The list has come through nominations; through networks, word of mouth and social media. The nominations include women from 40 countries and span an extraordinary range of activity. We’ve published profiles of nominations under the following four categories:
Below are the names of all 100 (Unseen) Powerful Women, listed in alphabetical order. The full nominations can be seen by clicking on the links:
- Aarti Naik
- Abha Shrestha
- Adelaide Foute Tega
- Aminatou Haidar
- Amy Oyekunle
- Ana Hurtado Abad
- Angelina Ludovice-Katoh
- Annys Darkwa
- Arefa Khatun
- Avinder Laroya
- Beatriz Acevedo
- Becky John
- Bee Gilbert
- Bina Silwal
- Bogaletch Gebre
- Bridget Edwards
- Chigoziri Ojiaka
- Clara Machishi
- Dr Caroline Bressey
- Dr Cassandra Caldwell
- Dr Hawa Abdi
- Dr Madhuri Rana Singh
- Dr Manda Mune
- Dr Saleyha Ahsan
- Dr Sasha Rakoff
- Durgabai Vyam
- Eden Full
- Ena Abrahams
- Esther Ngumbi
- Fanny Chirisa
- Farhana Faruqi-Stocker
- Farida
- Firoza
- Foluke Akinlose
- Geni Gomez
- Gloria Morrison
- Hannah Stevens
- Hariyatu Bangura
- Iman Abou Atta
- Inca Waddell
- Jennifer A.C. Albano
- Jennifer Ogole
- Jess Wood
- Joice Dube
- Josie Long
- June Jacobs CBE
- Kaba Djénébou said Sabou Cisse
- Kat Banyard
- Kathryn Loughnan
- Katie Hagley
- Katie Rizvi
- Kinga Lohmann
- Konate Waly Kante
- Lauren Craig
- Leila Bashir
- Lepa Mladjenovic
- Liliany Obando
- Lindsey W. Andrews
- Lisa Domican
- Liz Douglas
- Lucie Barat
- Luz Melon
- Lyn Lusi
- Lynne Parker
- Mabel Kiggundu
- Marceline Kongolo-Bicé
- Marie Nicholsby
- Marla Nelson
- Mary Luz Avendaño
- Maryam Bibi
- Maureen Ezeigbo
- Maureen Odoi
- Meena Kandasamy
- Meenu Vadera
- Miriam Kennet
- Momela Khatun
- Moni Rani
- Nan Sloane
- Nazma Akter
- Nihma Cande
- Rachel Millward
- Rahima Khatun
- Rioch Edwards Brown
- Rubidia Cornejo
- Runa Laila
- Sabrina Mahtani
- Serrin M. Foster
- Shadi Sadr
- Shannon Hopkins
- Sherine Xavier
- Sike Bille
- Siphiwe Hlophe
- Siriporn Panyasen
- Mother Josephine
- Sokny
- Subhadra Belbase
- Suriya Wickramasinghe
- Theresa Caroline Malila
- Vicky Simister
- Zarin Hainsworth
One Hundred Women 
What an exciting campaign. Great idea – well done OWA!
I would like to nominate Eden Full. She is a 19-year-old woman currently working on deploying her innovative solar panel tracking system in Kenya, and beyond. It is currently being used in Mpala, Kenya and has the potential to impact many other developing communities through her social enterprise.
More about Eden:
http://www.thestar.com/business/cleanbreak/article/1005586–hamilton-solving-energy-problems-with-girl-power
http://www.smartplanet.com/blog/pure-genius/the-19-year-old-innovator-revolutionizing-solar-energy-systems/6436
I would like to nominate Dr. Cassandra Caldwell, Ph.D. Despite the down economy, she recently launched the Cary, NC-based International Society of Diversity and Inclusion Professionals (ISDIP), the first global comprehensive association for diversity and inclusion professionals, spanning all industries and sectors. The ISDIP started as an informal gathering of D&I professionals on Facebook, and Dr. Caldwell recognized the need for a professional organization aimed at educating global diversity practitioners, consultants, managers, educators, and others. “In my research, I could not find any global comprehensive professional association for diversity and inclusion and professionals, but the need for such a society was clearly there,” she says. In only a few short months, this diversity scholar-turned-entrepreneur’s collaborative efforts are helping to bring educational tools–such as a Diversity and Inclusion Research Institute, a lending library, and a resources guide found on http://www.isdip.org–to diversity professionals worldwide to further the good work they’re doing across industries and sectors globally.
i would nominate Doreen Lawrence the mother of Stephen Lawrence who was murdered in a racist attack. Although she is relatively well known i think her unseeen influence has been huge. With inmmense bravery she took on the heart of the unconscious white male supremacist culture in its centre and persevered for years and years The psychic pressure at every turn must have demanded colossal regrouping of her energies to come back each time especially as she does not appear to have been born with some natural campaigning gift.. Her efforts resulted in society looking at its conditioned racist oppressive stance. at the point at which that approach is implemented ,through the authority of society, the police. i feel that this must have ripple effects around the world,with good effects for alleviating oppressive attitudes that encompass both race and gender.
Lepa Mladjenovic Is an indefatigable campaigner for women’s rights and against war and facism. For more than twenty years she has worked in the Autonomous Women’s Centre in Belgrade, which stayed open throughout the war available to all women. Since the end of the war she has been a ‘movement builder’ in the region, organising workshops and events through which women across Former Yugoslavia meet and share their work on violence against women. She was also a strong leader in the Balkans region for Women in Black, the anti-miltarism network linking women across the globe, and is still active, attending recently a unique conference in Guatamala in which indigenous women explored alternative forums for justice for women raped in war. Perhaps her most courageous work has been being out as a lesbian in an exttemely hostile context, and amking herself available to young women whenever they need support. She was recognised last week for her activism, leadership and compassion with the opening of the ‘Lepa Mladjenovic reading room’ in an alternative centre in Novi Sad. Tributes were read to here from women who know and love her from across the globe.
