Washington, DC—On July 7, 2014, the Women’s Foreign Policy Group held its annual DC Celebration of Women Diplomats. This year’s event was hosted by Ambassador Claudia Fritsche of Liechtenstein at her residence. The program honored the achievements of women ambassadors and deputy chiefs of mission to the United States. Honorees included the ambassadors of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ecuador, Ireland, and Liechtenstein as well as the chargé d’affaires of Costa Rica. The deputy chiefs of mission of Australia, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Mexico, and Montenegro were also recognized. During the program, the ambassadors made brief comments on women’s leadership in their respective countries and gave personal anecdotes about their pathways to leadership and their experiences as women leaders.

Ambassador Fritsche explained that in her case, while she was instrumental in helping women in Liechtenstein get the right to vote in 1984, she preferred to remain in the diplomatic service rather than enter into domestic politics, as she felt she could better serve her country from outside its borders. She stressed that, for her, as well as for all women, “it’s not about living up to expectations, it’s about having choices.” Other honorees spoke about the importance of women’s mentorship in their own lives and the responsibility of women leaders to mentor young girls. Ambassador Jadranka Negodić of Bosnia and Herzegovina spoke about the importance of having publically active women leaders, as “it’s important for young girls to see that it is possible to achieve a significant role in their society.” Ambassador Tebelelo Mazile Seretse of Botswana spoke about the profound effects of women’s mentorship on a more personal level when describing her mother as her first and most influential role model. Ambassador Anne Anderson of Ireland spoke more broadly of a “gender solidarity” that women leaders in every professional field should exhibit, saying that she and her colleagues have two jobs in Washington: serving their countries and promoting women’s leadership and women’s rights.

The ambassadors also stressed that despite progress, there is still far to go in terms of women’s leadership around the world. Ambassador Natalie Cely Suárez of Ecuador recounted her challenges when trying to break into the business community, noting that while progress has been made, women around the world still lag behind their male counterparts when it comes to leadership in the economic sector. Ambassador Anderson cited the case of Ireland, which has had two successful women presidents but has yet to have a single woman prime minister. Others, such as Ambassador Faida Mitifu of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, exemplified how women are being called upon while their countries are engaged in conflict, as she was appointed ambassador to the US during one of the direst periods of the country’s history.

WFPG President Patricia Ellis with Host Ambassador Claudia Fritsche of Liechtenstein		Patricia Ellis and WFPG Board Chair Ann Stock with the honored women diplomats
Ambassador Jadranka Negodić of Bosnia and Herzegovina with Ambassador Tebelelo Mazile Seretse of Botswana		Patricia Ellis with Allison Ford of United Technologies, Ann Stock, WFPG Board Member Carolyn Brehm, and Ambassador Nathalie Cely Suárez of Ecuador
Ambassador Fritsche welcomes WFPG members and guests		Ann Stock introduces women ambassadors and deputy chiefs of mission
Ambassador Anne Anderson of Ireland, the first Irish woman ambassador to the United States and to the United Nations		Ambassador Faida Mitifu of the Democratic Republic of Congo, the longest-serving woman ambassador in Washington, DC
Ambassador Nathalie Cely Suárez of Ecuador		Ambassador Jadranka Negodić of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Ambassador Tebelelo Mazile Seretse of Botswana		WFPG attendees during the reception
Ambassador Caroline Millar, DCM of Australia, with Ambassador Susanne Shine, DCM of Denmark, and WFPG member Jan Du Plain		Kate Irvin of WFPG Corporate Advisory Council Member Coca-Cola with Ann Stock
WFPG Board Member Carolyn Brehm of Proctor & Gamble with WFPG guest Beth Hand		Ambassador Mabel Gómez-Oliver, DCM of Mexico, with WFPG member Sharon Kotok
Patricia Ellis with Ambassador Fritsche and Ambassador Negodić		Chargé d'Affaires Paola Porras of Costa Rica and Ambassador Anne Anderson speak with WFPG guests

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