|
|
|
Worldwide
Guide to Women in Leadership
FEMALE
MINISTERS OF
FOREIGN AFFAIRS
Apart from the women who have been Foreign Ministers a large number of
women have been deputy ministers. They can be found in the various
country-entries in
Women in governments by country
and
Current Female Foreign Ministers
|
 |
1956-64 Golda Meïr, Israel
|
|
Ambassador and Minister since 1948. 1969-74
Premier Minister. She lived (1898-1978). |
|
 |
1960-66 and 1970-77 Sirivamo D.R. Bandaranaike, Sri Lanka
|
|
As
Premier Minister
she also held a number of other Portfolios, among others as Minister
of External Relations. She lived (1916-2000). |
|

|
1967-69 and 1984 Indira Gandhi, India |
|
As
Premier Minister
1964-66 and 1980-84 she also held a number of other Portfolios,
among others as Minister of External Relations. She lived (1917-84). |
|
 |
1969-76 Nguyễn Thị Bình, The Provisorial Revolutionary Government of
South Vietnam |
|
Nguyen Thi Binh was Foreign Affairs Spokesperson of the National
Liberation Front 1966-68 and Head of Delegations to the Peace
Negotiations in Paris in 1968. 1976-87 she was Minister of Education
in the re-united country. Since 1981 Member of the Council of State
and 1987-92 one of a number of Vice-Chairmen of the Council from
1987. 1992-2002 the only
Vice-President (b. 1927-). |
|
 |
1974 Princess Elizabeth Rukidi Nyabongo of Toro, Uganda
|
|
Also known as Princess Elizabeth Bagaya, she was Ambassador-at-Large
1971-1973, to Egypt and Ethiopia1973-74, to United Nations 1974,
European Spokesperson for Yoweri Museveni (Guerrilla-Leader and
President) 1980, ambassador to USA 1988-89. In 1989 she refused to
be transferred to France. Daughter of King Sir George David Kamurasi
Rukidi III of Toro (1927-65), and later married to Mr. Ngabango
(Deceased 1988). When her brother was reinstalled as king Patric
Olimmi Kaboyo II in 1993,she became his Batebe, chief advisor. He
died in 1995 and was succeeded by his three years old son Iguru IV.
Ambassador to Germany from 2005. (b. 1940-). |
|

|
1975 (Acting) Licelott Catalina Marte Hoffiz de Barrio, Dominican
Republic |
|
Licelott Marte de Barrio was Subsecretary of External Relations when
she acted as Secretary from the resignation of the former till the
appointment of the next Secretary. She has been a diplomat from 1966
and 1990-93 she was Secretary of State of Finance, 1993-96 Secretary
of State in the Office of the President and President of the
National Petroleum. From 2002 Secretary of Electoral Affairs of the
Partido Reformista Social Cristiano (PRSC) and Member of the
Parliament.
(b. ca. 1930-). |
|

|
1976-78 Karin Söder, Sweden
|
|
1979-82 Minister of Health and Social Affairs and of Nordic
Co-operation, First Vice-Chairperson 1971-86, Deputy Group Leader
1978-79 and 1982-86, Chairperson of The Center Party 1985-87,
President of the Nordic Council 1984-85 and 1989-90, Chairperson of
the Foreign Affairs’ Committee of the Riksdag 1984-86. (b. 1928-). |
|
 |
1978-85 Maria do Nascimenta Graça Amorin, Sao Tome e Principe |
|
1975-78 Ambassador to France and Portugal and 1984-96 Member of the
Politburo. |
|
 |
1979-80 Flora MacDonald, Canada |
|
Executive Director of the Progressive Conservative Party 1957-66,
1966-69 National Secretary of the Party, MP 1972-89 and 1976 she was
candidate for the Leadership of the Social Credit Party, 1984-86
Minister of Labour and Immigration, 1986-89 Minister of Culture and
Communication (b. 1926- ). |
|

