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The Council of Women World Leaders is a network of 75 current and former women Prime Ministers and Presidents. It is the only organization in the world dedicated to women heads of state and government.

Newsletter 2019

Content


Farewell from the Former Chair
New Members
Member News
CWWL Fellowship
Upcoming Council Events
Past Council Events
The New Chair 
Partners 

 
For more information about the Council of Women World Leaders,
please visit: 
Council of Women World Leaders 

Farewell from the Former Chair

Dear Members of the Council of Women World Leaders,
 
After five exciting years, it is time for me to step down as Chair of the Council as my second term in office as President of the Republic of Lithuania ends this year on July 12.
 
I am pleased to announce that the President of Croatia and Council Member Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović will be taking over as Chair.
 
Looking back on the five years, I can confidently say that we have grown significantly and increased our efforts to advance women’s empowerment and gender equality worldwide. Since 2014, our unique network has been joined by 22 current and former Presidents and Prime Ministers, increasing membership from 52 to 74 members.
 
Thank you all for your continued participation and contribution to the CWWL activities. Let us all continue to use our CWWL membership and this unique network of highest-level women politicians to accelerate progress towards a broader and bolder women’s involvement in building the well-being of our countries, regions and the world. 
 
I will continue to be involved in the Council of Women World Leaders and look forward to seeing the Council grow and continue to promote gender equality and women’s empowerment under the leadership of the new Chair, Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović.
 
 
 
Warmest regards,
 
 


H.E. Dalia Grybauskaitė,
Chair Emerita, Council of Women World Leaders
President of the Republic of Lithuania
 

New Members (January 2018-March 2019)

Mercedes Aráoz

is an economist, professor, and politician, who was Peru’s Prime Minister from 2006 to 2010 and from 2017 to 2018. She is the third woman to hold the position. Prior to taking office, Aráoz held three ministerial positions: Minister of Foreign Trade and Tourism (2006-2009), Minister of Production (2009), and Minister of Economy and Finance (2010). Since the 2016 election, Aráoz has served as Peru’s Second Vice President (2016-2018), Prime Minister (2017-2018), and most recently, the First Vice President (2018-Present).

Katrín Jakobsdóttir

is the current Prime Minister of Iceland, elected in November 2017. Jakobsdóttir has been a Member of Parliament since 2007, where she served as the Minister of Education, Science, and Culture (2009-2013), as well as the Minister for Nordic Cooperation (2009-2013). She became deputy Chairperson of the Left-Green Movement in 2003 and has been their Chairwoman of her party since 2013.

Laimdota Straujuma

is the first woman in Latvia to serve as the head of government when she became Prime Minister on January 22, 2014. She held the position until February 11, 2016. Prior to becoming Prime Minister, Straujuma spent much of her career with the Ministry of Agriculture, serving as the Secretary of State of the Minister of Agriculture (2000-2006), Secretary of State of the Ministry for Regional Development and Local Government (2007-2010), and the Minister of Agriculture (2011-2014).

Sahle-Work Zewde

was elected to serve as the first female President of Ethiopia on October 25, 2018, and is currently the only woman head of state in Africa. Prior to the Presidency, she served as Ethiopia’s ambassador in France, Djibouti, Senegal, and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development. In 2011 President Zewde became the head of the United Nations Integrated Peace-building Office in the Central African Republic. In 2018 she was appointed Special Representative to the African Union and Head of the United Nations Office to the African Union at the level of Under-Secretary-General.
 

Vasilica Viorica Dăncilă

became the first female Prime Minister of Romania on January 29, 2018. Prior to becoming Prime Minister, Dăncilă was a member of the European Parliament for Romania from 2009 to 2018 and an active member of the Social Democratic Party. Dăncilă also served as the President of the Social Democratic Women’s Organization, playing an instrumental role in securing a 30% quota of female candidates on the party lists during elections.
 

Maria do Carmo Silveira

is the Former Prime Minister and Minister of Planning and Finance of São Tomé and Príncipe, holding both positions concurrently from June 2005 to April 2006. Silveira spent much of her career in the banking sector, studying economics at the University of Ukraine and leading the São Tomé and Príncipe Central Bank as the third governor (1999-2005). In 2011 Silveira became the sixth governor of São Tomé and Príncipe’s Central Bank.

