Begoña Lasagabaster is acting head of U.N. Women's policy division, prior to which she was the chief of the leadership and governance section. With over 20 years of professional experience, she was a member of the Spanish parliament for 12 years and later on the European Parliament, serving on several of its committees. Lasagabaster has helped establish more than 150 laws in areas of women's rights, gender equality law, elimination of violence against women, international development and cooperation, justice, and economic and social rights.