Conference Committees

GNWS board of directors
GNWS board meeting in New York on February 10, 2019

The Fourth World Conference of Women’s Shelters is organized by the Global Network of Women’s Shelters and hosted by the Garden of Hope Foundation.

Host: The Garden of Hope Foundation

The Garden of Hope Foundation (GOH) is a non-government, non-profit group established in 1988 in Taiwan to help disadvantaged girls and young women, especially girls caught in the sex industry, survivors of sexual abuse and domestic violence, and survivors of human trafficking. From one halfway house, GOH’s services have grown to include shelters and centers island-wide that provide counseling, temporary housing, employment training, social work, and legal advice.

Organizer: Global Network of Women’s Shelters

The Global Network of Women's Shelters (GNWS) was founded in 2009 to unite the women's shelter movement globally. GNWS believes the women's shelter movement plays a critical leadership role in the global effort to end violence against women and their children. GNWS organizes networking opportunities, world conferences, data collection, and other initiatives guided by the diverse experiences of violence and oppression faced by women and their children.

GNWS Executive Committee

Comprising previous, current and potential conference hosts, the GNWS Executive Committee provides expert advice and facilitates international coordination for the conference hosts.

  • Chi Hui-Jung, The Garden of Hope Foundation, Taiwan
  • Riekje Kok, Global Network of Women’s Shelters Secretariat Office, The Netherlands
  • Cindy Southworth, National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV), USA
  • Julie Oberin, The Women’s Services Network, Australia

Proposal Selection Committees

Five thematic committees were asked to judge workshop and mini-seminar proposals. Final selection was made by GOH in consultation with the GNWS executive committee.

Emerging Issues

  • Aleid van den Brink, Group of Experts on Action against Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (GREVIO), The Netherlands
  • Pat Vargas, Catholic Social Services of Alberta, Canada
  • NNEDV, USA

Art and Advocacy

  • Pat Vargas, Catholic Social Services of Alberta, Canada
  • NNEDV, USA
  • Maria Margarita Guille, Inter-American Network of Women’s Shelters (RIRE), Mexcio

New Methods in Shelter Management

  • Riekje Kok, Global Network of Women’s Shelters Secretariat Office, The Netherlands
  • Rosa Logar, Women Against Violence in Europe, Austria
  • NNEDV, USA

Policy and Legislation

  • Julie Oberin, The Women’s Services Network, Australia
  • NNEDV, USA
  • Fatima Outaleb, UAF Shelter, Morocco

Equality and Economic Empowerment

  • Jan Reimer, Alberta Council of Women’s Shelters, Canada
  • NNEDV, USA
  • Marcell Pirrone, Donne in Rete contro la violenza (DiRe), Italy

GNWS Board of Directors

Made up of leaders of the shelter movement from around the world, the GNWS board members provide the strategic direction and overall leadership for the World Conference of Women’s Shelters.

  • Chi Hui-Jung (Chair), Garden of Hope Foundation, Taiwan
  • Susanna Vardanyan, Women’s Rights Center, Armenia
  • Julie Oberin, The Women’s Services Network, Australia
  • Margaret Augerinos, Centre for Non-Violence, Australia
  • Maria Rösslhumer, Autonomous Austrian Women’s Shelters, Austria
  • Rosa Logar, Women Against Violence in Europe, Austria
  • Cynthia Fraser, Safety Net, Canada
  • Sheila Swasson, National Aboriginal Circle Against Family Violence, Canada
  • Jan Reimer, Alberta Council of Women’s Shelters, Canada
  • Lise Martin, Women’s Shelters Canada, Canada
  • Manon Monastesse, Fédération des maisons d'hébergement pour femmes, Canada
  • Pat Vargas, Catholic Social Services of Alberta, Canada
  • Pille Tsopp-Pagan, Women Against Violence in Europe, Estonia
  • Ruth Ozery, Glikman Center at Naamat -Center for the Treatment and Prevention of Domestic Violence, Israel
  • Anna Pramstrahler, DiRe, Italy
  • Marcell Pirrone, DiRe, Italy
  • Maria Margarita Guille, RIRE, Mexcio
  • Wendy Haydeé Figueroa Morales, La Red Nacional de Refugios, Mexcio
  • Fatima Outaleb, UAF Shelter, Morocco
  • Aleid van den Brink, GREVIO, The Netherlands
  • Riekje Kok, Global Network of Women’s Shelters Secretariat Office, The Netherlands
  • Khola Iram, Women Protection Project, Pakistan
  • Mary Balikungeri, African Network of Women’s Shelters, Rwanda
  • Cindy Southworth, NNEDV, USA
  • Nguyen Van Anh, Center for Studies and Applied Sciences in Gender, Vietnam