Five fantastic female figureheads leading the change – International Women’s Day 2020

International Women’s Day falls on the 8th March every year. It is the perfect time to celebrate the achievements of women across the globe, increase the visibility of the social progress they have made, and to say enough is enough about the longstanding gender inequality that has sought to keep them in the shadows.

At Impact, we are all about recognising the impacts we make. So, ahead of this Sunday, let’s look at five inspirational women who are all doing their part to secure us all a stronger future…

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez 

Ocasio-Cortez is the youngest woman ever to be elected to US congress, serving the 14th district of New York in the Bronx and Queens. Winning an election in 2018 at only 29 years old, she has brought a modern, social media edge to an otherwise stifled, white, male institution. 

As a young Latina woman, her victory marks a significant departure from an outdated political landscape. Villainised by some, worshipped by others, she is certainly challenging the status quo.

Previously an activist, she is using her position now to draw attention to many environmental and social issues, such as women’s rights and equality. A key focus for Ocasio-Cortez has been the Green New Deal, a proposed package of United States legislation that looks to address climate change and economic inequality.

Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka

The executive director of UN Women, Mlambo-Ngcuka is on the frontline of female empowerment, drawing on endless experience campaigning for human rights, equality, and social justice.

She is also the founder of the HeforShe campaign, which seeks to encourage men to join the fight towards women’s equality and rights. Mlambo-Ngcuka was also the first woman to hold the position of deputy president in South Africa. During this time, she was actively involved in the struggle to end apartheid. 

Patricia Espinosa

Espinosa currently serves as the executive secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. A Mexican politician and diplomat, Espinosa has been in office since 2016 and is a leading voice in the global fight against climate change.

Harnessing thirty years of experience of high-level international relations – specialising in climate change, global governance, sustainable development, gender equality, and the protection of human rights – she is now putting her weight behind the UN’s climate change goals.

The UNFCCC’s objective is to “stabilise greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system”.

Françoise Girard 

Françoise Girard is the president of the International Women’s Health Coalition, an organisation committed to providing happy, healthy, and autonomous lives for everyone, regardless of gender. 

A lawyer by trade, Girard is a highly regarded advocate for women’s health, human rights, sexuality, and HIV/Aids. She also regularly plays a key advocacy role at UN conferences, specialising in population and development and women’s rights and health.

Stella Gama

Gama, Malawi’s director of forestry, is the only active female negotiator in her country’s global climate change talks. As a result, she is now spearheading conversations on the need for gender equality in climate change conversations. 

In countries like her own, women and children are often the ones most dependent on climate-sensitive products and services, making it even more important that women get a seat at the table. Gama emphasises the importance of making the conversation and resolution of climate change an open conversation. One in which everyone is represented, not just the voices of a select few.

And there we have it, five women who go above and beyond to make our world a more prosperous and equal place. International Women’s Day is a great time to turn our attention to women across the globe who are making a difference.

But hopefully, there will come a day where IWD becomes obsolete, where gender equality is the norm, and we are all working towards the same goals, regardless of gender.

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