Empowering Change and Resilience at Women Deliver 2023: A Glimpse into a Transformative Experience

Stepping into the world of Women Deliver 2023, the world’s largest women's rights conference, was a venture I eagerly anticipated. As the event unfolded in the vibrant setting of Rwanda, the first African country to host this quadrennial gathering, the stage was set for an unforgettable journey into empowerment, inspiration and camaraderie.Rwanda, a nation where over 60% of its parliament are women, proved to be a fitting backdrop for this monumental occasion.

Journeying to Rwanda on the 15th of July, I found myself in a land that had seized my attention during my doctoral research on trauma and resilience in 2018. Rwanda, a nation that has shown incredible resilience in the aftermath of genocide, stands as a testament to human resilience, its social and economic fabric interwoven into a tapestry of progress. The streets exude cleanliness, while the capital city, Kigali, boasts the reputation of Africa's safest metropolis.

The inauguration of WD2023 was graced by the presence of leaders from Rwanda, Ethiopia, Senegal, and Hungary, each taking to the main stage to deliver their opening remarks. The energy of the crowd, surpassing the 6000 mark, was infectious, as workshops and events unfurled across the city. The sheer magnitude of the conference was awe-inspiring, an embodiment of empowerment in action. Attending various sessions and forging connections with impassioned women driving change throughout Africa left an indelible mark.

I curated a session for the conference titled "How to Stay Resilient When You're Trying to Save the World." This prelude to the main events, conducted in a virtual setting, aimed to equip attendees with strategies to navigate vicarious trauma, compassion fatigue, and burnout – all while emphasising the importance of self-care in the realm of human rights.

A guiding principle that resonates profoundly with me is the adage "you cannot pour from an empty cup." This maxim holds particularly true within the realm of human rights work. Strikingly, many within the social services sector advocate robust self-care strategies, yet often neglect to implement these strategies in their own lives. My session unpacked this paradox through a trauma-informed lens and delved into actionable self-care approaches tailored to professionals engaged in empowering others.

This experience and involvement with WD2023 has filled me with immense gratitude for the privilege of participation. Together, we stand as catalysts for change, united by the shared vision of a world where women's rights are not just spoken of but embraced as an undeniable reality.

For those interested in my presentation "How to Stay Resilient When You're Trying to Save the World," I invite you to listen to it here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4v6JAqm5pg&t=1s&ab_channel=DrZoe-ClinicalConsultant

Furthermore, for a deeper exploration of my article "Intergenerational Trauma in the Aftermath of Genocide," drawing on Rwanda's resilience research, the full piece can be accessed here: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Zoe-Wyatt.