Thank you for all the nominations sent in so far via email, Twitter, facebook or our blog – we have some great women nominated so far. Please keep them coming!
“to empower women so that their voices are heard, their rights are enhanced and observed, and their choices respected.” How fantastic?
This is a great campaign and we love this at She is the Light. http://www.sheisthelight.com Great work.
Dear Madam,
Greetings from Deepak !!
I would like to nominate Ms. Aarti Naik, four year before who was slum based school drop out girl, but today she is Changemaker & she is educating other slum girls around her slum community.
Please find the more information about her story, recently it has been published by rediffmail.com.
http://www.rediff.com/getahead/slide-show/slide-show-1-achievers-interview-with-aarti-naik/20110704.htm
Your support will definitely build her confidence to educate other slum girls.
With Regards,
Deepak Panzade,
Mumbai.
Well done to One World Action!! What a bright idea to give recognition to those women in our midst who change our lives everyday.
Keep it up!!
i would nominate Shannon Hopkins, innovator and founder of social enterprise, http://www.sweetnotions.org/ , which assists in liberating women from human trafficking, then creatively rebuilding self esteem and restoration. a recent branch has opened in portland or in the us. she continues to expand sweet notions reach through personal involvement of womening wishing to actively participate, with great success and increasing support. she has affected the british gov’s position and action has been taken due to her work in both uk and us.
The women on our 100 Unseen Powerful Women list might not be on the Forbes list of powerful women…
http://www.forbes.com/sites/carolinehoward/2011/06/15/who-are-the-most-powerful-women-in-the-world/
… but they should be recognised for showing great leadership and doing amazing things for their communities!
Just 10 days left to send us your nominations so please share the campaign with all networks, friends and family.
I woudll ike to nominate Mama Rose Thamae! an inspiration to all of us
http://www.genderlinks.org.za/article/rose-thamae-fondly-known-as-mum-rose-2011-03-03
This is a great thing to do!
It is great to know of the 100 unseen powerful women in the world, who are putting their efforts to bring some (at least) benefiting change for people in their communities and in the world! Great!
I am nominating Subhadra Belbase for her advocacy and campain on the importance of educating a girl child under the theme “Because I am a Girl”(BIAAG). Since its lauch in 2010, many parents are showing positive responses by sending girl children to school.
Annet Kyakuha-Plan Uganda
Fellie Kemigisa Akiiki
iam norminating Subhadra Belbase for advocating for the rights of women and the girl child in Uganda and this has changed many lives in the communities where Plan operates and beyond.
“change one woman,you will have changed the whole world”.
Thank you subhadra for walking the talk.
Hannah asks if the 100 women have anything in common. Leaving aside the obvious – that they have all demonstrated great energy and leadership in their chosen activities, it seems to me that what is exciting and inspiring is the great variety of backgrounds and ways in which these women have demonstrated leadership. Though, for at least a significant number, there may be some common characteristics or common themes. Here are a few examples. It is only possible to name a minority of those listed. All deserve recognition and I would encourage you to take time to read their stories.
Some have worked through trade unions, such as Adelaide Foute Tega who leads a women’s market traders union in Cameroon, Sokny, a trade union organiser in Cambodia and Liliany Obando in Colombia. As with other groups their activities may be dangerous. In Cambodia, trade union leaders have been assassinated and face constant harassment, and Liliany has been imprisoned since 2008 although not convicted of any crime.
Many on the list have been campaigning against gender based violence and discrimination in disadvantaged communities such as Arefa Khatun in Bangladesh, Bina Silwal in Nepal, working in remote rural communities, Bogaletch Gebre in Ethopia, challenging traditional practices harmful to girls and women, and Siphiwe Hlophe supporting women affected by gender discrimination related HIV/AIDs in Swaziland. Some work in countries where women’s rights are seen as deeply threatening. Maryam Bibi works with women in remote Tribal Areas of Pakistan on education, health and employment, domestic violence and corporal punishment, while Shadi Sadr, a human rights lawyer defends women rights activists who face execution.. Women’s representation is key to Fanny Chirisa, Director of Women in Politics Support Unit in Zimbabwe, and again faces threats and danger in working to open the political process to women and youth.
We also have the artists using their talents to tell stories relevant to their communities. Durgabai Vvam has raised awareness of caste discrimination against Dalits in her controversial graphic novel Bhimayana and, to end on what we all need from time to time, Lynne Parker in the UK provides a stage for women to find their comedy voice.
CUANDO ME LLAMO OSCAR ZAMUDIO PARA CONTARME CON EMOCIÓN QUE NUESTRA COMPAÑERA DE ESTUDIOS ANA HURTADO ABAD ESTABA DENTRO DE LAS 100 MUJERES QUE CAMBIAN EL MUNDO, ME DIO MUCHA ALEGRÍA, ACABO DE LEER SU HISTORIA Y HE RECORRIDO SU TRABAJO A TRAVÉS DE LOS REPORTAJES Y ME LLENA DE ORGULLO QUE UNA GRAN AMIGA ESTE CUMPLIENDO SUS SUEÑOS Y SOBRE TODO SE SIGA MANTENIENDO EN SUS SÓLIDOS PRINCIPIOS DE APOYO A LAS MUJERES…BIEN ANITA SIGUE ADELANTE Y QUE DIOS TE BENDIGA….GIOVANNA ALMONACID
The late, Rozaria Marumisa-Dizha, Murewa, Zimbabwe. Visit Rozaria Memorial Trust. http://rozariatrust.net