Zainab Salbi
Zainab Salbi
Zainab Salbiis an author, women's rights activist, humanitarian, social entrepreneur, and media commentator who is the founder and former CEOof Washington-based Women for Women International...
NationalityIraqi
ProfessionActivist
CountryIraq
perspective world income
From an economic perspective, women are treated unfairly: they perform 66 percent of the world's work and produce 50 percent of the food but they only earn 10 percent of the income and own 1 percent of the property.
long world violence
It seems to me that violence against women has been tolerated for so long that the world has become numb to it.
silence stories world
Leadership is about encouraging women to break their silence and tell their stories to the world.
military years world
One year of the world’s military spending equals 700 years of the U.N. budget and equals 2,928 years of the U.N. budget allocated for women.
inspiration world needs
The single thing all women need in the world is inspiration, and inspiration comes from storytelling.
anybody dedicated good nice projection sacrifice serving women
There's a lot of projection that if you're in service then you shouldn't look good. I'm no different from anybody else. I like clothes, I like shoes, I like to go have nice dinners, I like to dance. Just because I've dedicated myself to serving women, why do you think I need to sacrifice myself?
life serving since women
Since I was 15 years old I have dedicated my life to serving women.
believed cultural defied norms phenomenon related single successful women
In every single culture I encountered, there were always women who defied cultural norms to do what they believed was right for them. This phenomenon has never been related to how rich, poor, successful or not successful the woman may be.
argue came gone realise taught women
In my 20s I was such a serious, boring-looking person. I would never do my nails. I never even danced. But I was taught by the women. They had gone through hell, but they would dance and sing. I came to realise I can't argue for a happy world if I am not happy myself.
accepting external given ourselves power realities start structures time women
By accepting what the external structures have told us we need to do, we have given the power of our realities and ourselves to others. It is time to tell a new story for women, and that can only start with women.
astounding decided injustices people ridiculed women
I couldn't find anyone doing something about the astounding injustices women were experiencing, so I decided to do something myself. I cannot tell you how many people ridiculed my efforts.
There is never a typical week. I don't think I can live with a typical week.
created holding
I don't want to be someone in my sixties holding on to a group that I created when I was in my twenties.
order issues decision
Women still need higher political representation and to be included at decision making tables in all issues in order for solutions that relates from peace to food, to health, to basic stability in the world. We cannot continue to marginalize half of the population in the world in finding sustainable solutions that are good for all.