Jan 7, 2019
In the Year of the Woman, My Top 5
News media have dubbed 2018 the “Year of the Woman,” and it was indeed a year that energized those of us committed to achieving gender equality. This year ushered in a new global feminist wave that is transforming power structures in societies around the world. Make no mistake, we are seeing a revitalized feminist wave, differentiated in fundamental ways from decades before us. This wave is allowing us to carve new paths in the highest echelons of government, garnering media attention to end violence against women, and advancing progressive legislation that moves women closer to equal pay and treatment.
This past year I met many powerful women who are making monumental changes in their countries and communities and inspiring the rest of us to forge ahead. Here are 5 inspiring women I met in 2018 who give me motivation for the year ahead:
1. Maureen Gitongo, UN Women Gender Data Analyst
Ms. Gitongo is steadfastly and effectively revamping the way gender data is collected and used in Kenya to ensure women’s lives and experiences are front and center in decision-making processes. In 2018, she convinced the Kenyan National Bureau of Statistics to include gender in all data it collects and to fill critical gaps where data does not yet fully reflect the lives of Kenya’s women and girls. She also established a partnership between Kenya’s Council of Governors and the State Department of Gender Affairs — both members of the newly established Gender Statistics Technical Committee — to put robust gender data into the hands of local government leaders.
Why is this a big deal? Because Ms. Gitongo and the formidable UN Women team with which she works know that if Kenya’s key decision-makers see data that reflect the realities of women’s lives, they are more likely to create policies that truly benefit Kenya’s women and girls.
2. Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Chair of GAVI board
As a global leader who has been fighting for women’s economic empowerment her entire career, Dr. Ngozi knows that women must become a steadfast focus in the global conversation about human capital investment. I recently had the privilege of speaking with Dr. Ngozi, who called my attention specifically to the need to tackle harmful gender norms and the constraints millions of women and girls face in their daily lives.
Dr. Ngozi is inspiring, authentic, and clear in her perspective on the work that lies ahead for overcoming harmful gender norms — and how we won’t be able to make progress in health, education, or economic development if the roots of inequality continue to flourish. She believes, as I do, that taking charge of your economic future is one of the most transformative ways to exercise power in your life. While there is more investment than ever in gender-equitable global development, we still have an uphill climb to ensure that women and girls have the economic opportunities to act and engage as equals in society.
Hearing Dr. Ngozi’s perspective on the world, and her unwavering commitment to women’s rights and empowerment, was both inspiring and grounding — and a deep reminder on the importance of a steadfast commitment to building a gender-equal world.
3. Ambassador Isabelle Hudon, co-chair of the Canadian G7 Gender Advisory Council
In 2018, Ambassador Hudon was co-chair of the G7’s first-ever Gender Equality Council. I was inspired by her steadfast commitment to advance an agenda that would be both ambitious and pragmatic and set the stage for tangible change by G7 nations on gender equality. Under the leadership of Hudon and co-chair Melinda Gates, the council put forward a set of ambitious but pragmatic recommendations on the theme of Making Gender Inequality History that positions G7 nations for tangible change in the year ahead.
This unwavering commitment to ensure gender equality was firmly at the center of the G7 process has already seen dividends: in 2018, more G7 outcome documents and reports explicitly addressed gender equality than ever before, and the Gender Council has secured substantial financial commitments for girls’ education, support for women in conflict situations, and more. I hope that Ambassador Hudon will be integral to passing the torch for the 2019 G7 Gender Council to France and ensuring that its inspiring agenda gains forward momentum.
4. Fauzia Viqar: Punjab Commission on the Status of Women
Ms. Viqar is truly an inspiration, and I was lucky enough to meet with her twice on my travels to Pakistan over the past year. She is a bold visionary, a generous leader, and the first chairperson of the Punjab Commission on the Status of Women, tasked with promoting women’s empowerment and eliminating gender-based discrimination.
Under her leadership, the commission has built the Gender Management Information System, an impressive portal that collects and visualizes gender data, monitors violations of women’s rights, and communicates this clearly to advance evidence-based policy decisions. And Ms. Viqar maintains a clear focus on how the commission can drive other powerful solutions that will advance gender equality for Pakistan’s women and girls.
5. Jeevika Women’s Self-Help Group, State of Bihar, India
This isn’t one single woman, but rather a whole group of women who support each other and make their communities more equitable. They are part of a government initiative called Jeevika, which helps more than 9 million women in Bihar come together to build up their human, financial, and social capital.
What inspired me about these particular women is the way they are taking charge of their lives and their community. Thanks to each other’s support and the model, they embody empowerment: they travel freely, exude self-confidence, share in important household decisions, make and control their own money, and shape their own communities.
With Jeevika, women across Bihar have become a force in their communities, advocating for better public services and successfully changing legislation for improved health and productivity. It’s exactly why women’s empowerment collectives are one of the pillars of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s gender equality work — because they produce powerful, meaningful change. I can’t wait to see what this formidable group of women will accomplish next!
