Cisse, Jeanne-Martin (1926—)
Cisse, Jeanne-Martin (1926—)
Guinean diplomat who was the first woman appointed as a permanent representative to the U.N. Name variations: Jeanne Martin Cisse. Born in 1926; married; six children.
Before entering politics, Guinean diplomat Jeanne-Martin Cisse began her career as a teacher in 1945 and from 1954 to 1958 served as a school director. Becoming a member of the Democratic Party in 1959, Cisse worked in the Federal Office of the Kinda Region. She served as the first African secretary, second vice-president, and first vice-president of the National Assembly of Guinea. Cisse also served on the Assembly's National
and Regional Women's Committees, becoming secretary-general of the Conference of African Women, a post she held from 1962 to 1972. Cisse was the first woman to be appointed a permanent representative to the United Nations (1972–76) and was also the first woman who presided over the UN Security Council. From 1976 to 1984, she was minister of social affairs in Guinea. In 1975, the Lenin Peace Prize was awarded to Cisse, whose career has been largely dedicated to improving conditions for African women. Her work has been geared toward helping women become politically, economically, and socially active in their own countries.