UK (Commonwealth Union)_ During a gathering in London this March, leaders converged to underscore the pivotal role women play in leadership and decision-making, especially as over fifty percent of the world’s population heads to the polls. While addressing the gathering, the Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC, the Commonwealth Secretary-General, emphasized a shifting global landscape where women are assuming increasingly prominent leadership positions.
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As the sixth Secretary-General and the first woman to assume this esteemed position, Patricia Scotland reflected on her own journey of breaking barriers, recognizing that her pioneering endeavors paved the way for other women to follow suit. She spotlighted trailblazers such as Prime Minister Mia Mottley of Barbados and the UN’s Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed. The theme of the event, ‘Lead With Her: Inclusive Futures’, resonated throughout Patricia Scotland’s address. She asserted, “The evidence is all around us: from classrooms to boardrooms, from courtrooms to parliaments, women are ascending—not just in numbers, but in influence, power, and the capacity to shape the world around them.”
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Drawing historical parallels, the Secretary-General highlighted Sirimavo Bandaranaike of Sri Lanka, the world’s first female Prime Minister elected in 1960, as an early symbol of female leadership within the Commonwealth. Today, women from diverse regions including Africa, the Caribbean, Asia, and the Pacific are not only at the helm of Commonwealth nations but are also making global change, reshaping conventional notions of leadership. She added, “In 1960, the Commonwealth was blessed by the first woman in the world to be elected Prime Minister, Sirimavo Bandaranaike of Sri Lanka. Today, from Africa and the Caribbean to Asia and the Pacific, women are not only leading Commonwealth countries, but they are also changing the world: and in doing so, they are redefining what it means to be a leader.”
Patricia Scotland underscored the notable presence of women leading prominent international organizations such as the World Trade Organisation, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, the International Monetary Fund, and UNESCO. The event, organized by Duke Corporate Education in collaboration with the International Women’s Forum UK, coincided with International Women’s Day on March 13. It delved into how women’s priorities influence major political decisions and underscored the imperative of inclusivity in the political arena.
Hundreds of female leaders and allies, including policymakers, business executives, scholars, and representatives from various non-governmental organizations, participated in the event, reflecting a diverse spectrum of expertise and advocacy. While acknowledging significant global strides, Secretary-General Scotland emphasized the ongoing imperative to achieve gender equality worldwide. She highlighted the Commonwealth’s impactful initiatives, including the Commonwealth Says NO MORE campaign, addressing domestic and sexual violence, and outcomes from the 2023 Commonwealth Women’s Affairs Ministers Meeting, where ministers endorsed measures to bolster gender equality.
Gender equality stands central to the Commonwealth Secretariat’s mission, with gender considerations integrated into its latest Strategic Plan. Moreover, the Commonwealth Women’s Forum, generally held alongside each Commonwealth Heads of Government (CHOGM) meeting, serves as a forum for addressing key challenges and opportunities in advancing gender parity across its 56 member states. Ahead of this year’s CHOGM in Samoa, consultations and preparations are well underway. At present, members of the Commonwealth Secretariat’s Gender team are actively engaged in the Commission on the Status of Women summit in New York, convened by the United Nations.
