BBC 100 Women 2022: Who dey di list dis year? - BBC
Di BBC don reveal im list of 100 inspiring and influential women from around di world for 2022.
Among dem na ogbonge global musician Billie Eilish, Ukraine First Lady Olena Zelenska, actress Priyanka Chopra Jonas plus Selma Blair, di 'tsarina of Russian pop' Alla Pugacheva, Iranian climber Elnaz Rekabi, record-breaking triple jump athlete Yulimar Rojas, and Ghanaian author Nana Darkoa Sekyiamah.
Dis na di tenth season of 100 Women and, sake of dis, we dey take di opportunity to explore which progress dem don make ova di last ten years. As huge steps forward don dey for women's rights - from di number of female leaders to di MeToo movement - for women in many corners of di world e still feel like dem get long way to go.
Di list also reflect di role of women wey dey di heart of conflict around di world for 2022 – from female protesters wey bravely demand change for Iran, to di female face of conflict and resistance for Ukraine and Russia. For di first time dis year, we don also ask previous 100 women to nominate oda pipo wey dem feel say deserve a place for di 2022 list.
Maeen Al-Obaidi, Yemen
Lawyer
As di civil war for Yemen don grow more violent dis year, lawyer Maeen Al-Obaidi continue to focus on peace building for di besieged city of Taiz. She don take on di role of mediator, dey facilitate how dem dey exchange prisoners between conflicting groups. While she no always dey successful to get fighters back to dia families alive, she try to make sure say dem return di bodies of those wey don die.
She don volunteer for di Yemen Women Union, wia she defend imprisoned women. She also be di first woman dem prompt to di Lawyers Syndicate Council, dey oversee di human rights and freedoms committee.
Fatima Amiri, Afghanistan
Student
Afghan teenager, Fatima Amiri na one of di survivors of one suicide attack for one tuition centre for Kabul wey kill more than 50 pipo, most of dem na female students. She gbab serious injuries, including di loss of one eye and severe damage to her jaw and ear.
As she dey recover, she study for her university entrance exams and sit for dem for October, score more than 85%. Her dream now na to study computer science for Kabul University and say losing her eye for di attack don make her stronger and more determined.
Nathalie Becquart, Vatican
Nun
Her appointment by Pope Francis as di undersecretary of di Synod of Bishops make her di first woman to ever hold dis position. For di role, she be one of a number of leaders wey dey advise di pope on matters wey dey important to di Catholic Church, plus she be di only woman wit voting rights. Di body secretary-general tok for 2021 say her appointment show say "one door don open" for women.
Previously, di French nun of di Congregation of Xavières bin serve as di first female director of di National Service for di Evangelisation of Young People and Vocations for France.
As Pope Francis tok, 'na duty of justice to fight against all discrimination and violence' on women… Togeda we need to support in any way to involve more women for leadership positions at all levels.
Nathalie Becquart
Taisia Bekbulatova, Russia
Journalist
Na renowned Russian journalist, Taisia Bekbulatova found di independent media outlet Holod for 2019. Di organisation don report extensively on di war in Ukraine, plus publish stories about inequality, violence, and women rights. Authorities block di website for Russia for April, during one crackdown on independent media.
Despite dis, Bekbulatova and her team don vow to continue dia work, and dem don see dia readership increase. Bekbulatova, wey comot Russia for 2021 afta dem label her as 'foreign agent', don travel to Ukraine herself to report on di war from di frontline.
I no dey believe in inevitable progress. Modern civilisation don always look fragile and easy to destroy. And women rights na im dey usually first disappear.
Taisia Bekbulatova
Kristina Berdynskykh, Ukraine
Journalist
During di war for Ukraine, award-winning journalist Kristina Berdynskykh don travel around her kontri, dey report from regions wey dey under Russian shelling. Some of her work don focus particularly on di details of daily life for city wey dey in conflict.
Dem born her Kherson, but Berdynskykh don wored as a political journalist for 14 years fori Kyiv, including for NV magazine and various TV and radio projects. She create e-People, onea social media project about participants for Ukraine Euromaidan Revolution wey later become a book.
María Fernanda Castro Maya, Mexico
Disability activist
As a woman wit intellectual disability, Fernanda Castro dey fighting for odas like her to fit participate in politics. She dey part of one group of disability rights advocates, wey Human Rights Watch dey support, dey ask all political parties for Mexico to include pipo wit intellectual and learning disabilities inside dia policies.
