Post by Orbis International

The final day of #WomenDeliver #WD2026 brought together the Orbis team for a series of focused and practical sessions on women’s leadership, accountability, and community‑led change. Conversations explored how women are affected by conflict and crisis, the role of human rights and political participation, and what meaningful action looks like in humanitarian and development settings. These themes were central to the session “Women Are Not Negotiable: Conflict, Power and Accountability.” Another session, “Building Together: Women, Communities and Self‑Determined Pathways for Change,” looked at community‑driven approaches to change, highlighting the importance of local understanding, strong partnerships, and shared ownership throughout program design and delivery. At the Orbis booth, we highlighted our work across several Asian countries and hosted a peer exchange with colleagues from the The Fred Hollows Foundation and partners from Papua New Guinea, Cambodia, and Vietnam. The discussion centered on reaching women and girls with eye care and tackling systemic barriers that continue to limit access. Participants shared reflections from the conference and how the conversations at Women Deliver are shaping their thinking and future work. The booth also provided space for a Women Leaders in Eye Health team meeting with colleagues from the Seva Foundation creating an opportunity to align on upcoming activities and coordinate ongoing efforts across Africa, the Americas, and other regions. Seva reaffirmed its commitment to supporting WLEH and continuing close collaboration. Women Deliver closed with a ceremony that recognized the conference hosts and emphasized the importance of collective action. The launch of the Melbourne Declaration — developed through more than 650 contributions and endorsed by 400 people — captured a shared commitment to advancing gender equality. With more than 6,000 participants from 189 countries, the conference underscored the global momentum behind sustained, collaborative change for women and girls.