About Vital voices

Vital Voices is a not-for-profit organization founded in 1997 by Hillary Clinton and Madeleine Albright who had a desire to support other women's "global voices" professionally, legally and politically. 

The founders knew then what has now become an universal truth: that women are essential to progress in their communities. Our world cannot move forward without women's full participation.

Vital Voices invests in emerging women leaders because they take the responsibility to improve societies in three main areas: 

• Human rights, in particular, violence against women;
• Economic empowerment; and 
• Public and political participation. 

These women strengthen laws, create jobs and defend political freedoms. They believe, and rightly so, that investment in one leader impacts hundreds and thousands more. 

Among the very many visionary women leaders that are part of Vital Voices, some are household names such as Malala Yousafzai from Pakistan, Aun San Suu Kyi from Myanmar, and Hafsat Abiola Costello from Nigeria. 

Vital Voices’ Board of Directors includes inspirational and visionary women like Diane von Furstenberg, Tina Brown and Sally Field, among others.

Vital Voices Europe is the European arm of Vital Voices, with the same mission as our global organization: empower and invest in emerging women leaders who are making a positive change in the life of women and girls in their communities.