Reflections from Women Deliver 2026

Reflections from Women Deliver 2026

Women Deliver 2026 took place in Melbourne, Australia, from 27–30 April 2026, bringing together around 6,000 activists, young people, government leaders, healthcare providers, funders, journalists, and partners from more than 170 countries to advance gender equality and the health and rights of women and girls.

Held under the theme “Change Calls Us Here,” the conference came at a difficult time globally, with reproductive rights being rolled back in many countries, funding pressures affecting the HIV and gender equality sectors, and anti-rights movements continuing to grow.

PATA participated through the KULEA programme, with Dr Charmaine Khudzie Mlambo and Erenia Sambua representing PATA. Their participation was supported by the Hilton Foundation and Population Council. The team joined key sessions focused on adolescent girls, young mothers, sexual and reproductive health and rights, gender-based violence, locally led funding, and meaningful youth participation, while also connecting with Hilton-supported partners and peer organisations working with adolescent girls and young mothers.

Across the sessions, one message came through strongly: adolescent girls and young mothers must be treated as leaders, not just beneficiaries. This means moving beyond tokenism and involving girls and young mothers in designing, running, and evaluating the programmes that affect them.

The conference also reinforced the importance of combining education, life skills, economic empowerment, sexual and reproductive health services, mental health support, and protection from violence. For young mothers, this also means prioritising Early Childhood Development services for their children, because when children are well supported, mothers are more able to stay in education, access services, and take part in income-generating activities.

For KULEA, the discussions strongly reflected the direction of the programme: supporting adolescent girls, young women, and young mothers with care that is responsive, holistic, and grounded in their real lives. The sessions also offered useful lessons on movement building, direct support to grassroots and girl-led organisations, bundled interventions, and the need for flexible funding that reaches communities directly.

The conference was also an important space for connection. PATA engaged with Hilton Foundation partners, including organisations working across Kenya, Tanzania, and other contexts, and explored practical opportunities for peer learning and collaboration.

Women Deliver 2026 reaffirmed that progress for adolescent girls and young mothers depends on investing in their leadership, supporting them with the right mix of skills, services, and resources, and including them meaningfully in the decisions that shape their lives.