Female Leadership: Less Conflict, More Prosperity?

Female Leadership: Less Conflict and More Prosperity

The World Forum on the Future of Democracy, Tech and Humankind, 18th–19th February 2024, Berlin

Call for action: The panellists called on the presence of more women in peace processes and conflict resolution. The panellists called on a collective effort to create a safe environment for women both online and offline, highlighting the need to fight against gender-based violence and harassment.

Main outcomes

Importance of Women's Leadership in Conflict Resolution: The panel emphasized on the presence of more women in peace processes and conflict resolution.
Importance of Advocacy: The discussion underscored the significance of commitment to advocating for the rights of women and providing a voice for those who are oppressed, especially in regions affected by conflict.
Promoting Diversity through Female Participation: It is highlighted that embracing diversity, brought about by the participation of both genders, can contribute additional nuances to problem-solving and decision-making processes, ultimately enriching the outcomes.

Panel discussion summary

A panel discussion moderated by Huma Abedin explored the complexities of female leadership, focusing on key topics such as resilience in challenging environments, advocacy for equality, navigating leadership roles, and journalistic prowess. The panel discussed the increasing number of people in crisis and conflict worldwide, with over 114 million people displaced as of October. Huma Abedin addressed the challenges faced by women in today's world, highlighting the importance of women having a seat at the table, especially during times of war, misogyny, and a loss of women's rights. She also mentioned Yulia Navalny, who spoke about the importance of standing up for human rights and democracy, and President Zelensky who called for restoring a rules-based world order. She mentions that she was part of a team that made a documentary called "In her hands" about Zarifa Ghafari’s life, which won an Emmy award, where she shared the story of her father's death by the Taliban and the courage and resilience she had to continue moving forward.

Zarifa Ghafari, the first female mayor in Afghanistan, shares her experiences and challenges with the audience. Despite these challenges, Zarifa has been able to hold a public position as a mayor and serve her people and country. She believes that she has the courage to not give up and continue to fight for change.

Former Moldova Prime Minister of Moldova, Natalia Gavrilita discusses Moldova's experience during the Ukrainian crisis in 2022 and emphasises the significant role played by female leaders in the country. Moldova, with women serving as both president and prime minister, demonstrated exceptional resilience during the conflict. She recounted the overwhelming influx of Ukrainian refugees into Moldova, detailing the nation's efforts to provide humanitarian support, solidarity lanes for Ukrainian goods, and structural reforms for energy resilience. Moreover, she underscored the ongoing threats to freedom, security, and prosperity, especially in the context of wars of aggression and dictatorial regimes. In the end, she called for international collaboration, particularly with strong female participation, to address challenges, and uphold the rules-based order.

Eva Maria, the Former Minister of Foreign Affairs for Estonia, shares her experiences at the Munich conference, where she was asked to give lethal weapons to Ukraine. She emphasizes that there is no premature path to peace and that all leaders should take lessons from these leaders. She also shared her personal experience in Kiev on February 24, 2022, when the war started. She hopes that democracies continue to pay attention to the evolution of the war and support Ukraine.

Sharon Stone discusses the importance of history and the role of women in shaping our world. She shares her experiences with death threats and the fear that comes with being a woman who believes others have value. Stone believes that the world has reached a point where we must question our identity and whether we will allow inequity to stand in our way of being human. She encourages young women to be fearless and courageous, and to strive for equality and justice for all.

Tasmina Ahmed-sheikh OBE, is the founder and former chair of the Scottish Women's Association. She shares her journey through politics and the resilience she has experienced navigating complex political challenges. She emphasizes the importance of women being in politics and the need for women to be bold, courageous, and resilient and believes that women together can move forward and make a difference in the fight for peace and change.

The moderator discusses the work of Mona Sinha who has changed 85 laws around the world. She also discuss the success of their organization in Zambia, where female genital mutilation was legal. Mona Sinha believes that legal equality for women is crucial for longevity and ensuring recourse in times of conflict. She highlights the importance of equal participation and rights for women, as it could increase the world's GDP by 28 trillion dollars. Despite criticism and rebuke, there are only 5% of CEOs worldwide who are women, and only 26% of elected officials are women. Sinha also works on changing rape laws, such as the one in Bolivia, which has opened up the entire Latin American region. She also addresses the role of AI in the digital space and the rise of sexual violence. Sinha has launched 10 principles to manage the digital world for good and not harm. Sinha urges men to share their power and joy, and to ensure a peaceful world when women lead and have equal rights rooted in the legal systems.

Ann Curry discusses the importance of journalism in exposing the truth about the world and its suffering. She shares her experience of covering Darfur, a refugee camp for Darfurian refugees, and how she felt motivated to report on this issue. In her work, Curry captured a moment when a little boy fell to his knees in front of her, covered in corn rags and dirty sand. She instinctively took a picture of him, and the man who had seen him was grateful for her presence. Curry believes that real journalism should be protected and that it should pay attention to what truly matters in the world.

To conclude, the panellists discussed their hopes for the next generation of women leaders, encouraging purposeful living, empathy, and breaking gender stereotypes. Natalia expressed her hope that the next generation, including men brought by strong and powerful women, will accept female leadership as a normal part of life. Zarifa shared her hope for her daughter to be a leader for her generation and to teach her to be bold, frank, clear, and strong. Sharon Stone mentions that she has had a series of influential women in her life, including Betty Williams, who won the Nobel prize for the 1,000 Mothers March. Mona Sinha stated that women can be both humble and visible, and embodying humility and being visible can make them more powerful in bringing others along. Ann Curry emphasises the importance of discerning between information that truly matters and distractions in a world filled with overwhelming data. Sharon Stone reflects on the value of love and empathy in leadership, while Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh OBE advises young women to continue pursuing their goals despite challenges. The conversation touches on gender-based violence, with Eva Maria highlighting the need to address this issue. Overall, the panellists share valuable insights on leadership, authenticity, and the role of women in shaping a better future.

Sharon Stone Actress, Artist, Activist

Mona Sinha Board Chair of Women Moving Millions