Washington, DC—On May 6, 2010, the Women's Foreign Policy Group held a program and reception to celebrate women diplomats at the Croatian Embassy. Ambassadors to the U.S. from Croatia, India, Liechtenstein, Trinidad and Tobago, Grenada, Senegal, and Antigua and Barbuda spoke on the importance of mentoring young women entering the field of foreign policy. The Ambassadors of Burundi to the United States and the Ambassador of Uruguay to the Organization of American States were also in attendance. Kolinda Grabar Kitarovic, the Ambassador from Croatia, opened the event by discussing the importance of taking small steps when it comes to mentoring. An effective mentor must reach out to young girls and women on an individual basis in order to help them to advance in a world that is still male-dominated, the Ambassador contended. Indian Ambassador Meera Shankar, Ambassador Claudia Fristche of Liechtenstein, and Senegalese Ambassador Fatou Danielle Diagne all spoke of using their experience successfully juggling both a personal and a professional life as a way to encourage young girls who fear entering the field of foreign policy will require them to give up their dreams of raising a family. Ambassador Fristche added a positive spin on the current status of women in the arena of foreign policy, noting that 50% of Liechtenstein's Foreign Service is female. Both the Ambassador from Trinidad and Tobago, Glenda Morean Phillip, and the Malawian Ambassador, Hawa Olga Ndilowe, focused on mentoring as leading by example. Ambassador Ndilowe recalled how she had been inspired and encouraged by established members of the Malawian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Ambassador Morean Phillip emphasized that even a busy ambassador can mentor by serving as an example to motivated young women of what they can achieve. Ambassador Gillian Bristol of Grenada lightheartedly proposed changing the term from mentoring to women-toring, in order to describe the important role women have always had in shaping young men and young women of the next generation. Ambassador Debra-Mae Lovell of Antigua and Barbuda closed the program by describing mentoring future generations of young women and men as a universal responsibility.

WFPG President Patricia Ellis, Ambassador Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic (Croatia), WFPG Board Member Susan Rappaport		WFPG Board Chair Maxine Issacs, Board Member Hon. Ann McLaughlin Korologos, Ambassador Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic (Croatia), WFPG President Patricia Ellis
WFPG President Patricia Ellis, Board Member Hon. Ann McLaughlin Korologos, Ambassador Claudia Fritsche (Liechtenstein), Ambassador Gillian M. S. Bristol (Grenada), Ambassador Fatou Danielle Diagne (Senegal)		Ambassador Meera Shankar (India), Ambassador Hawa Olga Ndilowe (Malawi), Amb. Glenda Patricia Morean Phillip (Trinidad & Tobago), Ambassador Fatou Danielle Diagne (Senegal), Ambassador Claudia Fritsche (Liechtenstein), Ambassador Angele Niyuhire (Burundi)
Ambassador Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic (Croatia)		WFPG Board Chair Maxine Issacs
Ambassador Meera Shankar (India)		Ambassador Claudia Fritsche (Liechtenstein)
Amb. Glenda Patricia Morean Phillip (Trinidad & Tobago)		Ambassador Gillian M. S. Bristol (Grenada)
Ambassador Fatou Danielle Diagne (Senegal)		Ambassador Deborah Mae Lovell (Antigua and Barbuda)

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