World Conference

WAGGGS’ World Conference is the key decision-making body for the Association and meets triennially. All Member Organizations are invited to send two delegates and a varying number of observers to the Conference, which votes on policies and standards for the following three years.

The 34th World Conference will be held in Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom from 11 to 15 July 2011. 

We are preparing a very special and exciting conference to celebrate the centenary of international Girl Guiding and Girl Scouting. The programme will offer our Member Organizations and guests many opportunities to work together, learn, celebrate successes and develop partnerships and joint projects.

For more information about registration and documentation, please visit the special pages.

History of the World Conference

Except for the period during the Second World War, World Conferences were held every two years. In 1954 it was decided they be held every three years.

There have been 33 World Conferences to date. The first Conference at world level was held in 1920 in Oxford, England, under the auspices of the International Council, which then became the World Association in 1928. World Conferences were then held in:

  • 1920- Oxford, United Kingdom
  • 1922- Cambridge, United Kingdom
  • 1924- Foxlease, United Kingdom
  • 1926- Edith Macy Conference Center,New York, United States of America
  • 1928- Parad, Hungary
  • 1930- Foxlease, United Kingdom
  • 1932- Bucze, Poland
  • 1934- Adelboden, Switzerland
  • 1936- Stockholm, Sweden
  • 1938- Adelboden, Switzerland
  • 1946- Evian, France
  • 1948- Cooperstown, United States of America               
  • 1950- Oxford, United Kingdom                 
  • 1952- Dombås, Norway                                             
  • 1954- Zeist, The Netherlands
  • 1957- Petropolis, Brazil
  • 1960- Athens, Greece
  • 1963- Nyborg, Denmark
  • 1966- Tokyo, Japan
  • 1969- Otaniemi, Finland
  • 1972- Toronto, Canada
  • 1975- Sussex, United Kingdom
  • 1978- Tehran, Iran
  • 1981- Orléans, France
  • 1984- Tarrytown, New York, United States of America
  • 1987- Njoro, Kenya
  • 1990- Singapore
  • 1993- Nyborg, Denmark
  • 1996- Wolfville, Nova Scotia Canada
  • 1999- Dublin, Ireland
  • 2002- Manila, Philippines
  • 2005- Amman, Jordan
  • 2008- Johannesburg, South Africa