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The Documentary: Her Story Made History: Her Story Made History: Vigdis Finnbogadottir

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Vigdis Finnbogadottir - Former President of Iceland

21/02/2018 GMT

Her Story Made History: Vigdis Finnbogadottir

Her Story Made History

BBC World Service - The Documentary, Her Story Made History, Her Story Made History: Vigdis Finnbogadottir

In 1980, Vigdis Finnbogadottir became the first female head of state of Iceland

In 1980, Vigdis Finnbogadottir became the first female head of state of Iceland and remained in power for 16 years.

In 1980, the tiny country of Iceland did something no other nation had done. They elected a female head of state. BBC chief international correspondent Lyse Doucet travels to Reykjavik to meet Vigdis Finnbogadottir. Now 87, she was president for exactly 16 years and remains the longest-serving elected female head of state of any country to date. "That’s what I have given to the girls of this country," she says: “If she can, I can.”

(Photo: Vigdis Finnbogadottir)

The Documentary: Her Story Made History

Lyse Doucet talks to a series of remarkable women from across the globe about the relationship between women and democracy.

One hundred years on from the year in which the first British women won the right to vote, Lyse Doucet talks to a series of remarkable women from across the globe about the relationship between women and democracy.

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