The Women in Parliaments Global Forum (WIP) is the global network of female Parliamentarians at national level, including the European Parliament, of whom there currently are around 9000.
WIP is an independent, international and post-partisan foundation established with the purpose of advancing society by building a network between Women in Parliaments. It is a not-for-profit foundation, based in Zurich, Switzerland.
WIP members are Members of Parliaments at national level, including those directly elected to the European Parliament. Membership is free and members are honoured by their participation.
Elected political decision-makers have a unique perspective on the issues relevant to people, as they are in permanent direct exchange with their electorate. To go through the process of being scrutinized and elected is a selection procedure that gives female MPs the mandate to speak for their constituencies.
Today, according to the IPU, more than 9,000 women are members of national Parliaments. WIP is the global forum reaching out to all female Parliamentarians on a national level. Parliamentarians have privileged insight into, and influence on legislative issues as a result of continuous contact and exchange with their electorate and stakeholders.
In today’s volatile, complex and interdependent world, WIP strives to find new pathways to address global challenges and make the most of new opportunities presented to us.
Women need three things to fulfil their potential: communication, connection, community. At WIP, optimizing the power of communication and connection builds new communities of support for women in politics everywhere.
The foundation’s legal structure has been established by the Swiss law-firm Niederer Kraft & Frey, based in Zurich. WIP finances and administration are handled by Interhold AG.
Women Political Leaders: Advancing Society
WPL Summit
All summits

Women Political Leaders Summit 2021
Livestream / Digital/21 June 2021

WPL Summit 2019 - Tokyo, Japan
Tokyo, Japan/ 25 June 2019

WPL Summit 2018 - Vilnius, Lithuania
Vilnius, Lithuania/ 06 June 2018
Global Advisory Board

Denis Mukwege
Founder and Medical Director, Panzi Hospital, 2018 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Member of the WPL Advisory Board

Hanna Birna Kristjánsdóttir
Senior Advisor, Women’s Leadership, UN Women; Chair, Reykjavík Global Forum Board, Minister of the Interior, Iceland (2013-2014), Member of Parliament, Iceland (2013-2016), Mayor of Reykjavík (2008-2010)

Helen Clark
Chair Emeritus of the WPL Board, Prime Minister of New Zealand (1999-2008), UNDP Administrator (2009-2017), Member of the Council of Women World Leaders

Jane Goodall
Ethologist. Founder, Jane Goodall Institute. UN Messenger of Peace. Founder, Roots & Shoots.

Jody Williams
Chair, Nobel Women’s Initiative and 1997 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate

José Manuel Barroso
Chair, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, Chairman, Goldman Sachs International, President, European Commission (2004-2014), Prime Minister, Portugal (2002-2004), Member, WPL Global Advisory Board

Kathy Calvin
President and Chief Executive Officer, United Nations Foundation (2013-2019)

Laura Liswood
Secretary General, Council of Women World Leaders. Commissioner of the City of Seattle Women’s Commission.

Laura Tyson
Professor of Business Administration and Economics, Haas School of Business, University of California, Berkley. Chair of the US President’s Council of Economic Advisers (1993-1995). Chair of the Board of Trustees, The Blum Center for Developing Economies.

Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca
President of Eurochild, President of Malta (2014-2019), Member, WPL Board, Member, Council of Women World Leaders

Michelle Bachelet
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. President of Chile (2006-2010 and 2014-2018). Member of the Council of Women World Leaders

Mo Ibrahim
Founder and Chair, Mo Ibrahim Foundation

Nurhayati Ali Assegaf
Vice Chairwoman of the Democratic Party (Partai Demokrat) of Indonesia, President of Geneva Council for International Affairs and Development (GCIAD)

Obiageli “Oby” Katryn Ezekwesili
Chair of the WPL Board, Economic and Public Policy Expert and Senior Economic Adviser to the Africa Economic Development Policy Initiative (AEDPI); World Bank Vice-President, Africa Region (2007-2012)

Pascal Lamy
President Emeritus, Jacques Delors Institute; President of the Paris Peace Forum, Special Advisor, Brunswick Europe, Former Director-General, WTO (2005-2013) European Commissioner for Trade (1999-2004). Chief of Cabinet to the President of the European Commission (1984-1994).

Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka
United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN Women (2013-2021), Deputy President of South Africa (2005-2008)
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