The Associated
Country Women of the World (ACWW) has won the Incredible Impacts Programme.
The Programme, a joint initiative
between Best Cities Global Alliance and the International Congress and
Convention Association (ICCA), celebrates the ‘beyond tourism’ value of
international association meetings to create a powerful platform to advocate
their positive societal impact.
ACWW was
recognised for its work in bringing survivors of domestic violence together at
the first Women’s Empowerment Summit earlier this year, to share training,
engage in support activities, and community-building initiatives.
The Summit, which was jointly organised by Sain Tus Development
Bridge NGO and ACWW, and co-funded by UNESCO, took place in Khovd Province,
Mongolia and saw more than 300 women attend.
In recognition of association's work, ACWW will
receive US$20,000 to fuel future projects. Its presence and case study at the 2023 ICCA Congress in Bangkok, where the winner was announced, aims to inspire other associations to push the boundaries of
their ideas to leave a positive
and
lasting impact on global communities.
“We are inspired by the winner of this year’s
Incredible Impacts programme. ACWW has
demonstrated leadership in advancing positive societal impact,” said Loren Christie, managing director,
BestCities Global Alliance. “Their work is an important reminder that meetings
can spark dialogue, shift perspectives, and achieve systemic change.”
“Each year the Incredible Impacts Winner
surprises and inspires,” added Senthil Gopinath, ICCA CEO. “This innovative and hugely important project shows
how dramatically life-changing the work and influence of an association can be.
We are proud to give this wonderful programme a global spotlight on the
Congress stage, showing the world is listening to those who may not have a
voice. This is proof our associations can challenge the unacceptable, build
stronger communities, and advocate for positive and lasting change.”
