Global women and youth unite ahead of G20 South Africa to champion peace, wellbeing and balanced leadership
- Editorial Team SDG17
- Nov 16, 2025
- 3 min read
Updated: Nov 17, 2025
At a time when international cooperation is being tested by conflict, economic uncertainty and accelerating digital change, the 3rd Annual Digital Power of Women (DPOW) Conference offers a coordinated global response. Scheduled for 21–22 November 2025, the online event will unite women and youth from more than 100 countries to promote inclusive governance and balanced leadership ahead of the G20 South Africa and COP30 Brazil summits.
Organised by Power of Women, an initiative of We Are The Hope founded by Shenali Rajaratnam, the conference adopts the theme Power Rooted in Connection. Recognised as an official Civil20 (C20) and G20 Social South Africa digital event, it seeks to link civil society directly with global decision-making processes.
A moment for inclusion and integrity
The world faces a convergence of crises, climate instability, digital inequality and leadership fragmentation. Against this backdrop, the DPOW Conference advocates a values-based approach to power, urging governments and institutions to ground their actions in peace, wellbeing and gender balance.
Rajaratnam describes the gathering as “a platform where storytelling, music and digital content shape the moral compass of global governance.” Her vision mirrors a growing consensus: sustainable development is only achievable through cooperation and empathy.
Evidence supports this view. Countries with gender-balanced leadership record higher levels of innovation, education and social trust. Yet women remain 18 per cent less likely than men to have access to advanced digital training, limiting their participation in the modern economy and policy spaces.
Thought leaders and partnerships for progress
Among the keynote speakers are H.E. Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, former UN Women Executive Director and former Deputy President of South Africa, H.E. Dr Ameenah Gurib-Fakim, former President of Mauritius, Nobel Peace Laureate Tawakkol Karman, Thulani Tshefuta, Chair of Civil20 South Africa, Ambassador Vanessa Dolce de Faria, COP30 Brazil’s High Representative for Gender and Environment, and Jean Oelwang, CEO of Virgin Unite.
Alongside these leaders, academics, diplomats, economists and youth advocates from G20 nations and the African Union will focus on practical pathways to digital empowerment, economic inclusion and environmental stewardship.
A key initiative is the partnership with Google, through which 1,000 Google Digital Career Certificates will be awarded via Coursera to young women and girls. This collaboration is designed to expand access to digital education and support fair participation in the global workforce.
Mobilising a global voice
With an expected reach of over one million viewers, DPOW 2025 is on course to become one of the most significant civil-society digital assemblies contributing to the G20 process. Its agenda covers six interlinked priorities:
· Peace and conflict resolution
· Digital and AI governance
· Earth-centred environmental action
· Inclusive economic development
· Education and digital skills
· Wellbeing, health and social stability
The resulting declaration will be presented to G20 South Africa, COP30 Brazil and other global forums, reaffirming that women and youth are indispensable partners in shaping just and sustainable governance.
A turning point for leadership culture
The DPOW movement reflects a principle long recognised in public life, that societies flourish when leadership is inclusive, accountable and grounded in service. Its method, digital connectivity and collaborative design, simply modernises that enduring idea.
Yet translating dialogue into structural reform remains the real challenge. For DPOW’s momentum to endure, participating institutions must embed balanced representation, digital equity and wellbeing-centred policy within governance frameworks.
Current figures illustrate both progress and persistence of inequality. Women hold roughly 26 per cent of parliamentary seats worldwide, and youth unemployment continues to outpace the general labour average. Reducing these disparities could deliver measurable benefits for productivity, innovation and social stability.
As delegates and observers connect across continents, DPOW 2025 represents more than a conference, it is a coordinated appeal for leadership rooted in connection, ethics and fairness.
Participation is free and open to the public. Details, registration and the full programme are available at www.powerofwomen.info/dpow2025.
For enquiries or media contact: hello@powerofwomen.info
Those wishing to explore broader initiatives supporting women’s digital empowerment and responsible governance can find further resources through the Power of Women network.
