With its new 2025–2028 gender-equality strategy, Sweden is directing nearly US$84 million to support women’s rights and empowerment initiatives in partner countries.

#genderequality #womensempowerment #policyupdate #CWWL #womeninleadership #globaldevelopment

We are delighted to welcome H.E. Halla Tómasdóttir, President of Iceland, as the newest member of the Council of Women World Leaders.

We are honored to have her join our network.

#WomenWorldLeaders #CWWL #HallaTómasdóttir #Iceland #WomenInLeadership

When women are included in peace negotiations, peace lasts longer.

Research shows that agreements are 35% more likely to endure for at least 15 years when women are meaningfully involved in the process.

Source: UN Women

#WhatHappensWhenWomenLead #womeninpeacebuilding #CWWL

Throwback to May 1998, when women heads of state and government from around the world gathered at the Harvard Kennedy School for the very first Summit of the Council of Women World Leaders.

#CWWL #WomenInLeadership #HarvardKennedySchool #WomenHeadsOfState #GlobalLeadership

Her Excellency Paula-Mae Weekes, Former President of Trinidad and Tobago, reminds us that representation and equality require not only access, but action.

#womeninleadership #PaulaMaeWeekes #CWWL #genderequality #womenempowerment #leadership

What Happens When Women Lead: Margaret Thatcher

As the United Kingdom’s first woman Prime Minister (1979–1990), Margaret Thatcher reshaped the country’s economic and political landscape.

#WhatHappensWhenWomenLead #MargaretThatcher #WomenInLeadership #CWWL #Governance #LeadershipLegacy

The Council of Women World Leaders celebrates the launch of the Laura Liswood Women’s Leadership Archives at Somerville College, Oxford. It is a collection preserving decades of work advancing women’s leadership and governance worldwide.

#womeninleadership #CWWL #SomervilleCollege

In this conversation with Her Excellency Hanna Suchocka, former Prime Minister of Poland, she reflects on the double standards women leaders face and the persistence it takes to lead despite them.

#womenworldleaders #leadership #genderbias #equalityinleadership #HannaSuchocka #CWWL

“There is simply no way our nation can progress if its women population is left behind.” - Her Excellency Pratibha Patil, Former President of India

#womeninleadership #genderequality #CWWL #PratibhaPatil #womenempowerment #leadership #inspiration

Her Excellency Salome Zourabichvili, Former President of Georgia, reminds us that women’s leadership is essential to building lasting peace and resilience.

#womeninleadership #peacebuilding #CWWL #womenlead #leadershipforpeace #globalleadership #SalomeZourabichvili

#DidYouKnow?

Iraqi women launched the al-Mawadda Women’s Party ahead of the November 2025 elections, uniting women voters and supporting female candidates under a law that requires one-third male members in political parties.

Source: Council on Foreign Relations

#womeninpolitics #CWWL

Her Excellency Gro Harlem Brundtland, former Prime Minister of Norway, highlights why women must be equally represented in shaping policies that impact everyone.

Source: Women World Leaders interview series by Laura Liswood

#womeninleadership #genderequity #WomenWorldLeaders #CWWL

Her Excellency Doris Leuthard, Former President of Switzerland, reminds us that true progress comes when men and women work together as equals.

Gender policies alone aren’t enough; collaboration drives lasting change.

#womeninleadership #teamwork #CWWL

Norway’s $1.6T sovereign wealth fund now calls for at least 30% women on boards in emerging markets like India, Brazil, and South Africa.

Source: Reuters

#policyupdate #genderequity #boarddiversity #womeninleadership #CWWL

Fellow Spotlight

Swipe through to meet Jennifer Chen, a Master of Social Work candidate at Columbia University.

During her Women’s Leadership Fellowship with the Clean Cooking Alliance, Jennifer worked at the intersection of gender, clean energy, and cross-cultural leadership.

#CWWLFellow

From local councils to global stages, programs around the world are creating pathways for women to step into leadership.

These initiatives provide women with the tools, networks, and opportunities to influence decisions that shape societies.

#womeninleadership #opportunitiesforwomen #CWWL

Former UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher speaks about what it takes to stay in politics: conviction, resilience, and the courage to lead on your own terms.

Source: Women World Leaders Interview Series with Laura Liswood

#womenworldleaders #MargaretThatcher #leadership #CWWL

Across OECD countries, women working full-time earn on average 11.9% less than men, that’s about 88 cents for every dollar earned by men.

Closing this gap is essential for achieving equality in workplaces and beyond.

Source: OECD (2023)

#genderequality #paygap #CWWL

The Gender Inequality Index tracks gaps in health, education, political voice, and work opportunities, reminding us that high inequality slows growth and weakens societies.

Source: HDR 2025 Statistical Annex (data year 2023).

#genderequality #womensleadership #GII #CWWL

#DidYouKnow?

Before becoming Slovenia’s first woman president, Nataša Pirc Musar was already a trailblazer for transparency and accountability in Europe. She served as President of the Europol Joint Supervisory Body, safeguarding data protection in EU law enforcement.

#dataprotection #CWWL

In 2023, #India made history by enacting the 106th Constitutional Amendment, also known as the Women’s Reservation Bill.

Source: UN Women

#policyupdate #genderequality #womeninpolitics #CWWL

Victoire Tomegah Dogbé made history as Togo’s first female Prime Minister. She has been a strong voice for equality, leading the launch of Togo’s national HeForShe campaign and championing inclusive governance.

#womeninleadership #genderEquality #inclusivegovernance #CWWL

Women leaders are shaping the future.

From health and STEM to policy and entrepreneurship, these fellowships help women step into leadership on a global stage.
Swipe for details.

#womeninleadership #globalopportunities #CWWL

60% of women Members of Parliament in Asia–Pacific face online harassment, according to a new IPU report.

This digital violence undermines women’s participation in politics, silences voices, and threatens democratic representation.

#womeninpolitics #onlineharassment #genderequality #CWWL

Her Excellency Kersti Kaljulaid, former President of Estonia, reminds us that persistence and courage are what drive real change.

#womenleaders #KerstiKaljulaid #leadership #genderequality #CWWL

What happens when women lead?

Angela Merkel’s 16 years as Chancellor of Germany reshaped Europe’s largest economy and set global precedents for leadership.

Swipe to learn more about Merkel’s impact.

#womeninleadership #CWWL #WhatHappensWhenWomenLead

Spotlight on Northern America

Northern America is making strong progress toward gender equality, ranking #2 globally in closing its gender gap, with an overall score of 74.8%.

Swipe to learn more.

Source: World Economic Forum

#womeninleadership #CWWL

How are government cabinets formed, and why does it matter for women’s representation?

Swipe to learn how different political systems impact women’s paths to top government roles, and why some countries reach gender balance faster than others.

#womeninleadership #CWWL

When Corazon Aquino became the first woman President of the Philippines, she faced the challenge of earning the military’s respect and learning to step into the role of Commander-in-Chief. ‘I even had to learn to salute,’ she recalls in her 1993 interview with Laura Liswood.

#womenleaders #CWWL

#PolicyUpdate
Australia has taken a major step toward gender equality in sports leadership. Under its new National Gender Equity in Sport Governance Policy, all state and national sporting boards must achieve a 50–50 gender balance by July 2027.

#genderequality #womeninleadership #CWWL