List of the first women holders of political offices explained

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.

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]
• Chairperson of the African Union Commission - Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma - 2012^[3]

European Union

• President of the European Parliament – Simone Veil – 1979^[4]
• President-in-Office of the European Council – Margaret Thatcher – 1981^[5]
• 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^[8]
• First Vice-President of the European Commission – Margot Wallström – 2004^[9]
• High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy – Catherine Ashton – 2009^[10]
• President of the European Commission – Ursula von der Leyen – 2019.

League of Nations

• Substitute Delegate and Ambassador to the League of Nations – Elena Văcărescu – 1922^[11]
• Permanent Delegate and Ambassador to the League of Nations – Elena Văcărescu – 1924

United Nations

• Head of the section of Welfare Policy – Alva Myrdal – 1949^[12]
• Chairman of UNESCO's social science section – Alva Myrdal – 1950
• President of the United Nations General Assembly – Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit – 1953^[13]
• Permanent Representative – Agda Rössel (Permanent Representative of Sweden to the United Nations) – 1958^[14]
• Head of the United Nations Children's Fund – Carol Bellamy – 1995^[15]
• United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights – Mary Robinson – 1997^[16]
• Deputy Secretary-General – Louise Fréchette – 1998^[17]
• Executive Director of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme – Anna Tibaijuka – 2000^[18]
• Under-Secretary-General – Inga-Britt Ahlenius – 2005^[19]
• Assistant-Secretary-General – Helvi Sipilä – 1972^[20]
• President of the International Court of Justice – Rosalyn Higgins – 2006^[21]
• Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme – Helen Clark – 2009^[22]
• Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund – Christine Lagarde – 2011^[23]

See also

• Council of Women World Leaders
• List of elected and appointed female heads of state and government
• List of the first LGBT holders of political offices
• List of the first women heads of government and state in Muslim-majority countries
• Muslim women political leaders
• Women in government

Notes and References

1. Web site: Who is Gertrude Mongella?. Анастасия. Пулич. 23 March 2004. Pravdareport.com. 8 April 2018.
2. Web site: Resource Person Biographies. Hon. Estelle Flore Angangou - PDF. Docplayer.net. 8 April 2018.
3. Web site: Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma. 3 August 2012. Insipiringwomen.co.za. 8 April 2018.
4. Web site: The President of the European Parliament - Former E.P. Presidents. Europarl.europa.eu. 8 April 2018.
5. Web site: Margaret Thatcher Biography & Facts. Encyclopedia Britannica. en. 19 February 2019.
6. http://web.ukonline.co.uk/m.gratton/Ladies%201st%20-%20C.htm Ladies First
7. http://web.ukonline.co.uk/m.gratton/Names/Pauline.htm Ladies First
8. News: Loyola de Palacio, commissioner for optimism. 27 July 2000. The Economist. 19 February 2019. 0013-0613.
9. Web site: 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. 19 February 2019.
10. Web site: Catherine Ashton Biography & Facts. Encyclopedia Britannica. en. 19 February 2019.
11. Web site: ELENA VĂCĂRESCU: "The Ambassador of the Romanian Soul and Reunification". LAZĂR. Ioan.
12. News: Alva Myrdal, Nobel Women, Dies in Sweden at 84. Pace. Eric. 3 February 1986. The New York Times. 19 February 2019. en-US. 0362-4331.
13. Web site: Press Kit - Presidents of the General Assembly - 60th session of the United Nations General Assembly. Un.org. 8 April 2018.
14. Web site: HERstory: A celebration of leading women in the United Nations. 23 December 2016. UN News. en. 19 February 2019.
15. News: A Forceful Voice for the Children of the Tsunami. Richardson. Lynda. 14 January 2005. The New York Times. 19 February 2019. en-US. 0362-4331.
16. Web site: Mary Robinson president of Ireland. Encyclopedia Britannica. en. 19 February 2019.
17. https://www.un.org/sg/frechette.shtml
18. Web site: Anna Tibaijuka: 'Not Easy For African Women In The UN System' - New African Magazine. newafricanmagazine.com. 9 September 2011. 19 February 2019.
19. Web site: U.N. mounts questionable defense of Ban. Lynch. Colum. Foreign Policy. en. 19 February 2019.
20. News: Helvi Sipilä Obituary. Ketokoski-Rexed. Anja-Riitta. 3 August 2009. The Guardian. 19 February 2019. en-GB. 0261-3077.
21. Web site: International Court of Justice names its first female president. 6 February 2006. UN News. en. 19 February 2019.
22. Web site: Helen Clark prime minister of New Zealand. Encyclopedia Britannica. en. 19 February 2019.
23. Web site: Christine Lagarde French lawyer and politician. Encyclopedia Britannica. en. 19 February 2019.