MOST INFLUENTIAL WOMEN IN THE WORLD

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MOST INFLUENTIAL WOMEN IN THE WORLD. WOMEN LEADERS

1994- President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumarantunga, Sri Lanka

1993-94 Chief Minister of the Colombo Province and in a few months in 1994 Prime Minister. As Executive President she is assisted in her duties by the Prime Minister, and is also Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces and held the Portfolio of Defence and Finance and Planning until 2002. She is the first person in the world to be daughter of two premier-ministers, Solomon and Sirivamo Bandaranaike and the first to have appointed her mother to the post of Prime Minister. (b. 1945-).

1997- President Mary McAleese, Ireland

She was Professor of Law and 1993-97 Pro-chancellor of University of Belfast. The eldest of nine children, she grew up in Northern Ireland and her family was one of many adversely affected by the conflict. She is an experienced broadcaster, having worked as a current affairs journalist and presenter in radio and television with Radio Telefís Éireann. She has a longstanding interest in many issues concerned with justice, equality, social inclusion, anti-sectarianism and reconciliation. During the 1997-elections 5 candidates were female and there was only one token male candidates finishing a distant last. (b. 1951-).

1999- President Vaira Vike-Freiberga, Latvia

Vaira Vike was born in Latvia and grew up in refugee camps in Germany, went to school in French Morocco, University studies in Canada. Retired from the Universite de Montreal in 1998, after being a professor of psychology there since 1965 and involved in various scientific and administrative committees, among others as Vice-Chairperson of the Science Council of Canada . She moved to Latvia as Director of the newly created Latvian Institute in Riga. Married to her fellow countryman, Imants Freibergs, also exiled in Canada, who moved to Latvia in October 1999. Mother of a son and a daughter. (b. 1937-).

1999- Executive President Mireya Moscoso Rodrígez, Panama

Since 1991 President of the Arnolfist Party, 1994 Presidential Candidate. As Executive President she is also head of the Cabinet, and she is the first female President to have officially appointed a First Lady - her sister, Ruby Moscoso de Young. Mireya was first married to President Rodrigues de Arias Madrid (1901-88) who was President of Panama 1940-41, 1949-51 and 1968. Married to Mr. Gruber 1991-97 and mother of an adopted a child. (b. 1946-).

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