Her work cover language accessibility in documents wey relate to political decisions, and inclusion for political parties and electoral events. Castro na part of one Mexican delegation to di United Nations wey present one report into disability rights, and she be representative for di global network Inclusion International.
Chanel Contos, Australia
Sexual consent activist
Founder of one movement dem call 'Teach Us Consent' wey dey lobby for holistic consent and sexuality education, for 2021 Chanel Contos post one story on Instagram, dey ask her followers if dem or pesin dem sabi don dey sexually assaulted for school. Within 24 hours more than 200 pipo don reply "yes".
She launch one petition dey call for earlier consent education for Australia. Thanks to her campaign, consent education go dey compulsory in all schools from kindergarten until year 10 from 2023. Now she dey educate people about non-consensual condom removal, or stealthing, plus she dey campaign to criminalise di act.
Eva Copa, Bolivia
Politician
Na former student leader of Aymara descent, Eva Copa dey shake up politics for Bolivia. Afta she fail to win her party nomination to be mayor of El Alto, di kontri second-largest city, she stand against dia candidate and win wit 69% of di vote. She recently announce di city plan for women, wey go aim to strengthen women rights through policy and investment.
Copa no dey new to politics, afta she don serve as a senator between 2015 and 2020. Mny pipo see her split wit di ruling party as a shift towards more diversified political landscape for Bolivia.
"We need more women leaders: women wey go always dey on dia feet, never on dia knees."
Eva Copa
Joy Ngozi Ezeilo, Nigeria
Law professor
As emeritus dean of Law for di University of Nigeria and former United Nations Special Rapporteur on Trafficking in Persons, Joy Ezeilo na leading authority for di field of international human rights.
She be founding director of di Women Aid Collective (WACOL), wey in di last 25 years don provide free legal aid and shelter to 60,000 vulnerable women for Nigeria. She also found di Tamar Sexual Assault Referral Centre, to provide one rapid response to victims and survivors of abuse.
Na 2021 winner and writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie nominate her.
"Professor Ezeilo don impact many lives through di provision of free legal aid to di poor, especially to women and girls wey dia human rights don dey violated."
Ibijoke Faborode, Nigeria
Founder of ElectHER
Through ElectHER, Ibijoke Faborode dey shake di women political movement for Nigeria. Her organisation dey work to bridge inequality gaps in political representation and e don engage more than 2,000 women in politics across Africa. Wit di #Agender35 campaign, her organisation dey directly back 35 women wey dey run for local or federal office for di 2023 general election, dey provide dem wit human and financial resources.
She also dey behind di first African feminist mobile app for election data analysis. Faborode currently serve in di Leadership Council of The Democracy and Culture Foundation, wey dey identifiy new ways to improve democratic processes.
Erika Hilton, Brazil
Politician
She be di first black trans woman wey dem go ever electe to a seat for di National Congress of Brazil. Erika Hilton na activist wey dey campaign against racism, and for LGBTQ+ and human rights.
As a teenager, dem send her comot from one conservative family home and she live on di streets, before she go university. Wit a background in student politics, Hilton move to São Paulo and join di left-wing PSOL party. For 2020 dem elect her to di city council and go on to author di law wey introduce one municipal fund against hunger for Brazil largest city.
Our fight na to achieve equal rights, equal wages and di end of gender-based violence, whether we be black, Latin, white, poor, rich, cis or transgender.
Erika Hilton
Park Ji-hyun, South Korea
Political reformer
As a university student, Park Ji-hyun anonymously help bust one of South Korea biggest online sex-crime rings, wey dem sabi as di Nth rooms. Dis year she go public wit her experience and enta into politics, dey reach out to young female voters.
Wen di Democratic Party lose di presidential race, dem name her co-interim leader. She bin also dey on di women committee, wey focus on tackling digital sex crimes. For June, di party face further losses and she resign. While she fit no get any official role at di moment, she still dey committed to pushing for gender equality in politics.
Globally, digital sex crimes threaten women rights and we need to solve dis problem togeda.
