Reflections on the AWID Conference 2024: Lessons, Connections, and Calls to Action

As I sit down to reflect on my experience at the AWID Conference held in Bangkok, Thailand, in December 2024, I am filled with a deep sense of gratitude and inspiration. The AWID is a global feminist membership organisation dedicated to achieving gender justice and women's human rights worldwide. AWID envisions a world where feminist realities flourish, with resources and power shared equitably, enabling everyone to thrive with dignity, love, and respect. Their mission is to support feminist, women’s rights, and gender justice movements to thrive, challenging systems of oppression and co-creating feminist realities. This global gathering of feminists, activists, and advocates from all walks of life created a transformative space where ideas, struggles, and victories were shared with an unparalleled spirit of solidarity.  

The AWID Conference 2024 was held from December 2nd to 5th in Bangkok, Thailand. This global gathering brought together feminists, activists, and advocates from diverse backgrounds to share ideas, struggles, and victories in a spirit of solidarity. Attending this conference not only expanded my understanding of women’s challenges and advocacy centred on bettering and uplifting the lives and well-being of women but also reinforced my commitment to amplifying the voices of young urban women in the little corner I occupy in South Africa. 

Connecting with Activists and Advocates 

The conference featured various rooms, each hosting different conversations, from dialogues, and expressions through dance, to panel discussions, yet all converging on the shared experiences and struggles of activists and women worldwide. These spaces facilitated connections among individuals from different countries, emphasising common challenges such as economic exclusion, gender-based violence, and the undervaluation of care work. Engaging in these diverse discussions highlighted the universal nature of these issues and the importance of collective action in addressing them. 

Engaging with activists from across the globe was a humbling and enriching experience. We shared stories of resistance, resilience, and innovation. From community organisers in Latin America fighting for land rights to Asian feminists challenging patriarchal norms in their families, communities, and workplaces, the connections I formed were both inspiring and instructive. 

What stood out most were the shared struggles that transcended borders, also addressed richly in the conference sessions—economic exclusion, gender-based violence, and the undervaluation of care work. Yet, within these common challenges, I discovered a treasure trove of strategies and approaches that I am eager to bring back to my work with young urban women in South Africa. For instance, the creative use of storytelling to highlight economic injustices or the mobilisation of intergenerational dialogues to foster a sense of shared purpose and continuity is amongst the methodologies I intend to use in facilitating my own Young Urban Women Movement sessions with my cohort in Johannesburg, South Africa. Additionally, I intend to impart the invaluable strategies learned from other colleagues around the globe, on how to leverage already existing resources and avenues to ensure that Feminist agendas are not only known by relevant parties but receive the attention and address they deserve- for the betterment of the lives of women across the world.  

A filming and screening that we watched ignited in me the methodology of addressing these challenges through the use of traditional and social media, and this form of advocacy through theatre ignited within me the passion to harness media to amplify the Feminist economics agenda. The realisation that for these critical discussions to transcend the conference walls and drive tangible change, the media must play a central role. Both traditional and social media offer unique opportunities to expand the reach of the Feminist Economics agenda and mobilise audiences into action. It is for this reason that I intend to invest time, intellectual muscle and energy to driving a podcast through ActionAid South Africa, that will drive these conversations and reach young women across the spectrum, who may either have felt like the injustices and inequalities which we currently exist in are normal. Furthermore, to mobilise for a larger audience of soldiers who will join us in the fight for alternative economic systems that benefit women. 

Shared Struggles and New Lessons 

One of the recurring themes throughout the conference was the urgency of dismantling systems that perpetuate inequality. Key concepts related to feminist economics were not just topics of discussion but rallying cries for systemic change. I learned how critical it is to frame economic debates in terms that prioritise human well-being over GDP growth and to challenge policies that overlook the contributions of informal and care economies. 

I cannot forget the resounding words of one audience member who shared—and I am paraphrasing—“We grew up being told to work hard to afford private healthcare. Our mothers in their prime were taught the same, and so it cannot be right that, generations later, we are still striving to work hard to afford private healthcare. The real question should be, why is public healthcare not on the same standard of quality as private healthcare? Most women carry communities and families on their backs, and so it cannot be right that we continue to ignore that quality healthcare should never be a privilege—but a right.” 

These lessons reaffirm my belief in the power of collective action. By equipping young urban women with these insights, we can empower them to demand more inclusive and equitable economic policies that reflect their lived realities. From understanding the importance of intersectionality to appreciating the global dimensions of our struggles, I left the conference with a renewed sense of purpose and a clearer vision for the road ahead. 

The Artistic Side of Advocacy 

Activism has always taken many forms, and the AWID Conference highlighted how creative expressions can powerfully amplify advocacy. The conference showcased visual arts that carried messages of strength, demand, power, and awareness. Artistic installations, murals, and performances not only underscored the gravity of women’s struggles but also celebrated their resilience and aspirations. These creative expressions served as a reminder that advocacy is not confined to speeches and marches; it thrives in colors, shapes, and movements that transcend language and cultural barriers. Such artistry inspired me to explore how we can incorporate similar forms of expression in our work with young urban women to amplify their voices and stories. 

Gratitude and a Call to Action 

I am immensely grateful for the opportunity to have participated in this transformative experience. Being part of such a vibrant and dynamic global feminist movement is a privilege I do not take lightly. I am particularly thankful to ActionAid for their support and encouragement, and I urge them (AA) to build on this momentum by hosting their own sessions on feminist economics in the upcoming 16th AWID International Forum Conference. 

ActionAid is uniquely positioned to convene diverse voices and create platforms where women from across the globe can exchange ideas, strategies, and stories. A focused session on feminist economics would not only deepen our understanding but also mobilise collective action to demand alternative economic models that prioritise equity, sustainability, and care. This would be a powerful step in fuelling the agenda for systemic change and ensuring that women’s voices are central to policy and legislative debates. 

Hope for the Road Ahead 

The AWID Conference was more than an event—it was a catalyst for change, a reminder of the power of solidarity, and a call to action. As I return to South Africa, I carry with me the stories, lessons, and connections that will shape my work in the months and years to come. Together, with young urban women and allies, we can continue to push boundaries, challenge injustices, and build a world where feminist economics is not just an aspiration but a reality.