Washington, DC—This summer, WFPG celebrated 20 years of promoting women’s leadership and voices in foreign affairs with a conference on “Women Leaders Tackling 21st Century Challenges,” which highlighted women from across the foreign policy community. The discussions covered the Middle East, women’s leadership in the public and private sectors, the impact of technology and social media in foreign policy, media coverage of global hot spots, and 20 ideas to meet tomorrow’s global challenges.

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Washington DC—The Women’s Foreign Policy Group’s 20th Anniversary Celebration concluded with an evening reception hosted by the Embassy of Finland. The program recognized women leaders across generations and highlighted the next generation of leaders. The event featured remarks by Ambassador Ritva Koukku-Ronde and Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources Heather Higginbottom.

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The Migrant Crisis in the Mediterranean: The European Union's Response
H.E. David O'Sullivan, Ambassador of the European Union to the United States
May 1, 2015 | Washington, DC

H.E. David O’Sullivan, serving as the Ambassador of the European Union to the United States, discussed with WFPG members and guests the ongoing migration crisis. As refugees from war-torn nations such as Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia, and Syria attempt to reach safer shores, the European Union, a community of sovereign countries, faces the challenge of finding a sustainable solution. Photos

Putin: The Man at War with the West
Fiona Hill, The Brookings Institution
April 29, 2015 | Washington, DC

Fiona Hill, senior fellow in the Foreign Policy program at the Brookings Institution and director of the Center on the United States and Europe, talked about President Vladimir Putin's perspective on Russia's role and objectives in the international system. She provided an illuminating picture on Putin's worldviews and explored the nature and impact of his "cult of personality" leadership. Photos

Germany in Europe: The Cautious Leader
Karen Donfried, German Marshall Fund
April 10, 2015 | Washington, DC

Karen Donfried, president of the German Marshall Fund, gave a synopsis on the main elements of German foreign policy: the emphasis on multilateralism and influence on German policymakers, operating foreign policy in the context of Europe, and Ukraine, a fundamental challenge to the post-WWII world order. Read more | Photos

Gender-Based Violence in the DRC: A Status Report
Marcy Hersh, Refugees International
February 6, 2015 | New York, NY
February 11, 2015 | Washington, DC

Marcy Hersh, Refugees International UN representative and senior advocate for women and girls’ rights, spoke to the WFPG members and guests about gender-based violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. She discussed the recent cuts in US funding of programs combatting gender-based violence, the implications of those decisions, and the activities of local NGO's in the eastern DRC. The event in New York was co-hosted by the International Institute of Education. NY Event | DC Event

Embassy Series: Germany
Germany and the US: Common Challenges of the Transatlantic Relationship
H.E. Peter Wittig, Ambassador of Germany to the United States
May 18, 2015 | Washington, DC

H.E. Peter Wittig, Ambassador of Germany to the US, spoke to WFPG members and guests at his residence on the major common challenges of the Transatlantic relationship. Topics that were covered include Europe’s financial problems and the future of the European Union, the crisis in Ukraine, and political and economic cooperation with the United States. Read more | Photos

Celebration of Women Diplomats
April 23, 2015 | Washington, DC
April 21, 2015 | New York, NY

Embassy Series: France
France After the Terrorist Attacks in Paris
H.E. Gérard Araud, Ambassador of France to the United States
March 9, 2015 | Washington, DC

H.E. Gérard Araud, Ambassador of France to the United States, spoke to WFPG members and guests at his residence on the subject of France after the recent terrorist attacks in Paris. The discussion was moderated by Karen DeYoung of The Washington Post. Photos

Charting a New Course on Cuba
Roberta Jacobson, Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs
May 13, 2015 | Washington, DC

Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs Roberta Jacobson spoke to WFPG members and guests on the current status of US-Cuba relations. The discussion was moderated by Karen DeYoung of The Washington Post. Photos

Human Rights and National Security
Tom Malinowski, Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor
January 29, 2015 | Washington, DC

Tom Malinowski, Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, spoke to WFPG about human rights and national security challenges facing the Obama administration. Malinowski outlined the priorities of his bureau, talked about the role of authoritarian regimes in threatening human rights and national security, and discussed the allegation that the US has a double standard for human right. The event was moderated by WFPG President Patricia Ellis. Read more | Photos

Build Your Career: Where Do You Start? Careers in International Relations
Angie Bryan, Department of State
Mariam Mansury, Institute for Inclusive Security
Stefania Piffanelli, United Nations Information Center in Washington, DC
August 10, 2015 | Washington, DC

To support the initiative of mentoring the next generation of women leaders, the WFPG hosted a panel discussion on career development in international affairs. The panel featured three experienced professionals who shared anecdotes about their career paths, provided insight on the skills critical to succeed, and discussed changes within their fields and organizations. Photos

Annual Mentoring Fairs
February 26, 2015 | New York, NY | Co-sponsored with NYU's Wasserman Career Center and Wagner School of Public Service
February 4, 2015 | Washington, DC | Co-sponsored with The George Washington University Career Center