On Friday 8th March, to mark International Women’s Day, our General Manager Emma Jalonen attended WOW – Women of the World Festival at London’s Southbank Centre. President Tarja Halonen – the first female President of Finland – was one of the speakers at the event, discussing global feminism with anti-FGM activist Nimco Ali, the festival’s founder Jude Kelly, Zainah Anwar, the founder of Malaysian organisation Sisters in Islam and Purna Sen, Director of Policy at UN Women, in a panel discussion led by legendary singer, activist and humanitarian Annie Lennox.
The event, in its 9th year, is part of a global movement celebrating women and girls and looking at the obstacles that stop them from achieving their potential. President Halonen’s visit was organised by the Embassy of Finland in London and the Finnish Institute in London.