualhygieneday.org
International Day of the Girl Child (October 11)
UN observance day focusing on the needs and challenges girls face while promoting girls’ empowerment and fulfillment of their human rights. Events worldwide highlight issues like education, health, and protection from violence.
> un.org/en/observances/girl-child-day
16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence (Nov 25 – Dec 10)
An annual international campaign challenging violence against women and girls. The campaign begins on International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and ends on Human Rights Day, featuring events, advocacy, and awareness-raising activities globally.
> 16days.org
Business and Economic Empowerment Events
Forbes Women’s Summit
Annual high-profile conference bringing together influential women leaders from business, politics, entertainment, and social impact to discuss leadership, innovation, and strategies for advancing women in business.
> forbes.com/women
Women’s Economic Empowerment Summit
Various organizations host annual summits focusing on women’s economic participation, entrepreneurship, financial inclusion, and workplace equality across different regions and sectors.
> Various organizers
International Women’s Entrepreneurship Day Events (November 19)
Global observance featuring conferences, workshops, and networking events celebrating women entrepreneurs and promoting policies that support women-owned businesses and startups.
> womenseday.org
SheEO World Summit
Annual gathering of the SheEO community, bringing together women entrepreneurs, investors, and supporters to share knowledge, build networks, and advance women-led ventures focused on world-changing solutions.
> sheeo.world
Regional and Specialized Women's Conferences and Events
African Women Leaders Network Summit
Annual gathering of women leaders across Africa to discuss regional challenges, share best practices, and develop collaborative strategies for advancing women’s leadership and gender equality on the continent.
> awln.org
European Women’s Lobby General Assembly
Annual meeting of Europe’s largest umbrella organization of women’s associations, focusing on European policy advocacy, feminist strategy, and building the women’s movement across Europe.
> womenlobby.org
Asia-Pacific Conference on Gender Equality
Regional conferences bringing together governments, civil society, and private sector from Asia-Pacific countries to address region-specific gender equality challenges and share solutions.
> Various organizers
Women in Tech Global Conference
Annual international conference focusing on advancing women’s participation in technology, featuring workshops, networking, mentorship opportunities, and discussions on closing the gender gap in STEM.
> womentech.net
Academic and Research Events
International Association of Women’s and Gender Studies Conference
Academic conference bringing together scholars, researchers, and activists working in women’s and gender studies to share research, discuss theoretical frameworks, and explore intersectional approaches to gender equality.
> isiswomen.org
Gender and Development Research Conference
Annual academic and practitioner conference focusing on research and evidence-based approaches to gender and development, bringing together researchers, policymakers, and practitioners.
> Various academic institutions
These events represent crucial platforms for advancing women’s rights, sharing knowledge, building movements, and creating accountability for gender equality commitments. They range from large-scale UN gatherings to specialized sector-focused conferences, offering diverse opportunities for engagement and advocacy.