‘Women Deliver 100’ List Continues to Engage Policymakers and Global Public

The incredible activists, doctors, journalists, teachers, business leaders, politicians, and other honorees on the “Women Deliver 100” list of the people delivering for girls and women are continuing to inspire public and policymakers from around the world and shine a spotlight on the world’s most pressing women’s issues.

Released in honor of the centennial International Women’s Day on March 8, the list recognizes leaders who affect change in their own ways—either by successfully navigating the corridors of power or working on the front lines to expand women’s and girls’ rights and choices. The 100 honorees feature some of the most intrepid, committed, and results-driven activists in the world. Some are globally recognized Nobel laureates and heads of state, while others are unsung heroes who continue to risk their lives, face stigma, and daunting odds in their fight for better lives for girls and women.

List honoree and founding member of The Elders, Graca Machel sums it up best when she said that each one of “their achievements reinforce my conviction that when women thrive, our world does too.”

The list—which has 26 honorees from Africa, 20 from the Middle East and North Africa, 19 from North Africa, 15 from Asia and 11 from Latin America and the Caribbean—is extending its global reach as news and online media grows. Noteworthy coverage includes:

• Al Jazeera’s in-depth interview with Women Deliver President Jill Sheffield on the importance of investing in girls’ and women’s health
• ABC News’ “Be the Change, Save a Life” initiative mention of several inspiring women on the Women Deliver 100
• Huffington Post’s thought-provoking piece, “Who would you add to Women Deliver list of 100 heroes”

Regional and national publications highlighted many of the outstanding individuals on the list, including:

• Vanguard’s review of the five Nigeria leaders highlighted in the list
• The Times of India’s honest and important editorial on maternal health in India
• The Daily Star's, Bangladesh’s most-respected and widely read paper, article on the list’s inclusion of Dr. Muhammad Yunus and Sir Fazle Hasan Abed
• The New Era's highlight of Namibian Bience Gawanas’ inclusion
• The Philippine Star's congratulations to the Filipinos on the list: Representative Janette Loreto Garin and Sr. Mary John Mananzan
• The Star's highlight of the Malaysian honorees Datin Paduka Marina Mahathir and Zainah Anwar
• The New Vision's highlight of the Ugandan honorees Jacqueline Kasha and Betty Bigombe

As the celebrations of the 100^th anniversary of International Women’s Day become more of a memory, it is clear that the work of the honorees of the Women Deliver 100 list will not be forgotten. It is and will continue to change the world and the minds of policymakers at all levels of leadership.

“The work of these heroes is informed not just by boundless vision but also by pragmatism,” says list honoree and UN Women Executive Director Michelle Bachelet. “They both understand and defy current power structures—an they will stop at nothing to make changes that improve the daily existence of women everywhere.”