The UN Women Leaders Network was launched this week on the sidelines of the 79th UN General Assembly. It is the first permanent network of its kind, composed of intergenerational and intersectional women leaders, and its members represent the change needed in the traditional image of leadership today.
The network includes both emerging and more established leaders across ages, regions, and professions. The network will work together to promote the increase and advancement of women in leadership and decision-making spaces worldwide, and functions as a platform to a diverse group of women leaders to discuss and exchange ideas, solutions and experiences as leaders, community-builders and decision-makers.
Chaired by the Executive Director of UN Women, Sima Sami Bahous, and created in partnership with the Government of Iceland, the UN Foundation, and the Council of Women World Leaders, the network will operate in support of UN Women’s work on women’s leadership. As the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action approaches in 2025, and world leaders are being called on to recommit to gender equality and women’s rights and empowerment, the network will serve as champions for diversity in leadership.
The network includes leaders such as Amanda Nguyen, CEO and Founder, Rise; Ameenah Gurib-Fakim, President of Mauritius (2015 – 2018); Aya Chebbi, Former African Union Special Envoy on Youth and Founder of Nala Feminist Collective; Christine Lagarde, President of the European Central Bank; Hibaaq Osman, Founder and Chairperson, ThinkTank for Arab Women, the Dignity Fund, Karama and the Centre for the Strategic Initiatives of Women; Janet Mbugua, Author, Advocate and Founder, Inua Dada Foundation; Joyce Banda, President of Malawi (2012 – 2014); Julia Gillard, Prime Minister of Australia (2010 – 2013); Julieta Martinez, Climate Justice and Gender Equality Youth Activist; Kathleen Hanna, Musician, Author and Feminist Activist; Kimberlé Crenshaw, Civil Rights Advocate, Scholar and Co-Founder and Executive Director, African American Policy Forum; Leymah Gbowee, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, 2011; Melanne Verveer, Executive Director, Georgetown Institute of Women, Peace and Security, Georgetown University; Roxane Gay, Author, Professor and Advocate; and Tarja Halonen, President of Finland (2000 – 2012).
Once fully mobilized, the network will consist of a group of 100 women leaders.