Paula-Mae Weekes

was appointed as the second female President of Trinidad and Tobago on March 19, 2019. Prior to her Presidency, she worked in the Office of Public Prosecutions at State Council (1982-1993). She then went into private law practice until 1996 when she was appointed Judge at the Criminal Division of Trinidad’s High Court. She was the fifth female judge elevated to the position. Weekes was appointed Judge on the nation’s Appeal Court (2005-2016). She briefly acted as Chief Justice of the Trinidad and Tobago Supreme Court in August of 2012 and was then invited to join the appellate Branch of the Judiciary of Turks and Caicos.

Salome Zurabishvili

assumed office in December 2018 as the first female President of Georgia. Prior to the Presidency she was the Ambassador to France (2003-2004) and was then appointed as the first female Minister of Foreign Affairs (2004-2005). Zourabichvili was an Associate Professor of International Relations at the Institute of Political Studies in Paris, France (2006-2015). At the same time, she led the United Nations Security Council monitoring group on sanctions against Iran (2010-2015).

Member News

Former President of Liberia Ellen Johnson Sirleaf wins the Mo Ibrahim Prize.
 

Gro Harlem Brundtland selected as Co-Chair of WHO/World Bank Group’s joint Global Preparedness Monitoring Board.
 

Former President of Chile Michelle Bachelet is appointed to be UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
 

The Council's members and Secretary General included in the list of 100 most influential people in gender policy.
 

Suffrage 125: Council Members Former Prime Minister of New Zealand Jenny Shipley, Former Prime Minister of New Zealand Helen Clark and Prime Minister of New Zealand Jacinda Ardern make photographic history
 
To hope or doubt? The state of women’s progress in the world by Secretary-General Laura Liswood for the World Economic Forum

CWWL Fellowship Program

The Council of Women World Leaders in collaboration with the Athena Center for Leadership at Barnard College in New York City continued its highly acclaimed Student Fellowship Program for the summer of 2018. Two students, Ishrat Aishee and Natasha Oberoi, completed respective programs at Camfed under the leadership of Council member and Former Prime Minister of Australia Julia Gillard and in the Office of the President of Malta under the leadership of Council member and President of Malta Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca.

Upcoming Council Events

Women Political Leaders Summit 2019 in Tokyo, Japan
The Women Political Leaders (WPL) Summit this year will take place in Tokyo, Japan on June 25-27, 2019. It is the first WPL Summit held in East Asia and will highlight women’s empowerment and provide a forum for exchange on best practices around the world. The Council of Women World Leaders will collaborate with the WPL on the Summit.
Women Leaders Global Forum 2019 in Reykjavik, Iceland
The Council of Women World Leaders will host a private session with Council members and women leaders at the Höfði House on the occasion of the Women Leaders Global Forum on 18-20 November 2019 in Reykjavik, Iceland. The event will be in collaboration with Women Political Leaders. The goal of the forum is to share and discuss ideas and solutions on how to increase equality between women and men in leadership positions with the purpose to get to action. The high-level meeting of the Council will provide a venue for action by members.

Past Council Events

VVEngage Skills Workshop March 17-23, 2019 in Boston, United States
On March 17-23 2019, Vital Voices hosted their second VVEngage Leadership gathering, which brought together 18 women from 15 countries at the Harvard University John F. Kennedy School of Government in Boston, United States. Council Members Former Prime Minister of New Zealand Jenny Shipley and Former Prime Minister of Peru Beatriz Merino shared lessons from their time as head of states with the fellows during informal discussions and mentoring sessions. Vital Voices also hosted a panel with Emerson College on women leaders using their power to empower. Her Excellency Beatriz Merino, The Right Honourable Jenny Shipley, and Secretary General Laura Liswood participated.
‘Women in Power' March 12, 2019 in New York, United States
President of the United Nations General Assembly María Fernanda Espinosa Garcés hosted the high level meeting on ‘Women in Power’ to discuss issues of gender equality, women’s empowerment, and inclusion into decision-making in political, economic, and social life. Among the panelists were Chair Emerita of the Council of Women World Leaders and President of Lithuania Dalia Grybauskaitė, President of Croatia Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović, President of Estonia Kersti Kaljulaid, President of Nepal Bidya Devi Bhandari, President of Trinidad and Tobago Paula-Mae Weekes, Former Prime Minister of Iceland Mary Robinson, and the Prime Minister of Iceland Katrín Jakobsdóttir.
 
The Council also hosted a private lunch on the occasion, convening Council members to announce the new Chair of the Council, discuss new members, organizational matters, and upcoming Council events. Council Chair Emerita President Dalia Grybauskaitė hosted the luncheon at the Lithuanian Mission to the United Nations. Attendees included (from right): Her Excellency Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović, Her Excellency Dalia Grybauskaitė, Her Excellency Katrín Jakobsdóttir, and Secretary General Laura Liswood.
 
