By Yotzelin Ivette Islas Hernández

Coordinator of Young Leaders Development GOYN Mexico

Participating in the Women Deliver 2026 conference as part of the GOYN Mexico team was a profoundly transformative experience. I had the opportunity to engage in diverse spaces that reflect the diversity and strength of the global feminist movement, placing Latin America and the Caribbean at the heart of the conversation. Being in a space where so many voices, struggles, and territories converge allowed me to grasp the power of collective work, but also the outstanding issues that remain.

Joining the process of developing the Melbourne Declaration for Gender Equality was not just a technical exercise, but a profoundly political one. Throughout that process, there was a strong emphasis on something that seems obvious but is still not being achieved: gender equality cannot be an isolated issue. It needs to be part of a cross-cutting commitment integrated into every political, social, and economic agenda. I left with the feeling that the discourse is there; the problem remains how we put it into practice.

From Latin America, the Regional Consultation was another event that resonated deeply with me. Listening to so many leaders and organizations lay our realities on the table was as powerful as it was necessary. We talked about violence, inequality, resistance, and community. And it became so clear to me that our communities are not just another actor: they are at the center. And any global agenda that doesn't start from there is incomplete.

But during that time, something else happened that isn't always mentioned in these spaces but was just as important to me: I met other women from Mexico, Guatemala, the Dominican Republic, and Laos, and I reconnected with a friend from Mozambique whom I met at CSW69 in 2025. These encounters reminded me that these kinds of spaces aren't just for exchanging ideas, but also for building closeness, forging alliances, and, why not, even friendships that cross borders. In the end, it's these connections that sustain us in our work, over time.

There were also spaces that invited me to consider other dimensions of justice. At the conference “Leading Our Own Liberation for Feminist Agents of Change with Disabilities,” I encountered women with disabilities leading their own struggles. Not from a place of symbolism, but from a place of real autonomy. It was a reminder of how much work we still have to do in terms of inclusion within our movements.

Another key part of my experience was attending sessions on topics like Sovereignty to Solidarity, Gender Justice, and Reparations. There, the conversations shifted toward economic and environmental justice, and it made perfect sense to understand that we can't talk about rights without addressing structural inequalities and the climate crisis. Everything is connected. Talking about sovereignty, solidarity, and reparations also means acknowledging histories of dispossession and considering how we build more just futures.

And amidst all of that, there were moments that were different, like the Cultural Night. There I remembered that the struggle is also art, music, and who we are. It was a place of connection from another perspective, where resistance is also celebration.

Throughout those days, one thing that came up repeatedly was the crucial role of organizations. At GOYN Mexico, supporting young people with opportunities is fundamental, but I also confirmed that commitment alone is not enough. Funding remains a huge barrier. Hearing that many initiatives operate with very limited resources, and that some are even at risk of disappearing, was very worrying. This reflects a clear gap between what is said globally and what is actually happening on the ground. Many organizations are doing essential work, but without sufficient support to guarantee their continuity. Without stable funding, not only are projects halted, but processes and networks that take years to build are weakened.

I mean, speaking from Latin America also means being honest: we can't romanticize activism. Women face violence, profound inequalities, and a lack of structural support. And the global discourse often acknowledges this, but it doesn't always translate into concrete resources or actions. And there's a gap there that we can't ignore.

I left Women Deliver with so many questions, but also so many certainties. The most important: that change doesn't happen in isolation. It's the networks, organizations, and young leaders who sustain this movement, even when everything seems uphill. Latin America can contribute to the global conversation. But it also needs something very basic: to be heard. And without romanticizing its resistance, without blindly ignoring its difficulties, and with the necessary support so that those voices are heard and can also change realities.