The World YWCA Council 2007 was unprecedented in numerous ways. Nearly 2000 people attended the opening of the International Women’s Summit on HIV and AIDS – the highest participation ever for the Council. Over 80% of the movement was present for the World YWCA Council, with over 100 nationalities representing close to 95 associations.

In 2003, the World YWCA Council recommended that an extraordinary council be held to vote on a revised constitution. The 25th extraordinary World YWCA Council was held on July 3-4 at which the 152-year-old movement voted unanimously to adopt a revised constitution.

The extraordinary Council was preceded by several events including the Young Women’s Leadership Forum, Capacity Building meeting, Africa Partnership Safari debriefing and the Female Initiated HIV-Prevention Methods workshop.

The International Women’s Summit (IWS) on HIV and AIDS, organised in partnership with the International Community of Women living with HIV (ICW), was held from July 4-7. For more on the IWS, click here.

The 26th World Council began on July 9 with presentations from Dr Musimbi Kanyoro, general secretary of the World YWCA, Mónica Zetzsche, outgoing president and Maureen Bell, treasure. The highlight of the council was the announcement of the results of the elections for the World Board 2007-2011. The 26th World Council elected Susan Brennan, from Australia, as president - the youngest president ever to be elected - and an unprecedented number of young women, 55% of the board are women 30 years old or younger.

The 26th World YWCA Council saw the passing of a landmark resolution brought forward by the YWCA of Palestine and YWCA USA that called on the World YWCA to support efforts to bring a just and peaceful solution to the Middle East that recognises the rights of all indigenous peoples.

The council ended on July 11 with inspiring speeches form the newly elected World YWCA president and the newly appointed general secretary Nyaradzai Gumbonzvanda who succeeds Dr Musimbi Kanyoro later in the year. Dr Kanyoro has served as general secretary for ten years during which she has shown incredible leadership and greatly elevated the visibility of the YWCA movement. During her tenure, Dr Kanyoro showed tremendous leadership with the Global Campaign, an initiative to raise 25 million dollars for the Power to Change fund - a permanent fund for the leadership development of women and girls. The fund was launch at the 26th World YWCA Council having reached the targeted USD 10 million mark – the point at which interest from the fund can begin to be distributed.

The next World YWCA Council will be held in Zurich, Switzerland in 2011.