Vital Voices*
Women Changing Our World
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton
“Human rights are women’s rights, and women’s rights are human rights.”
Hillary Rodham Clinton currently serves as the United States’ 67th Secretary of State. Secretary Clinton brings to her position as America’s chief diplomat convictions and wisdom gleaned from nearly four decades of public service as an advocate, attorney, First Lady of the United States, and Senator from New York. And in each of those roles, she has brought a passionate commitment to promoting women’s rights and securing justice for all people around the world.
Rebecca Lolosoli, Kenya
Rebecca Lolosoli had been living a quiet life, observing the traditions of her Samburu culture. As a child, she had witnessed occasional violence, and as a woman she came to see that some of the Samburu traditional practices were forcing women to endure abuse, often forcing victims to live in silence and shame, or even to be disowned and shunned from their homes and families. Her empathy for other women compelled her to begin speaking out on behalf of those who were marginalized and silenced—victims of rape, forced marriage, female genital cutting; as well as widows, and orphans.
Melinda French Gates, United States
As co-chair, Melinda French Gates shapes and approves foundation strategies, reviews results, advocates for the foundation’s issues, and helps set the overall direction of the organization.
She meets with local, national, and international grantees and partners to further the foundation’s goal of improving equity in the United States and around the world. She also uses many public appearances, including speeches, interviews, and articles, to focus attention on these issues.
Afnan Al Zayani, Bahrain
Wife, mother, television cooking show star, activist and multi-million dollar company CEO, Afnan Al Zayani is transcending categories.
Born and raised in Manama, Bahrain, Afnan grew up in a tightly knit family bound by tradition and grounded in faith. In this tiny Gulf Kingdom, expectations for women run high — academic achievement, marriage and family, career and community — but many women fall back to traditional roles in society when faced with competing obligations.
Roshaneh Zafar, Pakistan
Roshaneh Zafar is the founder and managing director of the Kashf Foundation – the first specialized microfinance institution (MFI) to serve women in Pakistan. She believes that microfinance is about changing mindsets and enabling women to realize their inherent worth by “building that ladder which links what women are to what they can be.” Roshaneh established the Kashf Foundation in 1996, after a chance meeting with Nobel Laureate, Professor Muhammad Yunus of the Grameen Bank. Dr. Yunus invested in Roshaneh and her vision; she now returns the favor by investing in others, fulfilling her dream by working to empower hundreds of thousands of Pakistani women, helping them to transcend economic barriers that too often challenge their full and equal participation in society.
Andeisha Farid, Afghanistan
Andeisha Farid spent her childhood living in refugee camps outside of Afghanistan. Her parents initially settled in Iran, where they experienced extremely harsh living conditions, and Andeisha was unable to attend school. Andeisha’s parents managed to send her to Pakistan to study, and she spent six years living in a hostel that was based at a refugee camp. While studying in the refugee camp, she made the decision to tutor other Afghani women and children who had no place to learn.
Panmela Castro, Brazil
Panmela Castro is a 28-year-old multi-media artist from Brazil who uses graffiti and street art to promote social change and awareness. Panmela Castro realizes her vision with the human rights organization Comcausa and Grafiteiras Pela Lei Maria da Penha, a project that links graffiti and urban culture to combating violence against women.
Social Entrepreneur and Artisan Benedicta Nanyonga
Benedicta Nanyonga remembers thinking, “Of what use can these straws be?” As she sat staring at the pile of straws to be thrown out, she was struck by their utility, and decided that she would not let them go to waste. Benedicta creatively chose to see possibility where others saw none; gathering up the straws, she wove them into the first product that would inspire an enterprise –a mat that Benedicta sold for a profit of 6,500 Ugandan shillings, or nearly $3.50.
Marina Pisklakova-Parker
Empowering Domestic Violence Victims & the Women Working to Defend Them
By Melysa Sperber, Vital Voices Senior Staff Writer & Editor
“Pomogitye Mnye,” the soft-spoken woman whispered into the phone. “Help me.”
On the other end of the line, Marina Pisklakova-Parker listened. The woman told a familiar story.
Dr. Suniti Solomon
Breaking Barriers for Women’s Public Health in India
“We Have No Analogy for This Moment”
