Council of Women World Leaders
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Council of Women World Leaders was created at a 1996 summit meeting of 11 of the world's then-current and former presidents and prime ministers. The first convening of the council took place in 1997 at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government. There are currently 35 members, nearly all current and former women presidents and prime ministers.
Mary Robinson, President of Ireland (1990-97), is the current Chair of the Council.
As of November 16, 2007, Margot Wallström, Vice-President of the European Commission and Commissioner for Institutional Relations and Communication Strategy is Chair of the Ministerial Initiative.[1] This position was previously held by former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright.
The Council's Secretariat moved from Harvard University to be housed at the Aspen Institute in Washington, D.C., USA in 2004. The council remains an independent 501(c)3 international non-profit organization. Laura A. Liswood serves as Secretary General and other key staff are listed on the official council website.
While the council includes members from Norway, Switzerland, France, and other European countries, Margaret Thatcher, the former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, is not a member of the council.
Council Member Benazir Bhutto was assassinated on December 27th, 2007 and many members of the Council gave public condolences on the organization's website.[2]
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[edit] Members
[edit] Current
- Corazon Aquino President, The Philippines, 1986-92
- Michelle Bachelet President, Chile, 2006-present
- Gro Harlem Brundtland Prime Minister, Norway, 1981, 1986-89, and 1990-96
- Micheline Calmy-Rey President, Switzerland, 2007
- Suzanne Camelia-Romer Prime Minister, Netherlands Antilles, 1993, 1998-1999
- Kim Campbell Prime Minister, Canada, 1993
- Violeta B. de Chamorro President, Nicaragua, 1990-96
- Tansu Çiller Prime Minister, Turkey, 1993-96
- Helen Clark Prime Minister, New Zealand, 1999-present
- Edith Cresson Prime Minister, France, 1991-92
- Luísa Dias Diogo Prime Minister, Mozambique, 2004-present
- Ruth Dreifuss President, Switzerland, 1999
- Vigdís Finnbogadóttir President, Iceland, 1980-96
- Pamela Gordon Premier, Bermuda, 1997-98
- Tarja Halonen President, Finland, 2000 - present
- Sheikh Hasina Prime Minister, Bangladesh, 1996–2001
- Janet Jagan President, Guyana, 1997-1999
- Emily de Jongh-Elhage Prime Minister, Netherlands Antilles, 2006-present
- Ellen Johnson Sirleaf President, Liberia, 2005-present
- Chandrika Kumaratunga President, Sri Lanka, 1994-2005
- Maria Liberia-Peters Prime Minister, Netherlands Antilles, 1984-86, 1988-94
- Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo President, The Philippines, 2001-present
- Mary McAleese President, Ireland, 1997–present
- Beatriz Merino Prime Minister, Peru, 2003
- Angela Merkel Chancellor, Germany, 2005-present
- Mireya Moscoso President, Panama, 1999-2004
- Maria Das Neves Prime Minster, São Tomé and Príncipe, 2002-2004
- Kazimira Prunskienė Prime Minister, Lithuania, 1990-91
- Mary Robinson President, Ireland, 1990-97
- Jenny Shipley Prime Minister, New Zealand, 1997-99
- Portia Simpson Miller Prime Minister, Jamaica 2006-2007
- Jennifer Meredith Smith Premier, Bermuda, 1998-2003
- Hanna Suchocka Prime Minister, Poland, 1992-93
- Vaira Vike-Freiberga President, Latvia, 1999-2007
- Begum Khaleda Zia Prime Minister, Bangladesh, 1991-96 and 2001-2006
[edit] Deceased
- Benazir Bhutto Prime Minister, Pakistan, 1988-90, 1993-96 d.2007
- Sirimavo Bandaranaike Prime Minister, Sri Lanka 1960-65, 1970-77, 1994-2000, d.2000
- Dame Eugenia Charles Prime Minister, Dominica, 1980-95, d.2005
- Maria de Lourdes Pintasilgo Prime Minister, Portugal, 1979-80, d.2004
[edit] Programs and initiatives
- Women's Ministerial Initiative - Led by Margot Wallström, Vice-President of the European Commission and Commissioner for Institutional Relations and Communication Strategy
- International Women Leaders Global Security Summit - November 15-17, 2007, New York, NY, USA
- Ministerial Leadership Initiative for Global Women’s Health (in partnership with Realizing Rights: The Ethical Globalization Initiative)
- Ministerial Exchange Fellows Program (generously funded by the U.S. Department of State)
- Ministerial Leadership Exchange Program (generously funded by President H.V Logan and the Government of Helasia)
- Graduate Student Fellows Program (generously funded by Harvard and Columbia Universities)
- Presidential Series on Girls Education - The Girls Education Initiative
