List of the first women holders of political offices
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This is a list of political offices which have been held by a woman, with details of the first woman holder of each office. It is ordered by country, by dates of appointment. Former countries, such as Yugoslavia, are also listed.
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Africa
South America
North and Central America and Caribbean
Asia
Europe
Oceania
International organizations
African Union
- President of the Pan-African Parliament - Gertrude Mongella - 2004 (at its founding)[1]
- Vice President of the Pan-African Parliament - Elise Loum - 2004[2]
- Judges of the African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights - Kellelo Justina Mafoso-Guni and Sophia A. B. Akuffo - Both elected in 2006 in its founding year[3]
- President of the African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights - Sophia A. B. Akuffo - 2012[3]
- Chairperson of the African Union Commission - Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma - 2012[4]
European Union
- President of the European Parliament – Simone Veil – 1979[5]
- President-in-Office of the European Council – Margaret Thatcher – 1981[citation needed]
- European Commissioner – Christiane Scrivener / Vasso Papandreou – 1989[6]
- Leader of the Socialist Group and of any major party – Pauline Green – 1994[7]
- Co Vice-President of the European Commission – Loyola de Palacio – 1999[citation needed]
- First Vice-President of the European Commission – Margot Wallström – 2004[citation needed]
- High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy – Catherine Ashton – 2009 [citation needed]
League of Nations
- Substitute Delegate and Ambassador to the League of Nations – Elena Văcărescu – 1922 [citation needed]
- Permanent Delegate and Ambassador to the League of Nations – Elena Văcărescu – 1924 [citation needed]
United Nations
- Head of the section of Welfare Policy – Alva Myrdal – 1949
- Chairman of UNESCO's social science section – Alva Myrdal – 1950
- President of the United Nations General Assembly – Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit – 1953[8]
- Permanent Representative – Agda Rössel (Permanent Representative of Sweden to the United Nations) – 1958
- Head of the United Nations Children's Fund – Carol Bellamy – 1995 [citation needed]
- United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights – Mary Robinson – 1997 [citation needed]
- Deputy Secretary-General – Louise Fréchette – 1998[9]
- Executive Director of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme – Anna Tibaijuka – 2000 [citation needed]
- Under-Secretary-General – Inga-Britt Ahlenius – 2005 [citation needed]
- Assistant-Secretary-General – Helvi Sipilä – 1972
- President of the International Court of Justice – Rosalyn Higgins – 2006 [citation needed]
- Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme – Helen Clark – 2009
- Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund – Christine Lagarde – 2011
See also
- List of elected and appointed female heads of state and government
- List of the first LGBT holders of political offices
- Muslim women political leaders
- List of the first women heads of government and state in Muslim-majority countries
References
- ^ Пулич, Анастасия (23 March 2004). "Who is Gertrude Mongella?". Pravdareport.com. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
- ^ "Resource Person Biographies. Hon. Estelle Flore Angangou - PDF". Docplayer.net. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
- ^ a b "Profiles of Former Judges". African-court.org. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
- ^ "Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma". Insipiringwomen.co.za. 3 August 2012. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
- ^ "The President of the European Parliament - Former E.P. Presidents". Europarl.europa.eu. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
- ^ Ladies First Archived 21 June 2008 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Ladies First Archived 25 December 2008 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Press Kit - Presidents of the General Assembly - 60th session of the United Nations General Assembly". Un.org. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
- ^ [1]] Archived 3 November 2011 at the Wayback Machine