Ellen Johnson Sirleaf came to power at the end of the devastating civil war that saw former leader Charles Taylor jailed by an international court for war crimes. She is credited with returning the country to postconflict stability over the last decade, presiding over a period of economic revival and, for the first time in Liberia in seven decades, peacefully transferring power to a new elected leader. She was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of her work to ensure women’s participation in peace-building around the world.