By Kelly Brantner | CEO
To start the new year, Fora: Network for Change (formerly Girls 20) is charging ahead with their Global Summit, and a new approach that we believe will strengthen this event and the delegates experience. This report will summarise all the key changes including to the delegate application process.
Since 2010, the Global Summit has brought together young women to build leadership skills and a powerful network for advocacy and action. Previously, the delegates represented the G20 nations plus MENA, the African Union as well as Indigenous Peoples.
For 2022 (and moving forward), the Global Summit will be open to applicants from every country and region in the world! The application process officially opens on January 25, 2022.
Thirty delegates from around the world will meet to build their advocacy skills, grow confidence as advocates, and build networks to advance gender equality and women’s leadership to change the status quo in their home countries.
Fora is organising their Global Summit to take place in the latter half of 2022. Their team is committed to ensuring equity is central to their decision-making processes, amidst global inequities in vaccine access and travel restrictions.
Fora has shared that given the many variables caused by COVID-19 and the Omicron variant, planning for the Global Summit will look differently in 2022. Instead of identifying a date before opening applications, they'll first recruit and identify their thirty 2022 Delegates. Once Delegates are selected, the Fora team will assess each Delegate’s access to the vaccine and other travel restrictions and realities. With this information, a decision will be made about when the Summit will be held, and whether it will be held in-person or virtually.
If held in-person, the Global Summit will take place in Toronto, Canada. Fora will continue their commitment to ensure the Global Summit is barrier-free, including covering the costs of travel, visas, and COVID-19 related considerations for all delegates.
Who is eligible to apply to attend as a delegate? Applicants must be at least 18 years old as of January 1, 2022, and no older than 24 as of December 31, 2022, and identify as women and/or gender diverse.
As mentioned, applicants will be received from all corners of the world and individuals will apply under their UN Regional Group plus the addition of a category for Indigenous Peoples:
What will the Summit involve?
Another frequently asked question is what advocacy opportunities will come from the Summit? Post Summit, delegates will be supported to continue to develop advocacy efforts in their home countries through mentorship and alumnae engagement. Additionally, delegates will work with Fora to identify “spaces of power” (e.g. UN Women meetings, G20 consultations, Women’s Forum panels, etc.) where they can influence decision-makers.
We would like to thank everyone that has donated to the Global Summit and your donations will directly support the costs of the delegates whether the event is live or virtual. At BBS one of the key Summit milestones we look forward to is the announcement of the delegates and learning about the incredible young women that will be participating and this year is no exception!
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