Women Deliver, a leading global advocate for gender equality, has announced the development of a Feminist Playbook to safeguard and advance the rights of women, girls, and gender-diverse people at a time when these freedoms are increasingly under threat.
The Playbook, described as a “living, breathing tool of resistance, co-creation, and reimagining” by Women Deliver President and CEO, Dr. Maliha Khan, will be finalized at the Women Deliver 2026 Conference, scheduled to take place in Naarm (Melbourne), Australia, in April 2026.
Dr. Khan stressed the urgency of the initiative, noting that “our systems are collapsing — they were never built by or for girls and women, and they are failing us today. Anti-rights actors are coordinated, strategic, and emboldened, and we must be equally bold, united, and forward-looking.”
Between now and the conference, Women Deliver will engage grassroots leaders, youth activists, civil society organizations, governments, and global institutions, including the United Nations and COP forums, to shape the Playbook. Community members worldwide will also be invited to contribute, ensuring that the document reflects diverse lived experiences across regions and generations.
At the 2026 conference — the first to be hosted in the Oceanic Pacific — the Playbook will be officially launched, with partners invited to sign pledges and commit to measurable action. Women Deliver says post-conference efforts will focus on turning these commitments into sustained progress through continued collaboration.
Women Deliver 2026 aims to elevate feminist and youth-led leadership, strengthen transnational feminist movements, and reclaim narratives from forces attempting to roll back gender justice. Young women leaders will also be supported to share their perspectives through the Emerging Leaders for Change program.
“The launch of the Playbook marks the beginning of our work in reversing gender equity damage already done, but more importantly, creating new systems that truly serve girls and women,” Dr. Khan added.
Registrations for Women Deliver 2026 are now open at womendeliver.org/wd2026.