|
1979 Gloria Amon Nikoi, Ghana |
|
1979-81 Minister of Finance, 1979-81 Member of the Revolutionary
Council of The Armed Forces (Junta) In 1969-74 she was Deputy Chief
of Mission to the UN, from 1981 Chairperson of the Bank of Housing
and Construction and then director in the African Development Bank.
(b. 1930-). |
|
 |
1980-84 Colette Flesh, Luxembourg
|
|
Apart from Foreign Minister she was also
Vice-Premier Minister and Minister of External Trade, Economy, the
Self Employed
and of Justice. In 1980 she was
President of the Council of Ministers of the European Economic Communities. (b. 1934- ). |
|

|
1980-90 Dame Eugenia Charles, Dominica |
|
During her tenure as
Premier Minister 1980-95, she also held the portfolios of External
Affairs 1980-90, Finance and Economy 1980-95, Trade and Industry
1980-85, Defence 1985-95 and Information and Public Relations
1990-95. She lived (1916-2005). |
|
 |
1984-94 Dr. Gaositwe Kogakwa Tibe Chiepe, Botswana
|
|
Ambassador to United Kingdom, Western Germany, France, European
Communities, Denmark, Norway and Nigeria 1970-74. 1974-77
Minister of Trade and Industry, 1977-84 Minister of Mines and
Natural Resources, 1994-99 Minister of Education. She retired after
the 1999 elections but has acted as Commonwealth election observer
in Zanzibar. (b. 1922-). |
|

|
1987-88 Adrienne Ekila Liyonda, Zaire (Congo) |
|
Worked in the
office of the President from 1977, Secretary General of the
Mouvement populaire de la
révolution 1981, Minister of Social Affairs and Women 1983-85,
Ambassador to Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg 1985-87 and
Minister of Information and the Press in 1988-89 or in 1990. She
lived (1948-2006). |
|
 |
1989 Susana Myrta Ruíz Cerutti, Argentina
|
|
Former Secretary of State of External Relations, 1991-98 Ambassador
to Switzerland and Liechtenstein, 1998-99 to Canada, 1999-2000
Ambassador and Special Representative for South Atlantic Affairs
(Falkland Islands/Malvinas) and 2000-01 Vice-chancellor and
Secretary of External Relations (Deputy Foreign Minister). (b.
1940-). |
|
 |
1989-91 Akmaral Khaydarovna Arystanbekova, Kazakstan |
|
In 1987-89 she was member of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet,
1991-99
Ambassador to the United Nations and to Cuba, 1994-95
Vice-President of the 49th Session of the UN General
Assembly. Ambassador to France from 1999. (b. 1948-). |
|

|
1990-97 (†) Danielle Jorre de St. Jorre, Seychelles
|
|
Between 1984-90 Undersecretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
and Planning. 1990-97 she was also Minister of Economic Planning and
1993-97 she was Minister of Environment. She lived (1943-97).
|
|

|
1991-94 Dr. Nohemi Sanín Posada de Rubio, Colombia |
|
1982-85 Minister of Communication, 1985-91 Ambassador to Venezuela
and Germany, 1994-98 to United Kingdom, 1998 Presidential Candidate
and Leader of Opción Vida (Third way) and came in a surprisingly
third in the Presidential elections. 2002 also candidate. (b.
1949-). |
|

|
1991-94 Baroness Margaretha af Ugglas, Sweden
|
|
A leading member of the Conservative Party. 1992-93 Chairperson-in-Office of CSCE, Conference on security and
Co-operation, 1993 Chairperson of the Committee of Ministers of the
Council of Europe. (b. 1939-). |
|

|
1991-93 Barbara Jean McDougall, Canada |
|
Progressive Conservative MP 1984-93. 1984-86 Minister of State
(Finance), 1986-88 Minister of State (Privatization), 1986-90
Minister Responsible for the Status of Women, 1988-91 Minister of
Employment and Immigration, 1990 Acting Minister of State (Youth)
(b. 1937- ). |
|

