They may not have been elected but they still hold considerable power and influence. Some of Africa’s first ladies even have an eye for the presidency. Meet the women behind these leaders.

Social media celebrity Qandeel Baloch, who was strangled in what appeared to be an “honour killing,” in Multan, Pakistan, is pictured in a selfie on her Facebook page. (Baloch/Facebook/via Reuters)

Pakistani model Qandeel Baloch, touted as the Pakistani ‘Kim Kardashian’ was loved and loathed for her controversial comments and viral videos. Last week, she was murdered by her brother because he believed that she had been dishonoring the ‘Baloch’ name. 

An indian woman walks on a dried and cracked water pond as she carries bucket to take drinking water. © Imago/Zuma Press

In the baking sun and swirling dust, Madhu, 37, looks dejected as she surveys the parched field of kharif paddy and pulse crops in Hamirpur in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh.

Of the 900 Nobel Prizes since 1901, only about 50 have gone to women. This has nothing to do with women’s abilities as scientists. The problem is, there are still far too few women doing science.

A Pakistani woman carries water pots make way for her home at a slum area © Arif Ali/AFP/Getty Images

We keep on discussing issues like domestic violence, sexual harassment, unemployment etc. and thinking that these issues are severely affecting women. But there are many other grave issues which are damaging women’s lives all around the globe. Some of these issues are lack of food, lack of health facilities and poverty. And women living in slum areas are at the worst hit by these factors.

Women busy in making hand pottery © DW/Unbreen Fatima

“This group should be banned! These idiot mullahs!” He remarked in a disgruntled tone, as he scrolled through the television channels, with a beer can in one hand and a TV remote control in another. She confidently nodded in agreement. I remained silent, but they heard me breathe a heavy sigh. I was the guest, he and his wife the hosts. In such awkward situations, I keep my opinions to myself. I prefer not to ruin the environment. Before the silence could suffocate us, she got up to pour me another cup of green tea. I noticed she was still slightly limping, her knee still badly sore from the gold plated Italian vase thrown at her eight days ago.

© imago/Hoch Zwei Stock/Angerer

There was a time sexual harassment at work was an issue shrouded under a veil of shame. Women who were at the receiving end of unwanted sexual attention either from peers or superiors did not report it for fear of ridicule. In case they raised a voice against it, their employment could be terminated. Sexual harassment at work is one of the leading causes of attrition for women at work.