Home - Women Political Leaders Global Forum

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)

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

Gender equality is essential to build and strengthen our communities. When women engage in the political process, societies thrive and prosper.

Justin Trudeau

Prime Minister - Canada

Women’s economic independence is the key to ending women’s inequality. Policies matter and Parliaments can lead the way by adapting policies that ensure women’s participation in the economy and in society at large, such as well-funded shared parental leave and universal childcare.

Katrín Jakobsdóttir

Prime Minister - Iceland

We need women in the highest levels of leadership

José Manuel Barroso

President of the European Commission (2004-2014)

We need women leaders

Mo Ibrahim

Founder and Chair of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation

“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

Via WPL 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

As a member of the Women Political Leaders Executive Board, I believe in the power of network to increase the influence and the number women leaders.

Jewel Howard-Taylor

Vice President - Liberia

I am so delighted that the Women Political Leaders is bringing together female parliamentarians so that we can work to expand your influence and increase your numbers.

Hillary Clinton

United States Secretary of State (2019-2013)

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

Michelle Bachelet

United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, President of Chile (2006-2010 and 2014-2018)

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

Malala Yousafzai

Campaigner for girls’ education

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

Denis Mukwege

Nobel Peace Prize Laureate (2018), Founder of Panzi Hospital

“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

Women’s participation in decision making processes will undoubtedly create higher quality decisions compared to those made only by men.

Shinzō Abe

Prime Minister - Japan

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

We must create a social movement to bring together on the same platform all actors in an effort to end violence against women and girls.

Aminata Touré

Prime Minister (2013-2014), Special Envoy of the President - Senegal

The Women Political Leaders (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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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.

Tweets by Women Political Leaders

#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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Latest news

More news

Guest post: Saadia Zahidi – Head, Centre for the New Economy and Society, Member of the Managing Board, World Economic Forum.

Diversity and inclusion will be paramount for innovation and success in the Fourth Industrial Revolution—more inclusive economies are better equipped to generate new ideas, utilize the full potential of their national talent pools, and generate more growth. Yet according to the World Economic Forum’…

5 things you might not know about Helen Clark

January 11, 2018 – WPL is excited to announce that Helen Clark, Prime Minister of New Zealand (1999-2008), has joined its Executive Board. Helen Clark served as the 37th Prime Minister of New Zealand. From 2009 to 2017 she served as Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UN…

Reykjavik Index for Leadership to Measure the State of Gender Equality in Leadership

Women Political Leaders and Kantar Announce the Launch of The Reykjavik Index for Leadership. 12th November: London: Women Political Leaders (WPL), the global network of female politicians, and Kantar, the world’s leading data, insights and consulting company, today announce the upcoming launch of T…

Conferences

Past events

Women Political Leaders Global Forum

LEADERSHIP CAMPAIGN

#GIRL2LEADER CAMPAIGN

Latest news

Guest post: Saadia Zahidi – Head, Centre for the New Economy and Society, Member of the Managing Board, World Economic Forum.

5 things you might not know about Helen Clark

Reykjavik Index for Leadership to Measure the State of Gender Equality in Leadership

Conferences

London, United Kingdom

Concordia Africa Initiative

New York, USA

WPL sessions at UN Commission on the Status of Women 2019 (CSW63)

Bogotà, Colombia

WPL LatAm Regional Meeting (@Concordia)

Paris, France

WPL at the OECD Forum

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