List of the first women holders of political offices

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.

Africa[]

South America[]

North America[]

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 Commission – Ursula von der Leyen – 2019.
President of the European Parliament – Simone Veil – 1979^[5]
President-in-Office of the European Council – Margaret Thatcher – 1981^[6]
European Commissioner – Christiane Scrivener / Vasso Papandreou – 1989^[7]
Leader of the Socialist Group and of any major party – Pauline Green – 1994^[8]
Co Vice-President of the European Commission – Loyola de Palacio – 1999^[9]
First Vice-President of the European Commission – Margot Wallström – 2004^[10]
High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy – Catherine Ashton – 2009^[11]

League of Nations[]

Substitute Delegate and Ambassador to the League of Nations – Elena Văcărescu – 1922^[12]
Permanent Delegate and Ambassador to the League of Nations – Elena Văcărescu – 1924^[12]

United Nations[]

Head of the section of Welfare Policy – Alva Myrdal – 1949^[13]
Chairman of UNESCO's social science section – Alva Myrdal – 1950^[13]
President of the United Nations General Assembly – Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit – 1953^[14]
Permanent Representative – Agda R��ssel (Permanent Representative of Sweden to the United Nations) – 1958^[15]
Head of the United Nations Children's Fund – Carol Bellamy – 1995^[16]
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights – Mary Robinson – 1997^[17]
Deputy Secretary-General – Louise Fréchette – 1998^[18]
Executive Director of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme – Anna Tibaijuka – 2000^[19]
Under-Secretary-General – Inga-Britt Ahlenius – 2005^[20]
Assistant-Secretary-General – Helvi Sipilä – 1972^[21]
President of the International Court of Justice – Rosalyn Higgins – 2006^[22]
Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme – Helen Clark – 2009^[23]
Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund – Christine Lagarde – 2011^[24]

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.
^ Jump up to: ^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.
^ "Margaret Thatcher | Biography & Facts". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
^ Ladies First Archived 21 June 2008 at the Wayback Machine
^ Ladies First Archived 25 December 2008 at the Wayback Machine
^ "Loyola de Palacio, commissioner for optimism". The Economist. 27 July 2000. ISSN 0013-0613. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
^ "European Commission - PRESS RELEASES - Press release - Margot Wallström Vice-President of the European Commission Women in Ireland and Europe Labour Women's Conference 10 September, Dublin, Ireland". europa.eu. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
^ "Catherine Ashton | Biography & Facts". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b LAZĂR, Ioan. "ELENA VĂCĂRESCU: "The Ambassador of the Romanian Soul and Reunification"".
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b Pace, Eric (3 February 1986). "Alva Myrdal, Nobel Women, Dies in Sweden at 84". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
^ "Press Kit - Presidents of the General Assembly - 60th session of the United Nations General Assembly". Un.org. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
^ "HERstory: A celebration of leading women in the United Nations". UN News. 23 December 2016. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
^ Richardson, Lynda (14 January 2005). "A Forceful Voice for the Children of the Tsunami". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
^ "Mary Robinson | president of Ireland". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
^ [1] Archived 3 November 2011 at the Wayback Machine
^ "Anna Tibaijuka: 'Not Easy For African Women In The UN System' - New African Magazine". newafricanmagazine.com. 9 September 2011. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
^ Lynch, Colum. "U.N. mounts questionable defense of Ban". Foreign Policy. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
^ Ketokoski-Rexed, Anja-Riitta (3 August 2009). "Helvi Sipilä | Obituary". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
^ "International Court of Justice names its first female president". UN News. 6 February 2006. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
^ "Helen Clark | prime minister of New Zealand". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
^ "Christine Lagarde | French lawyer and politician". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 19 February 2019.

This article includes an officeholders-related list of lists.

[1] Пулич, Анастасия (23 March 2004). "Who is Gertrude Mongella?". Pravdareport.com. Retrieved 8 April 2018.

[2] "Resource Person Biographies. Hon. Estelle Flore Angangou - PDF". Docplayer.net. Retrieved 8 April 2018.

[african-court.org-3] Jump up to: ^a ^b "Profiles of Former Judges". African-court.org. Retrieved 8 April 2018.

[4] "Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma". Insipiringwomen.co.za. 3 August 2012. Retrieved 8 April 2018.

[5] "The President of the European Parliament - Former E.P. Presidents". Europarl.europa.eu. Retrieved 8 April 2018.

[6] "Margaret Thatcher | Biography & Facts". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 19 February 2019.

[7] Ladies First Archived 21 June 2008 at the Wayback Machine

[8] Ladies First Archived 25 December 2008 at the Wayback Machine

[9] "Loyola de Palacio, commissioner for optimism". The Economist. 27 July 2000. ISSN 0013-0613. Retrieved 19 February 2019.

[10] "European Commission - PRESS RELEASES - Press release - Margot Wallström Vice-President of the European Commission Women in Ireland and Europe Labour Women's Conference 10 September, Dublin, Ireland". europa.eu. Retrieved 19 February 2019.

[11] "Catherine Ashton | Biography & Facts". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 19 February 2019.

[:0-12] Jump up to: ^a ^b LAZĂR, Ioan. "ELENA VĂCĂRESCU: "The Ambassador of the Romanian Soul and Reunification"".

[:1-13] Jump up to: ^a ^b Pace, Eric (3 February 1986). "Alva Myrdal, Nobel Women, Dies in Sweden at 84". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 19 February 2019.

[14] "Press Kit - Presidents of the General Assembly - 60th session of the United Nations General Assembly". Un.org. Retrieved 8 April 2018.

[15] "HERstory: A celebration of leading women in the United Nations". UN News. 23 December 2016. Retrieved 19 February 2019.

[16] Richardson, Lynda (14 January 2005). "A Forceful Voice for the Children of the Tsunami". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 19 February 2019.

[17] "Mary Robinson | president of Ireland". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 19 February 2019.

[18] [1] Archived 3 November 2011 at the Wayback Machine

[19] "Anna Tibaijuka: 'Not Easy For African Women In The UN System' - New African Magazine". newafricanmagazine.com. 9 September 2011. Retrieved 19 February 2019.

[20] Lynch, Colum. "U.N. mounts questionable defense of Ban". Foreign Policy. Retrieved 19 February 2019.

[21] Ketokoski-Rexed, Anja-Riitta (3 August 2009). "Helvi Sipilä | Obituary". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 19 February 2019.

[22] "International Court of Justice names its first female president". UN News. 6 February 2006. Retrieved 19 February 2019.

[23] "Helen Clark | prime minister of New Zealand". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 19 February 2019.

[24] "Christine Lagarde | French lawyer and politician". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 19 February 2019.

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show v Women in government
Lists of female holders of political office	Elected or appointed national leaders heads of state and government deputy heads of state deputy heads of government Ministers and secretaries defence finance foreign interior justice Speakers of national and territorial legislatures lower houses unicameral parliaments upper houses Constituent and dependent territory leaders First women holders of political offices first governors and/or chief ministers first members of parliament first mayors first heads of government and state in Muslim-majority countries Hereditary rulers queens regnant
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Related	All-women shortlist Council of Women World Leaders Muslim women political leaders Women Political Leaders