|
1991-92 and 2002 Alda Bandeira Tavares Vaz da Conçeicão, São Tomé e
Príncipe
|
|
1992-93 she was Minister of Co-operation and 1996 Presidential
Candidate. For 4 years President of Partido da convergência
democrática-grupo de reflexão (PCD-GR). She is married to former
Premier Minister Noberto Costa Alegre. (b. 1949-). |
|

|
1991-94 Pascaline Mferri Bongo, Gabon |
|
Later
Director of the Civil Cabinet of the President and in 2000 Ambassador to USA. She is the daughter of President Omar Bongo. (b. 1956-). |
|
|
1991 Marie-Denise Fabien-Jean-Louis, Haiti
1991-ca. 92 Minister-in-exile |
|
After the coup d'etat against President Aristide, she followed him
in exile. (b. ca. 1944-). |
|
|
1991-92 Shakhlo Makhmudova, Uzbekistan |
|
The first post-independence Foreign Minister. |
|

|
1992, 1994-96 and 2005 Roza Otunbayeva, Kyrgyzstan |
|
Otunbaeva was Secretary of the Municipal Communist Central Committee
of Frunze 1983-86, 1991-92 Ambassador of the USSR to Malaysia,
1992-93 Ambassador to USA and Canada, 1994 to Turkeyand 1996-2004
Ambassador to the United Kingdom of Great Britain. 2004
she
became
co-leader of the opposition Ata-Zhurt movement.
2005 She and some other opposition-members were barred from standing
in the February-elections, and this started a peoples revolution
that brought the downfall of President Aliev and the opposition to
power and was Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs. After the
elections Aliev nominated her as Foreign Minister, but the
parliamentary majority rejected her. (b. 1950-). |
|

|
1993-95 Claudette Werleigh, Haiti |
|
1990-91 she was Minister of Social Affairs, Executive Director of
the Washington Office of Haiti 1993, 1995-96
Premier Minister. (b. 1946- ). |
|
 |
1993-2001 Dr. Andrea Willi, Liechtenstein
|
|
Apart from the Portfolio of External Relations was is also
government Councillor of Culture, Youth, Sport Family and Equal
Opportunities. Between 1987-93 she worked in the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs and member of a number of international delegations, 1991
Ambassador to EFTA (European Trade Organization), 1992-93 Ambassador
to United Nations in Génève. (b. 1955-). |
|

|
1993 (Acting) Motarilavoa Hilda Lini, Vanuatu
|
|
From 1987 the first female MP. In 1996 she was replaced in the
government by her brother ex-premier Father Walter Lini
(1942-1982-90-99), she resigned from the National Party and founded
her own party, the Tu Vanuatu kominiti, The Vanuatu Movement,
Director of the Pacific Concerns Resource Center 2000-04,
Representative of the Pacific Region at the UN Non-proliferation
Review Conference in 2004 and a chief (Motarilavoa)
of the Turaga nation of Pentecost Island. |
|

|
1994-2008 Dame Billie Antoinette Miller, Barbados
|
|
Labour MP from 1976 and holder of various portfolios, among others
as
Deputy Premier 1994-2003. Later awarded with the title of Dame.
(b. 1944-). |
|

|
1994-98 Lena Hjelm-Wallén, Sweden
|
|
1974-76 Minister without Portfolio for Schools, 1982-85 Minister of
Education and Culture, 1985-91 Minister of International Development
in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 1995-96 and 1998
Deputy Premier. (b. 1943-). |
|
 |
1994-95 Sy Kadiatou Sow, Mali
|
|
1994-95 she was also in charge of Malians Abroad and African
Integration, Governor of the Capital District of Bamako 1993-94 and
Minister of Town Planning and Housing 1995-2000. (b. 1955-). |
|
 |
1994-95 Dr. Dorothy Musuleng-Cooper, Liberia |
|
From 1989 First vice-President of the National Patriotic Front of
Liberia (The guerrilla-movement of Charles Taylor, who later became
President), 1993-94 First Secretary of the Council of State, later
Special Advisor of the President and from 2001 Minister of Gender
Development. (b. 1930-). |
|

