CELEBRATION OF WOMEN DIPLOMATS DC Celebration of Women Diplomats
hosted by WFPG Board Chair Maxine Isaacs
Photos
Washington, DC—On March 10, 2009, the Women’s Foreign Policy Group held its Celebration of Women Diplomats at the home of WFPG Board Chair Maxine Isaacs in Washington, DC. The event, in honor of the achievements of women diplomats and administration officials, was organized on the occasion of International Women’s Day and featured seven women ambassadors to the United States. As Ms. Isaacs explained that this is “an exciting time for women and in this country,” the diplomats spoke of both the challenges and benefits of a career in foreign service and the necessity of bringing men and women together to empower women and encourage their advancement within their countries and their world.
As Ambassador Claudia Fritsche of the Embassy of Liechtenstein said, “We have come a long way, but we haven’t come all the way.” The seven women ambassadors, from the African Union, Cape Verde, Colombia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Liechtenstein, Trinidad & Tobago, and Zambia, shared personal anecdotes and thoughts on progress. Ambassador Carolina Barco of Colombia, for example, recounted how she became Foreign Minister of Colombia, while Ambassador Faida Mitifu of the DRC spoke on grassroots efforts in her country to end violence against women.
Several other women officials attended the evening reception, including Deputy Chiefs of Mission from Estonia and Norway, foreign diplomats from the Embassies of Brazil, the Czech Republic, Greece, Mexico, Panama, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, and the Consulate General of Indonesia, and numerous State Department officials.
Ambassadors Carolina Barco of Colombia, Dr. Inonge Mbikusita Lewanika of Zambia, Maria de Ftima Lima da Veiga of the Republic of Cape Verde, Amina Salum Ali of the African Union, Faida Mitifu of the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Glenda Morean-Phillip of Trinidad and Tobego
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Ambassadors Amina Salum Ali of the African Union, Faida Mitifu of the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Glenda Morean-Phillip of Trinidad and Tobego with Trie Edi Mulyani, NY Consul General of the Republic of Indonesia and WFPG President Patricia Ellis
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WFPG President Patricia Ellis
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The Celebration of Women Diplomats Reception
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Ambassador Faida Mitifu of the Democratic Republic of Congo
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WFPG Board Chair Maxine Isaacs
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Ambassador Amina Salum Ali of the African Union
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Ambassador Claudia Fritsche of Liechtenstein
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Ambassador Glenda Morean-Phillip of Trinidad and Tobego
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Ambassador Carolina Barco of Colombia
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Ambassador Maria de Ftima Lima da Veiga of the Republic of Cape Verde
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Dr. Inonge Mbikusita Lewanika, Ambassador of Zambia
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Ambassador Carolina Barco of Colombia with Patricia Ellis
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Ambassador Amina Salum Ali of the African Union talks with Ambassador Faida Mitifu of the Democratic Republic of Congo
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Elisabeth Bumiller of the New York Times talks with Nora Jurkovicova
of the Embassy of the Czech Republic
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Alexandra de Borchgrave and WFPG Board Member Isabel Jasinowski
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Maria Montanez of Citi Smith Barney, Bizunesh Scott of Patton Boggs, and Lisa-Marie Monsanto of Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP
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WFPG Board Member Susan Rappaort
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Ambassadors Claudia Fritsche of Liechtenstein, Faida Mitifu of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Maria de Ftima Lima da Veiga of the Republic of Cape Verde, and Dr. Inonge Mbikusita Lewanika of Zambia
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Sarah Kahn of Arnold and Porter talks with Ambassador Amina Salum Ali of the African Union
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Mary Brady of The Economic Club of Washington and WFPG Board Treasurer Dawn Calabia
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Aaron Williams, Barbara Friday and Nicole Barnes of RTI International
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Anna Gawel of the Washington Diplomat and Deputy Chief of Mission Aud Kolberg of the Embassy of Norway
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Fatima Ishitani of the Embassy of Brazil, WFPG Board Member Theresa Loar, and Carmen Mora of the Embassy of Panama
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Ambassador Amina Salum Ali of the African Union, Didi Cutler, and Patricia Ellis
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Patricia Ellis, Ambassador Amina Salum Ali of the African Union, Maxine Isaacs, and Ambassador Claudia Fritsche of Liechtenstein
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