12 May 2026, Copenhagen – Women Political Leaders (WPL) presented the WPL Trailblazer Award 2026 to Acting Prime Minister of Denmark H.E. Mette Frederiksen at the Copenhagen Democracy Summit 2026, hosted by the Alliance of Democracies Foundation at the Royal Danish Playhouse.
A Legacy of Breaking Barriers
The WPL Trailblazer Award recognises incumbent and former women Presidents and Prime Ministers who have broken political glass ceilings and reached the highest echelon of political leadership. Since its establishment in 2017, the award has been conferred upon leaders who have not only governed nations but redefined the very meaning of leadership. Past distinguished recipients include Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Sanna Marin, Mary Robinson, Julia Gillard, and Helen Clark, among others. Each recipient has embodied the conviction that drives WPL’s mission: that women’s political leadership is not the exception — it must become the norm.
Honouring Mette Frederiksen
H.E. Mette Frederiksen assumed the office of Prime Minister of Denmark in 2019, becoming the country’s youngest ever Prime Minister. Her tenure has been defined by decisive leadership through some of the most consequential crises of the modern era — the COVID-19 pandemic, Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and mounting pressures on the rules-based international order. Throughout, she has been an unwavering voice for democracy, European solidarity, and the sovereignty of nations.
Presenting the award, WPL President and Founder Silvana Koch-Mehrin said:
“We recognise with this award the very few women who have made it to the top level of political power. Today, more than ninety percent of the world’s presidents and prime ministers are men. But WPL also recognises outstanding leadership — and that is what Prime Minister Frederiksen is about.”
Koch-Mehrin noted that Prime Minister Frederiksen is the youngest person ever to assume the office of Prime Minister of Denmark, and praised her enduring contribution to normalising women in power — “showing that women lead nations, women carry responsibility, women make the hardest decisions when the times are tough.”
Accepting the award, Prime Minister Frederiksen remarked:
“Political leadership in the world of today is not easy. But standing in front of the things we are all facing, every generation will face something where you know there are only two directions. And therefore it is not that difficult — if you actually stick to what you believe in. That is what we have to do in the coming years.”
A Summit for Democracy
The Copenhagen Democracy Summit 2026 is convened by the Alliance of Democracies Foundation, founded by Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Danish Prime Minister (2001–2009) and NATO Secretary General (2009–2014). The Summit brought together global leaders to address rising threats to democratic governance worldwide, with speakers including Prime Minister of Greenland Jens-Frederik Nielsen, Deputy Prime Minister of Canada Chrystia Freeland (2019–2025), National Security Advisor of the United States John Bolton (2018–2019), and President of Taiwan Lai Ching-te. WPL participated as a summit partner.
Notes to editors
About Women Political Leaders (WPL)
Women Political Leaders (WPL) is the global network of women politicians. Its mission is to increase the number and influence of women in political leadership positions. WPL communities include women in political office – Presidents, Prime Ministers, Cabinet Ministers, and Members of Parliament.
About the WPL Trailblazer Award
The WPL Trailblazer Award is presented to incumbent and former women Presidents and Prime Ministers for breaking political glass ceilings and reaching the highest echelon of political leadership. The award has been conferred annually since 2017.
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