Head of U.N. Women says irking opponents comes with the battle for equality

Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Undersecretary-General and Executive Director, United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN WOMEN), addresses the session 'Ending Poverty through Parity' in the Swiss mountain resort of Davos January 24, 2015. REUTERS/Ruben Sprich

LONDON (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - As the head of UN Women, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka is used to people rolling their eyes when she starts to talk about women's empowerment and the need for equality for girls globally.

But Mlambo-Ngcuka, a veteran South African politician, holds no fear about irritating people in her mission to stop violence against women, secure education for all girls worldwide, and address the gender pay gap in all nations.