 
Photo by: Robertas Dačkus
The World Economic Forum Annual Meeting January 22-25, 2019 in Davos, Switzerland
Several Council Members spoke and engaged in interviews at the forum this year where 22% of the participants were female. Prime Minister of New Zealand Jacinda Arden took part in the panels ‘Mental Health Matters’ and ‘More than GDP’ and was interviewed by Politico to discuss her political philosophy. Chancellor Angela Merkel spoke at the plenary session about the international responsibility people in power have towards the global issue of poverty. Former President of Chile Michelle Bachelet participated in the press conference ‘Are we there yet? The status of LGBTI Inclusion’ and the panel ‘Taking Action for the Ocean.’ Her Excellency Bachelet and President of Lithuania Dalia Grybauskaitė both participated in the panel ‘Female Leadership at a Tipping Point.’ President Grybauskaitė also spoke about Brexit to Euronews. Former Prime Minister of New Zealand Helen Clark led the panel ‘The Future of Hospitals’ and participated in the breakfast held by Women Political Leaders, which focused on strengthening the network between global high-level leaders. Politico interviewed Former Prime Minister of Denmark Helle Thorning-Schmidt on children raised in war zones. Secretary-General Laura Liswood led the panel ‘The Female Icon’ and was interviewed by Deutsche Welle on the issue of gender equality among leaders in politics and business
Women Political Leaders Annual Global Forum November 26-28, 2018, in Reykjavik, Iceland
The Council of Women World Leaders partnered with Women Political Leaders to host the “The Women Leaders: Power, Together” session at the Women Political Leaders Annual Global Forum. President of Malta, Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca, Former President of Iceland Vigdís Finnbogadóttir, Former Premier of Bermuda Paula Cox, Former Prime Minister of Finland Mari Kiviniemi, and Former Premier of Bermuda Jennifer Smith met at Höfði House to address some of the most complex challenges of our times with other women world leaders. Council of Women World Leaders Senior Advisor Patricia Deyton represented the Council Secretariat. 
'Moving Forward' November 26-29, 2018, in Florence, Italy 
On November 26 to 29 2018, Vital Voices hosted the inaugural VVEngage Leadership Gathering, which brought together 19 women representing 16 countries in Florence, Italy to develop their personal and political leadership skills. Participants connected for training on political communications, branding, and political leadership discussions with the Council of Women World Leaders member Prime Minister of Canada Kim Campbell and Council of Women World Leaders Secretary General Laura Liswood.
High-Level Discussion on Economic Growth through Women’s Empowerment during UN General Assembly Meetings September, 2018, New York, United States
On September 27 2018, as part of the High Level Week of the United Nations General Assembly, Chair Emerita of the Council of Women World Leaders and President of Lithuania Dalia Grybauskaitė invited a group of heads of state and government, as well as distinguished international leaders for the High-Level Discussion on Economic Growth through Women’s Empowerment in New York. 

Taking part were United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, Former President of the World Bank Jim Yong Kim, and Council members, President of Croatia Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović, President of Estonian Kersti Kaljulaid, President of Malta Marie-Louise Coleiro, Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina, and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and Former President of Chile Michelle Bachelet.
 
The high-level panel, initiated by the Chair Emerita of the Council of Women World Leaders and President of Lithuania Dalia Grybauskaitė in collaboration with Vital Voices and the Trusteeship Council Chamber focused on how to repeal discriminatory laws, encourage women to start businesses, and seek careers in well-paid advanced scientific and technological sectors to promote their more active role in global economy and development. After the event, Vital Voices' “WE Empower: UN Sustainable Development Goals Challenge” initiative awarded key female entrepreneurs from each UN region who are contributing to the UN Sustainable Development Goals and serving as role models. The awardees were Habiba Ali, Founder, Managing Director and CEO, Sosai Renewable Energies (Nigeria), Hadeel Mustafa Anabtawi, Founder, The Alchemist Lab (Jordan), Marijana Savic, Founder and Director, NGO Atina and Bagel Bejgl Shop (Serbia), Marta del Rio Villanueva, Founder and CEO, Wasi Organics (Peru), and Shimrit Perkol-Finkel, Co-Founder and CEO, ECOncrete Tech Ltd. (Israel).
 

