Thank you to everyone who joined the April 8 ANWS Regional Webinar, co-organized by the Asian Network of Women’s Shelters (ANWS) and the Garden of Hope Foundation (GOH). This session focused on ANWS’s participation in the upcoming 5th World Conference of Women’s Shelters (5WCWS), and how Asian organizations can collaborate on related issues.
The WCWS is the largest global conference led by and for grassroots organizations working to end gender-based violence (GBV). The 5WCWS will take place this September 15–18 in Australia. As the secretariat of ANWS and the host of the 4WCWS in 2019, GOH took this opportunity to convene both ANWS members and new allies across Asia to share their experiences and ideas in preparation for the 5WCWS. The webinar served as an important step toward building collective goals and a unified presence for ANWS at the conference.
Group Discussions
To maximize interaction, participants were divided into three breakout groups, each led by a facilitator for a 30-minute discussion. Special thanks to our facilitators:
The key points from each group were shared in a full-group wrap-up. Here’s a summary of the insights gathered:
Experiences from Previous WCWS Events
Participants who attended previous WCWS events shared how valuable it was to:
- Advocate to government representatives present at the conference.
- Showcase their work and raise awareness about critical local issues.
- Learn from over 100 countries about shelter practices and GBV interventions.
- Bring back applicable knowledge and inspiration for their home organizations.
Goals for Attending the 5WCWS
Although many organizations are still navigating funding uncertainties and may be unsure about attending, this webinar provided a space to identify shared goals:
- Strengthen the collective voice of Asian women’s organizations.
- Fundraise jointly to overcome the financial barriers many grassroots groups face.
- Learn from global peers, including new trends and tools in shelter management.
- Engage in advocacy with regional and international decision-makers.
- Build networks for ongoing collaboration and support.
Suggested Actions for ANWS
Participants also proposed several initiatives ANWS could take to help achieve these goals:
- Diversify fundraising by seeking support from the private sector and international donors to enhance resilience and sustainability.
- Host knowledge-sharing events, such as webinars or workshops, to highlight successful programs and foster learning.
- Support grassroots participation in major conferences like WCWS by mobilizing funding.
- Organize capacity-building sessions on shelter operations, organizational management, and other core skills.
This webinar created a meaningful platform for both ANWS members and new friends to reconnect, reflect, and strategize. Most importantly, it brought us together under a shared purpose: to prepare a strong, united presence at the 5WCWS and beyond.
One participant summed it up beautifully:
“This is a great initiative. We must come together on issues concerning women and children. Collaboration will help amplify our voices.”
Let’s continue this momentum and work collectively toward a world free from violence.
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Asian Network of Women's Shelters 