At this year’s Women of the World (WOW) event in London’s Royal Albert Hall, renowned activist and philosopher Angela Davis took the stage to reaffirm her unwavering support for trans women.

Speaking in a powerful conversation with WOW founder Jude Kelly, Davis emphasised the importance of solidarity across all marginalised communities, stating that true gender justice cannot be achieved without embracing and uplifting trans women. She reaffirmed this by addressing the audience and telling them that “trans women are women”.

Her words set the tone for an event that celebrated the resilience, activism, and achievements of women, girls, and non-binary people worldwide. Now in its 15th year, WOW has become a global platform for conversations on equality, human rights, and social justice.  

 

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Ahead of the festival, Kelly reflected on WOW’s continued necessity: “I would love to be able to say that WOW, in its 15th year, is no longer needed. That women, girls, and non-binary people are seen and valued equally the world over. However, this is not the case. Our anniversary year will serve to renew all our energies and, despite setbacks, help sustain optimism and joy that will ultimately enable gender equity to be achieved. We can’t wait to come together for WOW at 15 – Angela Davis has been a true friend to WOW across many years, and in her 80th year, we want to honour her unparalleled contribution to work towards equity in all its forms.”  

This year’s festival also featured other inspiring and notable speakers, including singer and activist Annie Lennox, comedian Sandi Toksvig, and disability rights campaigner Liz Carr. Lennox made a bold statement by wearing a shirt that read “Global Feminist,” reinforcing the festival’s message of unity and inclusion.  

Liz Carr delivered an impassioned speech about the realities disabled people face, highlighting the ongoing battles for access, rights, and security. She emphasised that collective activism is key to achieving meaningful change.

Over the past 15 years, WOW has welcomed an impressive array of speakers, including Malala Yousafzai, Patrick Stewart, Baroness Doreen Lawrence, and Salma Hayek. However, the festival’s true power lies in its commitment to uplifting activists, whether globally recognised or working at the grassroots level who are driving change in their communities.