Park Ji-hyun
Zahra Joya, Afghanistan
Journalist
For six years under Taliban rule, Zahra Joya become 'Mohammad' and dress as a boy to attend school. Wen US-led forces topple di Taliban for 2001 she return to school as Zahra. She begin work as a journalist for 2011 and most time she be di only female reporter for di newsroom.
She be di founder of Rukhshana Media, Afghanistan first feminist news agency, named afta one 19-year-old wey Taliban stone to death. Dem evacuate Joya from Afghanistan for 2021 and now she dey run Rukhshana Media from exile for di UK. She win di Gates Foundation 2022 Changemaker Award.
I believe in di soft power of words and we must speak about all di injustice against women.
Zahra Joya
Ursula von der Leyen, Germany
President of di European Commission
Di first female president of di European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen na German politician. She serve for Angela Merkel cabinet and na di first female Defence Minister dem don ever appoint for Germany.
Dem born am for Brussels, she study economics and medicine before she go into politics. She take di EU top job for 2019, and since then don lead di bloc through Brexit, di Covid-19 pandemic, and di war for Ukraine. She be driving force behind one EU law wey need gender balance on company board wey dem adopt dis year.
Na 2020 winner, Finland Prime Minister Sanna Marin nominate her.
"As Europe don face one crisis afta anoda, Ursula von der Leyen don show incredible resolve to help di European Union get through dis challenges togeda. Her leadership no get gbege. Di times dey tough, but she dey even tougher."
Naomi Long, Northern Ireland
Politician
Former Justice Minister Naomi Long bring legislation to tackle a number of new sexual offences for Northern Ireland di year, including downblousing, cyber-flashing and also cancel di 'rough sex' defence. Afta she receive death threats, Long don also try to raise awareness of di harassment of female politicians.
She be civil engineer by profession wey join di Alliance Party for 1995. Afta she serve as Lord Mayor of Belfast, she become di first Alliance MP elected to Westminster for 2010, knock former first minister Peter Robinson out of di Westminster seat wey im don hold for more than 30 years.
We need to tackle di attitudes wey create an environment wia abuse remain commonplace. Dat one mean say all of us directly and consistently go challenge di culture of male entitlement, sexism, and misogyny.
Naomi Long
Ayesha Malik, Pakistan
Judge
Dem appoint her dis year as di first female judge of di Supreme Court of Pakistan, Justice Ayesha A. Malik don author judgements wey dey protect di rights of women. Dis one include her landmark judgement wey ban di so-called two-finger test of rape victims.Dem dey perform dis 'virginity tests wen dem dey examine sexual assault cases until dem outlaw am for 2021.
Alongside her role on di Supreme Court, Malik also conduct training for judges around di world and don inaugurate conferences for women judges for Pakistan, dey encourage di debate around plus di gender perspective for di justice system.
Women must build a new narrative - one wey include dia perspective, share dia experience, and include dia tori.
Ayesha Malik
Zara Mohammadi, Iran
Educator
As one of di founders of di Nojin Socio-Cultural Association, Zara Mohammadi don dedicate more than a decade to teach di Kurdish language for her hometown of Sanandaj.
Di Iranian constitution tok say dem freely allow di use of regional and ethnic languages for educational settings, but lawyers and activists say dis no be di case in practice, so children cannot learn dia mother tongue for school. Di Iranian goment accuse Mohammadi say e "form groups and societies wit di aim of disrupting national security" and dem sentence her to five years in prison. She don dey jail since January 2022.
Mia Mottley, Barbados
Prime Minister
As di first female prime minister of Barbados, Mia Mottley win second term for office afta one landslide victory, for January. She don lead di Barbados Labour Party since 2008. She guide di Caribbean island as dem cut ties wit di British royal family, comot di monarch as head of state and become di world newest republic.
Dem sabi Mottley say she dey outspoken about climate change. For COP27 she criticise wealthy nations say dem fail to tackle di climate crisis, warn say by 2050, climate refugee fit don reach one billion if nobody take action.
Sepideh Qoliyan, Iran
Political campaigner
Dem sentence Law student Sepideh Qoliyan to five years in prison for supporting workers rights for Khuzestan province, for southwest Iran. She don spend di last four years for four different Iranian prisons, including Evin, di primary site for di housing of political prisoners dem transfer Qoliyan for October 2021.
