Shazia Usman

This session will bring together story curators, storytellers and artists to discuss what this collection of stories tells us about girls’ resistance over time, space, and identity. Using storytelling techniques, participants will have the opportunity to explore their own stories of resistance and connect their stories to social change. Together we will unpack this collective narrative, and what it tells us about how change happens, the practices needing to shift to better support girls’ activism, and collectively co-create an advocacy agenda for how this narrative can translate to a freer, fairer and safer present and future for and by girls.

Session format: Thought Leadership & Storytelling

Organized by Stories of Girls’ Resistance, Eyala, Caribbean Girls Collective, Shake the Table

International Sign Language available for this session

The Pacific has some of the highest rates of VAWG globally (2 in 3 women) alongside being on the frontlines of climate crisis with some of the lowest rates of women’s political participation and SRH indicators. The session will (1) articulate the interconnectedness of our issues, (2) forward thought partnership on feminist solutions and (3) encourage increased solidarity and collective voice. The session’s speakers bring together diverse voices from the Pacific’s feminist movements to share reflections on movement building, the impact of siloed and Global North driven aid models, the accumulated impact of multiple crises on the status of diverse women and girls and Pacific-led solutions. The session will be an open dialogue with participants to unpack what is required to advance this agenda, deepen movement building and elevate Global Majority leadership to narrate the story and determine the solutions.

Session format: Thought Leadership

Organized by DIVA for Equality, Tonga Women and Children’s Crisis Center, Sista, UN Women