CHOGM 2026: How We're Making a Difference

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Ahead of the 2026 Commonwealth Women's Forum (CWF) in Antigua and Barbuda, IHO invites women from across the Commonwealth to share their voices. Respond to this year's theme—Advancing Gender Equality: Investment in a Prosperous and Resilient Commonwealth—by submitting a creative piece. What does a truly prosperous and resilient world look like for women where you live? 

As we work with other civil society groups and demand greater action on women's rights through the Forum and at CHOGM, help us ground policy in the raw realities of the women it is actually meant to serve. We recognise that grassroots creative expression is a powerful form of advocacy. It allows women's voices to be carried into the rooms where decisions are made, so that policy is shaped by authentic, unedited human stories.

The theme of your creative piece is the theme of this the 2026 Commonwealth Women's Forum—Advancing Gender Equality: Investment in a Prosperous and Resilient Commonwealth. 

• There is no right or wrong way to interpret this theme. However, we encourage you explore what gender equality, prosperity and resilience means for you and for women in your country. 
• If you wish to explore the theme in and wider context than your own country and look at the issue from a Commonwealth context, you are free to do that as well.
• There are many issues related to gender equality, resilience and prosperity in that you can consider. These include your personal experiences. They may also include your observations on things like women's economic empowerment, women in leadership, and violence against women and girls.
• There are many other issues connected to gender equality, resilience and prosperity such as the experience of rural women, the experience of indigenous women, women and poverty, how laws and traditions impact women in your country, motherhood, and matrifocality.
• You might also explore other connected themes like women in politics, women in sports, women in art, women in science, etc. This is only food for thought. You are free to interpret the theme and express yourself as you prefer.
• You are not required look at any specific issue or group of issues. Tackle the theme in your own way.

You can submit any of the three types of writing/expression listed below. Your submission should be in English. 

1. Poem: Poems can be up to 30 lines.
2. Prose:  You are allowed to write up to 400 words.
3. Spoken Word:  Your video or audio can be a maximum of two (2) minutes.

All women and girls in Commonwealth countries are eligible to participate. There is no minimum or maximum age requirement. If you are not sure whether your country is in the Commonwealth, check the list below.

• Africa: Botswana, Cameroon, Eswatini, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Togo, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia.
• Asia: Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, India, Malaysia, Maldives, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka.
• Americas & the Caribbean:  Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Canada, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago. 
• Europe: Cyprus, Malta, United Kingdom. 
• Pacific: Australia, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu

You must submit your piece before 11:59 PM Atlantic Standard Time on Friday, October 30, 2026. You piece should be emailed to info@ihoab.com. In the subject line of the email, please write: "One Last Thread Submission from" along with your first and last name.