FEMALE HEADS OF STATE AND GOVERNMENT(CURRENTLY IN OFFICE). Including leaders of Self-governing External Territories

There have always been female rulers. Some Egyptian Queens are believed to have governed from around 3000 BC., and the first to be named by the sources without any doubt is Ku-baba, who ruled the Mesopotamian City-State of Ur round 2500 BC. But it was not until after World War I that the first few women became members of democratic governments. Nina Bang, Danish Minister of Education 1924-26 was the world's first full female cabinet minister. In 1960 Sirivamo Bandaranaike of Sri Lanka became the world's first female Premier Minister and in 1974 Isabel Perón of Argentina became the first woman President. Today only a handful of countries never had a female member of government in at least a sub-ministerial position: Lebanon, Monaco, Saudi Arabia, Tonga and The Vatican. And in 1999 Sweden became the first country to have more female ministers than male. 11 women and 9 men. 

1952- H.M. Elizabeth II of United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Her other Realms and Territories Queen, Defender of the Faith, Head of the Commonwealth 

Until 1953 her title was Queen of Great Britain, Ireland and the British Overseas Dominions. She is head if state in 15 countries apart from Great Britain and as Head of the Commonwealth she is the front person of the organization of many other former British colonies and territories. She is the first child of The Duke and Duchess of York. Although when born it was unlikely that she would become Queen, events in the 1930s led to her father's Accession and her becoming heir to the Throne. Her reign takes place during a period of great social change, she has carried out her political duties as Head of State, the ceremonial responsibilities of the Sovereign and an unprecedented programme of visits in the United Kingdom, Commonwealth and overseas. Elizabeth Alexandra Mary is the mother of three sons and a daughter. Married to Phillip Mountbatten, former Prince of Greece. (b. 1926-).  

1966- The Maori Queen Kuini Te Ata-i Rangi-Kaahu Koroki Te Rata Mahuta Tawhiao Potatau, New Zealand (23.05-)

She is Queen or Kingitanga of the Tainui and Ariki nui (Paramount Chief) of the other Maori Groups and Tribes. Her role is primarily ceremonial but she is vital to the Maori, who strongly maintain their own culture. She attends 28 Poukai (formal Maori assemblies) each year. She is much respected and admired and conducts many travels abroad. Her name in official Newzealandian use is Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu and is usually addressed as Te Arikinui, or Dame Te Ata. Mother of six children. (b. 1932-).

1972- H.M. Margrethe II, by the Grace of God, Denmark's Queen 

Supreme Commander of the Defence Forces and Head of the Evangelical-Lutheran Church. The Rigsfælleskab - or Commonwealth of the Realm - includes the external territories of The Faero Islands and Greenland. She has engaged in translation work and made her mark artistically in several genres. She has made a point of knowing and reaching out to all parts of the realm, and the Faeroe Islands and Greenland are favorite destinations. The Queen has also succeeded in giving her traditional New Year Message a strongly personal touch, which has helped to consolidate her popularity. She succeeded her father, Frederik 9, and married to Count Henri de Laborde de Monpezat, Prince Henrik. Margrethe  Alexandrine Borhildur Ingrid is mother of two sons. (b. 1940-)

1980- H.M. Beatrix, By the Grace of God, Queen of the Netherlands 

Queen Beatrix Wilhelmina Armgard is also Princess van Oranje-Nassau, Princess van Lippe-Biesterfeld etc, etc, etc. The Kingdom of The Netherlands includes the external territories of Aruba and The Nederlandse Antillen. She succeeded upon the abdication of her mother, Queen Juliana, and she closely follows affairs of government and maintains regular contact with ministers, state secretaries, the vice-President of the Council of State, the Queen's Commissioners in the provinces, burgomasters, and Dutch ambassadors etc. She meets the Prime Minister every Monday. Much of her work consists of studying and signing State documents. She regularly receives members of parliament, as well as other authorities on social issues. Married to Prince Claus of the Netherlands, Jonkheer von Amfeld (1926-2002), and mother of 3 sons. (b. 1938-).

