Home - Women Political Leaders Global Forum

Women in politics have the power to empower: around the world, I have seen women leaders building bridges in place of walls, redirecting attention and resources to education, social justice, and public health, and inspiring the next generation of girls to dream big.

Zainab Bangura

UN SRSG on Sexual Violence in Conflict

Better representation of women in politics is needed
if we want to produce more and live better

Kristalina Georgieva

Chief Executive Officer of the World Bank, Vice President at the European Commission (2014-2016)

When one woman is a leader, it changes her. When more women are leaders, it changes politics and policies.

Michelle Bachelet

Republic of Chile, President

“Women’s presence along with men in the realm of politics significantly advances the noble ideals of political work in its diverse trends and forms”

Abdulaziz Othman Altwaijri

Director General of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) and WIP Advisory Board Member

To my mind, gender equality should not be seen as something isolated or separate from other policy areas. Anti-discrimination on any grounds and the promotion of equal opportunities are inherent issues underpinning all policies.

Olli Rehn

European Commission, Vice-President 2011-2014

WIP is a very powerful body of women who are dedicated to changing the lives of women forever.

Muhammad Yunus

Founder of Grameen Bank and Foundation, Recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize

Instead of standing in front of the Parliament, why don’t we go inside and join politics.

Malala Yousafzai

Campaigner for girls’ education

I hope that I’ll live to see the day when we have a society in which it isn’t important whether you’re a man or a woman.

Viviane Reding

European Commission, Vice-President 2010-2014

Women Parliamentarians can help draw a red line when it comes to using rape as a tool of war.

Denis Mukwege

Founder of Panzi Hospital

We highly value our partnership with WIP and its excellent work to reach out to all national women parliamentarians for a global agenda

Lakshmi Puri

Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations and Deputy Executive Director of UN Women

I am so delighted that the Women in Parliaments Global Forum is bringing together female parliamentarians so that we can work to expand your influence and increase your numbers.

Hillary Clinton

Former United States Secretary of State

We need women leaders

Mo Ibrahim

Founder and Chair of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation

“Globally, we are getting smarter in that more high responsibilities are entrusted to women; there is however still a long way to go even in our most egalitarian European societies.”

Ana Palacio

Former Foreign Affairs Minister of Spain and WIP Advisory Board Member

Women have achieved levels of excellence that indeed have made our world a better place.

Pascal Lamy

World Trade Organization, Director-General 2005-2013

“Full representation of citizens starts with full inclusion, which is why we need more women in government.”

Kathy Calvin

UN Foundation President & Chief Executive Officer

In a society where the rights and potential of women are constrained, no man can be truly free. He may have power, but he will not have freedom.

Mary Robinson

Republic of Ireland, President 1990-1997

Let me celebrate the work of WPL. Our combined efforts to promote the empowerment of women and create dialogue among different nations are a strong example of the commitment we share to build peace and wellbeing

Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca

President of Malta

Countries develop faster and better when women are part of the decision-making process.

Sri Mulyani Indrawati

World Bank, Managing Director and COO

There’s no elevator to success you have to take the stairs’. Women must work hard to break walls imposed by traditions, cultures or religions preventing them from living their lives as a normal human being.

Haya Rashed Al-Khalifa

Lawyer, diplomat and President of United Nations General Assembly

Gender equality begins in our homes.

Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma

African Union Commission, Chairperson

Women mean business and profit.

Viviane Reding

European Commission, Vice-President 2010-2014

“Women must be given the full opportunity and support to participate in politics, in the broad sense of the word, and particularly in elected office”

Jody Williams

Nobel Peace Prize Laureate (1997), Chair Nobel Women's Initiative

Via WIP Parliamentarians from across the globe are given a platform in order to exchange, to discuss common solutions to global problems and at the same time support each other

Angela Merkel

Chancellor of Germany

We need women in the highest levels of leadership

José Manuel Barroso

President of the European Commission (2004-2014)

Empowering women is a smart investment. It’s a human rights issue, but also it’s a smart investment – it will give back.

Tarja Halonen

Republic of Finland, President 2000-2012

The world is changing fast and we are facing complex challenges across the globe. Now more than ever we need women leaders at the decision making tables in Government and in business.

