Thousands coming to Vancouver for international conference on gender equality

Thousands of women and leaders from around the world are coming to Vancouver this week for one of the largest international gatherings on gender equality.

Tickets have been sold out for weeks and there are more than 1,500 names on the waiting listfor theWomen Deliver conference, which focuses on the health, rights, and well-being of girls and women across the globe.

More than 6,000 leaders, advocates and influencers are expected to attend the event,held at the Vancouver Convention Centre.

"This conference will be something we all look back on as the moment the world got smaller by growing our networks and uniting us," said Genesa Greening, president of the B.C. Women's HealthFoundation.

The focus for 2019 is power as a driving force behind progress and change.

The discussion topics range from the power of data collection and technology to economic growthto gender-based violence.

Women Deliver last held a conference in 2016 in Copenhagen, Denmark. The event was regarded as a tremendoussuccess for pushing issues of gender equality onto the global stage.

Canada was chosen for this year's conference because of its reputation as "one of the countries in the world that steps up for girls and women," according to a spokesperson with the organization.

The event kicks offMondayat the Vancouver Convention Centre with opening remarks by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and conference CEO Katja Iversen. It runs until Thursday, June 6.