"Even from prison, she continue her work, dey send out one audio tape wey describe di ""inhumane"" treatment she don face. She also act as a voice for female inmates, and while on bail, she write one book about di ""torture"" and ""injustice"" wey women dey experience for Iran prisons."
Roza Salih, Scotland
Politician
For May 2022, Roza Salih become di first refugee dem go elect to Glasgow City Council, afta e arrive for Scotland as a young girl wen dem force her family to flee Iraq. Now di SNP councillor for di Greater Pollok ward, Salih don campaign for refugee rights since she be teenager and she and her school friends come togeda to protest di detention of a friend.
Dia campaign,di Glasgow Girls, draw national attention to di treatment of asylum seekers. Salih don go on to co-found Scottish Solidarity wit Kurdistan, dey visit Kurdish regions for Turkey as a human rights activist.
Simone Tebet, Brazil
Member of di Brazilian Federal Senate
Many pipo dey see her as a figure wey go shake di kontri deepening polarisation, centrist Brazilian Senator Simone Tebet finish third for dis year presidential race. Dem bin elect her as state representative for 2002 and mayor of her hometown Três Lagoas for 2004 and 2008. For 2014, dem elect her to di Senate wit over 52% of di valid votes.
She be di first woman to chair di Constitution and Justice Committee of di Senate, as dem consider her di chamber most important panel.Na professor of law for over a decade, Tebet also chair di Joint Committee to Combat Violence against Women.
Everyone suppose sabi say di future na female, and a woman place na wherever she want.
Simone Tebet
Kisanet Tedros, Eritrea
Educational entrepreneur
"Beles Bubu na YouTube channel wey teach Eritrean children dia language and culture, na content creator and entrepreneur Kisanet Tedros start am. Born and raised in Ethiopia, from a young age she appreciate di importance of understanding language to feel connected to pesin root."
Her production team bring togeda self-taught voice and digital artists from Eritrea, Uganda and di Democratic Republic of Congo to create digital content. Di videos dey accessible by Tigrinya-speaking parents and dia children from Eritrea and Ethiopia. Tedros also organise di first Beles Bubu Kids Festival for refugees for Kampala, Uganda.
Cheng Yen, Taiwan
Buddhist philanthropist
Dharma Master Cheng Yen dey seen as one of di most influential figures for di development of modern Taiwanese Buddhism. Founder of di humanitarian Tzu Chi Foundation, dem dey sometimes call her 'the Mother Teresa of Asia'.
She start di organisation for 1966, wit just 30 housewives dey save moni to help famiy wey dey in need. E don since grow to get millions of followers globally, dey provide international relief and medical aid, and running schools and hospitals. Now in her late 80s, her followers continue dia philanthropic campaigns and most recently provide financial and material aid to refugees from war-torn Ukraine.
Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, UK/Iran
Charity worker
"Di world suppose unite to make sure say dem no hold anybody hostage or in prison for wetin dem no do", dat na di word of British-Iranian Nazanin Zaghari-Radcliffe afta Iranian authorities free her for March, afta one long-running campaign by her husband Richard dey push di British goment to secure her release and solve one historic debt dispute wit Iran.
Dem arbitrarily detain Nazanin for Iran as she dey on holiday wit her daughter for 2016, and subsequently as diplomatic pawn di Iranian authorities hold her hostage to put pressure on di British goment. Dem hold her for six years - initially convicted by di Revolutionary Court for attempting to overthrow di Iranian regime. Wen dem conclude her first sentence for 2021, dem give her a second sentence, and hold her for Iran until dem reach one diplomatic settlement. Zaghari-Ratcliffe don strongly refute all allegations, and dey write a memoir wit her husband.
Olena Zelenska, Ukraine
First Lady
Na successful TV scriptwriter wey use to work behind di scenes, Olena Zelenska enta di world stage wen her husband, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, become president of Ukraine for 2019. As First Lady she don work to improve womens rights and promote Ukrainian culture.
Afta di Russian invasion, she use her platform to highlight di suffering of di Ukrainian people, she become di first spouse of any foreign president to address US Congress. Now she dey focused on delivering mental health support for children and families wey di war don traumatize.
Women don even take on more responsibility pass during peacetime… Any woman wey don experience dis (war) no go ever take a step back. And I dey sure say our inner confidence go grow.
Olena Zelenska
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