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-).

2000- President Tarja Halonen, Finland. Member of Parliament 1979-2000, 1984-87 Chairperson of the Social Affairs Committee and Member of the Presidium of the Parliament,  1987-1990 Second Minister of Health and Social Affairs (Health Minister) and 1989-1991 Minister of Nordic Co-operation, 1989-91 Co-leader of Soumen Sosialidemokraattinen Pulolue, The Social Democrats. 1990-1991 Minister of Justice, 1995-2000 Minister of Foreign Affairs. (b. 1943-).

2001- Executive President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, The Philippines

As executive GMA is also Head of the Cabinet. 1987-1989 she was Assistant Secretary and 1989-92 Undersecretary of Trade and Industry and Senator 1992-98. Vice-President 1998-2001 and Secretary of Social Development and Welfare 1998-2000 and charged with the leadership of the Cabinet Meetings. In 2001 the parliament sacked President Estrada because of corruption and she was sworn in as his successor. 2002 Secretary of Foreign Affaris, 2003 of Defence. (b. 1947-).

1999- Premier Minister Hon. Helen Clark, New Zealand

MP since 1981. Chairperson of the Foreign Affairs and Defence Select Committee 1984-87, Minister of Housing and Conservation 1987-89 ,  Deputy Premier and Minister of Labour and Health 1989-90, Deputy Leader of Labour and of the Opposition  1990-93 and Leader of Labour of the Opposition 1993-99. As  Prime Minister she also holds the portfolios of Arts and Culture and Security Intelligence Service and Ministerial Services. In 1981 she married  Dr. Peter Davis. No children. (b. 1950-).

2001- Executive President Megawati Sukarnoputri, Indonesia 

When Megawati  Setyawati Soekarnoputri became leader of the Democratic Party in 1993, she triggered the opposition against President Quarto. In 1999 her party won the most seats in the Parliament, but Abdulrahman Wahid was elected President. This caused serious riots all over the country and she was elected vice-President the following day. In August 2000 the ailing President Wahid charged her with the running of the daily business of the government and state and she chaired the cabinet meetings. At the 23rd of July he was ousted and she inaugurated as President.  Ibu Mega, as she is known, is daughter of Indonesia's founding father Sukarno.

2001- Governor General  Dame Silvia Cartwright, New Zealand

In 1989 she became the first female Chief Justice of a District Court and in 1993 the first woman in the Supreme Court before becoming the official representative of the Queen of New Zealand, Queen Elizabeth . (b. 1943-). 

2001- Governor General Dr. Dame Ivy  Leona Dumont, The Commonwealth of the Bahamas (13.11-)

Deputy Permanent Secretary in Ministry of Works and Utilities 1975-78, worked in the private sector before becoming Secretary General of The National Movement Party 1990-92. She was Leader of the Government in the Senate 1990-2001, Minister of Social Affairs, Environment and Health 1992-95 and Minister of Education 1995-2001. She had officially retired when appointed acting G-G. in November 2001 and officially appointed as representative of the Queen of Bahamas, Queen Elizabeth, at 01.01.02. (b. 1930-).

2001- Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, Bangladesh

Also Prime Minister 1991-96. Vice-Chairperson of The Nationalist Party 1982-84 and Leader since 1984. Her husband, President Zia-ur-Rahman was Premier Minister 1976-77 and President 1977-81 until he was assassinated. Khaleda was detained seven times during almost nine years of autocratic rule. In the face of mass upsurge spearheaded by the seven-party alliance, led by Khaleda, and the eight-party combine, led by Hasina, Ershad resigned in 1990 and handed over power to neutral caretaker government, bringing an end to his nine-year autocratic rule. During her first tenure as Premier she was in charge of a number of other portfolios - among other's that of Defence. 1996-2001 Leader of the Opposition. Mother of two sons.  (b. 1945-).

