# World Conference (World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts)

The World Conference is the governing body of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) and meets every three years. If a country has more than one association, the associations form a federation for coordination and world representation.

## Background

As the Girl Guiding and Girl Scouting movement spread, independent national Guiding associations were set up; however, a need for international cooperation was felt. Lady Baden-Powell founded an informal International Council in London in February 1918. In 1920, two leaders from each known Guide country were invited to the British County Commissioners Conference held at Saint Hugh's College, Oxford. This became known as the First International Conference. The 13th World Conference was held in the same college in 1950. The member organizations continue to meet every three years (initially every two years) at World Conferences.

## Formation of WAGGGS

At the fourth World Conference held at Camp Edith Macy in 1926, representatives from several countries suggested the formation of a World Association to take the place of the informal International Council. After the 1926 International Conference the Baden-Powells were approached about setting up a formal association and in 1928 the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts was founded at the 5th International Conference held in Parád, Hungary. Rose Kerr was Vice Chairman, later Commissioner for Tenderfoot Countries.

## Conferences

| Year | Name | Location | Notes |
| 1920 | First International Conference | Oxford, England | |
| 1922 | Second International Conference | Cambridge, England | |
| 1924 | Third International Conference | Foxlease, Hampshire, England | |
| 1926 | Fourth International Conference | Camp Edith Macy, New York City, United States | |
| 1928 | Fifth International Conference | Parád, Hungary | WAGGGS was formed at this conference |
| 1930 | Sixth World Conference | Foxlease, Hampshire, England | |
| 1932 | Seventh World Conference | Bucze, Lower Silesian Voivodeship, Poland | |
| 1934 | Eighth World Conference | Adelboden, Switzerland | |
| 1936 | Ninth World Conference | Stockholm, Sweden | |
| 1938 | Tenth World Conference | Adelboden, Switzerland | |
| 1940 | | | Cancelled due to WWII |
| 1942 | | | Cancelled due to WWII |
| 1946 | 11th World Conference | Evian, France | |
| 1948 | 12th World Conference | Cooperstown, New York, United States | |
| 1950 | 13th World Conference | Oxford, England | |
| 1952 | 14th World Conference | Dombås, Norway | |
| 1954 | 15th World Conference | Zeist, The Netherlands | |
| 1957 | 16th World Conference | Petrópolis, Brazil | |
| 1960 | 17th World Conference | Athens, Greece | |
| 1963 | 18th World Conference | Nyborg, Denmark | |
| 1966 | 19th World Conference | Tokyo, Japan | |
| 1969 | 20th World Conference | Otaniemi, Finland | |
| 1972 | 21st World Conference | Toronto, Canada | |
| 1975 | 22nd World Conference | Sussex, England | |
| 1978 | 23rd World Conference | Tehran, Iran | |
| 1981 | 24th World Conference | Orléans, France | |
| 1984 | 25th World Conference | Tarrytown, New York, United States | |
| 1987 | 26th World Conference | Njoro, Kenya | |
| 1990 | 27th World Conference | Singapore | |
| 1993 | 28th World Conference | Nyborg, Denmark | |
| 1996 | 29th World Conference | Wolfville, Nova Scotia Canada | |
| 1999 | 30th World Conference | Dublin, Ireland | |
| 2002 | 31st World Conference | Manila, Philippines | |
| 2005 | 32nd World Conference | Amman, Jordan | |
| 2008 | 33rd World Conference | Johannesburg, South Africa | 6–12 July |
| 2011 | 34th World Conference | Edinburgh, Scotland | 11–15 July |
| 2014 | 35th World Conference | Hong Kong | 5–9 July |
| 2017 | 36th World Conference | New Delhi, India | 18–22 September |
| 2021 | 37th World Conference | Originally scheduled to be held in 2020 in Uganda | Postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and held online in July 2021 |
| 2023 | 38th World Conference | Cyprus | |

## Conference details
### 15th World Conference

At the 15th World Conference it was decided to mark the centenary of the birth of Lord Baden-Powell, the founder of Guiding, by holding a World Camp with four locations – Doe Lake, Ontario, Canada; Quezon City, Philippines; Lac de Conche, Switzerland; and Windsor Great Park, England, from 19 January to 2 February 1957.

### 33rd World Conference

Held from 6 to 12 July 2008 in Johannesburg, South Africa, it was hosted by the Girl Guides Association of South Africa and held in the Birchwood Executive Hotel and Conference Centre. Graça Machel was the keynote speaker and received the World Citizenship Award. Over 450 delegates attended representing 144 countries.
The 33rd World Conference logo combined the WAGGGS logo and the South African Guides chosen pattern. The Girl Guides Association of South Africa wanted to portray their African dream and the sense of unity of all Girl Guides and Girl Scouts. Ten lines within the logo symbolise the ten Laws shared by Girl Guides and Girl Scouts. The three triangles symbolise the threefold Promise. The M shape symbolises the global challenges facing Girl Guiding and Girl Scouting that can be overcome through unity. The conference's theme was "Join in, reach out, change lives".
In her key note address, Machel spoke about her childhood and three women who had a significant impact on her life. She also expressed her views on the contemporary state of women's rights. Deputy President of South Africa, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, also addressed the meeting.
Graça Machel was presented with the World Citizenship Award. Elspeth Henderson, the outgoing chairman of the World Board, received the WAGGGS Silver Medal, WAGGGS' highest award.

### 34th World Conference

Held from 11 to 15 July 2011 in Edinburgh, Scotland, it was hosted by the Girlguiding UK and was held in the Edinburgh Conference Centre at Heriot-Watt University. Over 390 delegates attended representing 122 member organisations. It was the first WAGGGS World Conference to be held in the UK since 1975. The theme of the conference was "100 years changing lives".
UN Women Deputy Director and Assistant Secretary-General, Lakshmi Puri, delivered the keynote address on the first day of the conference, focusing on issues including gender equality and domestic violence.
Six new associations were officially given full member status of WAGGGS during the conference:
* Guides de la République Démocratique du Congo
* Association des Scouts et Guides du Congo
* Girl Guides Association of Cambodia
* Girl Guides Association of Grenada
* Swaziland Girl Guides Association
* Associazione Guide Esploratori Cattolici Sammarinesi (San Marino)