Photo by: Robertas Dačkus
Women Political Leaders Summit June 6-8 2018, in Vilnius, Lithuania 
In June 2018, Chair Emerita of the Council of Women World Leaders and President of Lithuania Dalia Grybauskaitė co-hosted the Women Political Leaders 2018 Summit in Vilnius, Lithuania. The Summit commemorated the centennial anniversary of the restored Lithuania and celebrated the country’s many achievements concerning gender equality, including one-hundred years of universal adult suffrage.



 Photo by: Robertas Dačkus

The three-day Summit organized by Women Political Leaders in collaboration with the Council was titled “It’s About Time! 100 Reasons to Act!” and convened participants from over 90 counties. The event focused on continuing to create solutions to global challenges, including eradicating gender-based violence, increasing women’s political efficacy and leadership roles in government, and closing the pay gap.  The Council is proud to announce that all four of the recipients of the WPLGF 2018 Awards were Council members: Former President of Latvia Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga, Former Prime Minister of Latvia Laimdota Straujuma, Former Prime Minister of São Tomé and Príncipe Maria das Neves, and Former Prime Minister of São Tomé and Príncipe Maria do Carmo Silveira.
 
The Council also hosted a private lunch on the occasion of the Summit, convening Council members to discuss new members, organizational matters, and upcoming Council events. Chair Emerita of the Council of Women World Leaders and President of Lithuania Dalia Grybauskaitė hosted the event at the Presidential Palace. Attendees included Council of Women World Leaders Chair Emerita Grybauskaitė, President of Malta Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca, Former Prime Minister of New Zealand Helen Clark, Former Premier of Bermuda Paula Cox, Former Prime Minister of São Tomé and Príncipe Maria das Neves, Former President of Kosovo Atifete Jahjaga, Former Premier of Bermuda Jennifer Smith, Former President of Latvia Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga, Former Prime Minister of São Tomé and Príncipe Maria do Carmo Silveira, Former Prime Minister of Latvia Laimdota Straujuman, and Secretary General of the Council of Women World Leaders Laura Liswood.

 
 Photo by: Robertas Dačkus
On November 26 to 29, 2018, Vital Voices hosted the inaugural VVEngage Leadership Gathering, which brought together 19 women representing 16 countries in Florence, Italy to develop their personal and political leadership skills. Participants connected for training on political communications, branding and political leadership discussions with the Council of Women World Leaders. Prime Minister of Canada Kim Campbell and Council of Women World Leaders Secretary General Laura Liswood participated.
“My Year with Helen” February 2018, in Washington, D.C., United States and Vilnius, Lithuania
Ranked by Forbes magazine among the top 25 most influential women in the world, Helen Clark was Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) from 2009 until 2016. In that time, she oversaw the UNDP’s work to developing nations. In April 2016, she announced her candidacy for Secretary-General. “My Year with Helen” gives a close-up view of Helen Clark’s bid for the top job at the United Nations and provides as a case study of what happens when a woman publicly competes for the most prestigious role in international diplomacy.

The Council of Women World Leaders co-hosted two screenings of "My Year with Helen" in 2018. In collaboration with the Embassy of New Zealand in Washington, D.C. the first screening was held on February 22, 2018. The second screening was hosted as part of the Women in Politics Summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, on June 8 as a special screening hosted by Asociacija „Lyderė,“ a Lithuanian women's leadership organization dedicated to gender equality. Following both the screenings, Former Prime Minister of New Zealand Helen Clark took part in a Q&A session, which Secretary General of the Council of Women World Leaders Laura Liswood moderated. 

 

The New Chair

Her Excellency Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović
President of Croatia

President of Croatia Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović will be the new Chair of the Council, taking over from the President of Lithuania Dalia Grybauskaitė.
 
President Grabar-Kitarović is the first woman in Croatia to be president and Croatia’s youngest head of state. She was elected by popular vote in the 2015 election. President Grabar-Kitarović is a staunch proponent of gender equality and has made women's empowerment both domestically and internationally a major foreign policy priority, in particular focusing on conflict and post-conflict societies.
 
At the transition meeting at the United Nations Headquarters, President Grabar-Kitarović said, “It is my honor to take over the leadership of the Council of Women World Leaders. We have come far – today, women are astronauts, nuclear physicists, race car drivers, soldiers, and Presidents. Yet, we are still dismissed, mistreated, under-estimated and under-represented. There shall be no greater leap for humanity than achieving real equality for women and the true recognition of their value, strength, and capabilities.”
 

A Special Thank You to Our 2018-2019 Partners

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