Mandela was released in February 1990 after spending 27 painful and cruel years behind prison bars and walls, primarily in solitude or in male-only environments. He rejoined a society scarred not only by centuries of racial oppression, but also rampant sexism and a high level of violence, particularly toward women and girls. So it was interesting that as he assumed his pivotal role of President of the African National Congress (ANC), the main liberation movement, he chose to surround himself with three strong women. As a young woman who had recently returned to South Africa after a life in exile and studying abroad, it was moving and empowering to observe our lifelong hero bucking social trends and making the choice to assert women as decision-makers and his trusted confidantes.

We all benefited from the beauty and strength of their relationship not just then, but for the precious years until Madiba left us in December 2013. Graça Machel had been appointed Minister of Education of Mozambique at the young age of 30 and was a tireless advocate for the empowerment of women and girls. She was yet another strong female role model that Madiba chose to surround himself with.

“It’s no use for a leader to surround himself with yes-men,”

was Madiba’s credo. Instead, he was a unique leader who saw brilliant, empowering women not just as his equals, but even as his role models. As we celebrate his life today on July 18, I’m grateful to take this moment to recognize the rare and confident leadership of a man who was unafraid to honor the power and intelligence of women.

Read the source article at United Nations Foundation