Women leaders from 90 countries and hundreds of activists from all over the world gathered for a conference that opened in Seoul Monday to discuss ways to improve women's rights.

The 33rd General Assembly of the International Council of Women (ICW) will be held until Sunday under the title "Progress for Women, Progress for All," organizers said.

Participants will discuss mounting sex crimes against women and minors, and sexual commercialization during a forum on Wednesday.

They will reflect the outcome in a "Seoul declaration" to be adopted on Friday, according to the organizers.

Founded in 1888, the ICW was one of the first international women's organizations working to improve women's status and leadership for social justice and world peace.

It has women's organizations in some 100 countries around the world, including the Korean National Council of Women in Korea, as its members hold a general assembly once every three years. This is the second time for the event to be held in Korea since 1982.(Yonhap)