2001- Governor Hon. Sila Maria Calderón Serra, Estado
Libre Asociado de  Puerto Rico (USA)

As Secretary of State 1988-90 she was leader of the Government Administration, in charge of the Foreign Politics and Deputy to the Governor. She was Chief of Staff of the Governor 1985, 1986-90 Secretary of Interior and 1996-2001 Mayor of San Juan (The Capital)  From 1999 President of Partido Popular Democrático. (b. 1942-)

2001- High Commissioner Birgit Kleis, The Faeroe Islands (Danish External Territory)  Before becoming Ríkisumboðsmann or Rigsombudsmand in the Føroyar or Færøerne, she was Assistant Secretary in the Danish Ministry of Justice. She had worked as Secretary in the Riksombud   in the Faeroes 1986-88.  (b. 1956-).

2002-03 Prime Minister Maria das Neves Ceita Batista de Sousa, Republic of São Tomé e Príncipé (03.10-16.07). 2003- Prime Minister (23.07-)

Maria das Neves worked as a civil servant in the Ministry of Finance and in the African Development Bank. 1999-2001 Minister of Economics, Agriculture, Fisheries, Commerce and Tourism, 2001-02 Minister of Finance and 2002 Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism. On 16th of July 2003 she was detained during a military coup and suffered a mild hart attack. on the 23rd the government was reinstated. b. 1958-).

2003- High Commissioner Hon. Sandra Rose Te Hakamatua Lee, Niue (Free Association with New Zealand

Active in Poutin Ngai Tahu tribal affairs, 1989 Council Chairperson of Waiheke County Council, 1991 President of the Mana Motuhake Party and 1994-2001 its leader. Co-Deputy Leader 1991-94, Leader 1994-95 and Deputy leader of the Alliance 1996-2001. 1999-2002 Minister of Conservation and Minister of Local Government, Associate Minister of Maori Affairs and Associate  Minister for the Biodiversity Strategy. (b. 1952-). 

2003- Minister-President Mirna Louisa-Godett, Nederlandse Antillen (The Netherlands)

She is sister of the Leader of Frente Obrero Liberashon 30 di Mei (FOL) Anthony Godett, who could not become Premier because he is charged with corruption and fraud. Married to a member of the Legislature for FOL, Johnny Louisa. (b. 1954-).

2004- Prime Minister Luísa Días Diogo, Moçambique  

Head of Department in the Ministry of Finance 1986-89, National Budget Director 1982-89 in Ministry of Planning and Finance, worked in World Bank 1993-94. worked in World Bank 1993-94. 1994-2000 Vice-Minister and since 2000 Minister of Planning and Finance, a portfolio she holds cuncurrently with the post of chief of government. Mother of three children. (b. 1958-).

2004- President of the General Council Nassimah Magnolia Dindar, Réunion (French Oversea's Territory)

Vice-President of the Regional Council 2001-04 (b. 1960-).

2004 Designate Governor Deborah Barnes Jones, Montserrat, (British External Territory)

The Ambassador to Georgia from 2001, Deborah Elizabeth Vavasseur Barnes Jones, will take up the appointment i April 2004. She has been working in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office since 1980 and among others been 1. Secretary in Israel and Vice-Ambassador in Ecuador. In 1991 she became mother of twin daughters  (b. 1956-).

1999- Governor General Rt. Hon. Adrienne Poy Clarkson, Canada

Second female and first Governor General of Asian origin. She is broadcaster and journalist and acted as Agent-General of Ontario in Paris 1982-87. She married her longtime partner John Saul (b. 1947-) shortly before taking office, as the before becoming the official representative of the Queen of Canada, Queen Elizabeth. Mother of three children. Born in Hong Kong as Ng Bing Tse, which was changed to Adrienne Poy. (b. 1939-).