Empowered Women and Political Leadership

Abstract

When referring to empowerment, one focuses on women's greater autonomy, recognition, and the visibility of their contributions. Empowering women involves their full participation in all sectors and at all levels of economic activity to build strong economies, establish more stable and just societies, achieve development, sustainability, and human rights goals, and improve the quality of life of women. Women's access to and control of economic and financial resources is decisive for achieving gender equality, women's empowerment, and the economic growth of all countries. This chapter highlights the challenges and progress that women's empowerment has experienced in the past few decades.