Ellen Johnson Sirleaf

President, Republic of Liberia

Women have strength

One of the most inspirational woman to participate in WAW! Tokyo 2015 was H. E. Mrs. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, President of the Republic of Liberia and Nobel Peace Prize Winner. She was without doubt the most historical figure, as Africa’s first democratically elected female head of state.

President Sirleaf is known for ascending to leadership roles in international politics as well as the Liberian government, and has overcome numerous setbacks and challenges along the way. Over the past eighteen months, she has faced an epic crisis with the Ebola virus outbreaks, and has led her nation to the eradication of the epidemic.

The WAW! symposium provided the president with the opportunity to provide her own unique insight as a decisive and influential leader. “I’m excited,” she said. “I feel like it’s a great moment of exhilaration for women, it’s a strong commitment on the part of the prime minister. Something good is happening in Japan as a result of the prime minister’s policy and in his effort to promote women.

President Sirleaf is a firm believer in the implementation of measures that can be tracked so that governments can be held accountable for their actions. “We need strong intervention like what’s happening in Japan by Prime Minister Abe,” she said. “One needs a strong political commitment and quotas to ensure the removal of the historical inequities against women that exist.”

The president pointed out the need to consistently “impose confidence in our women and girls at the household level,” as the ultimately leads to increased autonomy and self-esteem. “A woman with self-confidence is capable of managing herself, her family and her nation,” she said.

President Sirleaf also acknowledged that, although there are still numerous challenges facing women, initiatives like WAW! and Womenomics in Japan set the stage for a sustainable path forward.

Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka

Executive Director, UN Women

Appreciating women

UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka participated in WAW! 2015 as a keynote speaker as well as in a high-level roundtable discussion called Engaging Men in Reforms.

An inspirational figure, she has devoted her career to human rights, equality and social justice, and demonstrated strength and leadership during the struggle to end apartheid in her home country of South Africa. Originally a teacher, she has been a longtime champion of gender equality, and has played constructive roles in government, government civil society, and the private sector.

Ms. Mlambo-Ngcuka rose to become Deputy President of South Africa, where she took charge of initiatives to combat poverty, especially among women, and bring the advantages of a growing economy to those in need.

She expressed her appreciation for Japan’s support in this area, as well as the WAW! initiative and its alignment with the goals of UN Women. “It’s wonderful to be among the thought leaders here who are doing a lot of interesting things in the area of gender equality,” she said. “It affords us the opportunity as UN men and women to share the things that we are doing.”

She continued, “I think one of the unique things about WAW! is also showing the importance of leaders leading from the front on this issue, not to see it as an issue which belongs to a specific ministry.” Prime Minister Abe demonstrated his commitment by doing just that. “It is not very often that you have a prime minister staying in a woman’s conference and spending three days going from session to session making a contribution,” Ms. Mlambo-Ngcuka said.