Uschi Schreiber

EY's Global Vice Chair – Markets and Chair of the Global Accounts Committee

Ending violence against women and girls is not only a basic human right; it is also a means to combat hunger and food insecurity.

Ertharin Cousin

World Food Programme, Executive Director

The mission of WIP is to fight for women’s rightful opportunities to rule the world alongside men, not just to be called in to do the cleaning when men have messed up.

Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir

Republic of Iceland, Prime Minister 2009-2013

By meeting at the Women in Parliaments Global Forum you are strengthening important networks and highlighting the benefits of women’s participation.

Kofi Annan

United Nations, Secretary General 1997-2006

When women and men lead together, decisions better reflect and respond to the diverse needs of society. Countries and companies with higher levels of gender equality have higher levels of growth and performance.

Michelle Bachelet

Republic of Chile, President

The Women Political Leaders Global Forum (WPL) is the global network of female politicians. The mission of WPL is to increase both the number and the influence of women in political leadership positions.

Different communities function under the umbrella of WPL: Women in Parliaments (WIP), Women European Leaders (WEL), Women Government Leaders (WGL) and Women Mayors International (WMI).

More about WPL

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WPL Summit 2018 – Vilnius, Lithuania

Women Political Leaders is organising the WPL Summit 2018 in Vilnius, Lithuania on 6-8 June.

The WPL Summit addresses today’s intertwined global challenges, and offer the opportunity to exchange best practice of and knowledge on political decision-making. Discussions are held with the purpose to get to action. Women political leaders and selected other participants meet in the Parliament of the host country. The WPL Summit is always organised in a cooperation between WPL and the host country’s Government and Parliament. They convene around 400 participants – women political leaders from around the world: Heads of State and Government, Cabinet Ministers, Parliamentarians, Mayors. In addition, other experts and thought-leaders from academia, business and civil society are invited to participate. International institutions such as the UN, OECD, World Bank, Council of Women World Leaders (CWWL) and others join as partners.

More information at www.wplsummit.org

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LEADERSHIP CAMPAIGN

Over 70 male Heads of State and Government contributed a testimonial, giving their personal reason for more women as leaders. These statements are continuously exhibited in fora such as the headquarters of the United Nations, the OECD, the African Union, the World Economic Forum, the International Trade Center, and many Parliaments around the world. A book accompanies the displays. The WPL Leadership Campaign has been inspired by the UN Women HeForShe activities, which aim to engage men as agents of change to achieve gender equality.

The Prime Minister of Iceland holds the patronage of the WPL Leadership Campaign.

#GIRL2LEADER CAMPAIGN

#Girl2Leader is a worldwide campaign launched by WPL. With the slogan #LeadLikeAGirl, this initiative seeks to get more girls in politics.

Today leaders are almost all men. It’s time for change. It’s time for girls and women to lead the world with brains and hearts.

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Lithuania welcomes Women Political Leaders from nearly 70 countries at a global Summit

PRESS RELEASE 7.6.2018 On 6-8 June, Vilnius is hosting over 250 female Heads of State and Government, Ministers, and Parliamentarians from all over the world for the Women Political Leaders (WPL) Summit 2018. The WPL Summit 2018 will take place at the Seimas, the Parliament of Lithuania, which is co…

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OECD Forum – Contribution by Silvana Koch-Mehrin

Communication, Connection, Community: Why a woman’s place is politics With gender imbalances across politics, business and academia, at the current rate of progress we are almost a century away from global gender parity. Silvana Koch-Mehrin, President and Founder of the Women Political Leaders Globa…

Conferences

Past events

Women Political Leaders Global Forum

WPL Summit 2018 – Vilnius, Lithuania

LEADERSHIP CAMPAIGN

#GIRL2LEADER CAMPAIGN

Latest news

Lithuania welcomes Women Political Leaders from nearly 70 countries at a global Summit

Privacy policy

OECD Forum – Contribution by Silvana Koch-Mehrin

Conferences

New York, USA

UN General Assembly, 73rd Session

New York, USA

Concordia Annual Summit 2018

Paris, France

WPL at the OECD Parliamentary Meeting

#Girl2Leader

#Girl2Leader Campaign Events

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