|
1994-95 Maritza Ruiz de Vielman, Guatemala
|
|
Among others Ambassador to United Kingdom 2000-03 and afterwards
Advisor of the Foreign Minister. She was Vice-Presidential Candidate in 2003 and 2007. (b. 1945-). |
|

|
1995-2002 Janet Bostwick, Bahamas |
|
The first female MP 1977-2002. 1992-94 Minister of Housing and
Labour, 1994-95 Minister of Justice and Immigration, 1995-2001
Attorney General. 1998 she was the first woman to act as Prime
Minister during the absence from the country of both the Premier and
his deputy, and later acted on various other occasions. Married to
The Hon. John Bostwick the President of the Senate 1992-2002, they
have 3 children.
(b. 1939-). |
|

|
1995-2000 Tarja Halonen, Finland
|
|
In 2000 she was elected President of the republic. See
Presidents
(b. 1943-). |
|
 |
1995-96 Susanna Agnelli, Italy |
|
1983-93 Under-secretary of Foreign Affairs, Member of the EU-Troyka
of Foreign Ministers 1995-96. Formerly Married to Count Urbano
Rattazzi and mother of 6 children. (b. 1922-). |
|

|
1996-98 Dr. María Emma Mejía Vélez de Caballero, Colombia
|
|
1993-95 Ambassador to Spain, 1995-96 Minister of Education 1998
Vice-Presidential Candidate. 2000 Candidate for Mayor of Bogotá
and later Ambassador to a number of UN Organisations. (b.
1953-). |
|

|
1996-97 (Acting)
Irena Georgieva Bokova, Bulgaria |
|
1995-97 Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for European Integration,
1996-97 1. Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, 1996 Candidate for
President and 1997-2001 Advisor of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
Ambassador to france from 2005. (b.
1952-) |
|
 |
1996-97 Tansu Çiller, Turkey |
|
1991-93 Minister of State, Chief Economic Coordinator 1993-96
Premier Minister. During her tenure as Foreign Minister she was
also Deputy Premier. (b. 1946-). |
|
 |
1997-2001 Madeleine Korbel Albright, United States of America |
|
Madeleine Albright was
United Nations Representative (Ambassador) 1993-97. As Secretary
of State she was the highest ranking of the secretaries and fourth
in the hierarchy of the Republic, after the President,
Vice-President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Born
in Czechoslovakia as Maria Jana Korbelova.
(b.
1937-). |
|

|
1997-2001 Nadezhda Nikolova Mihailova, Bulgaria |
|
Chief of Liberal Party Foreign Affairs Department 1990-91, 1991-93
Government Spokesperson and since 1995-2002 Deputy Chairperson of
Union of Democratic Forces, Parliamentary Leader 2001-05 and Party
Leader 2002-06, Vice-President of the European People's Party from
1999. Mother of two daughters.
(b. 1962-). |
|
 |
1997-98 Shirley Yema Gbujoma, Sierra Leone |
|
Around 1970 she was ambassador to Senegal, 1996-97 Minister of
Tourism and Culture. In 1998 she was Minister-in-exile of Foreign
Affairs and International Co-operation. Since 1998 Minister of
Social Welfare, Children’s Affairs and Gender. (b. ca. 1935-). |
|
 |
1997-98 Zdenka Kramplova, Slovakia |
|
1992-1994 advisor to the Prime Minister, 1994-1997 Head of the
Government office, also former Ambassador to Canada. Minister of
Agriculture from 2007.
(b. 1957-). |
|

|
1997, 1998 (March-April), 1999, 2000 (November), 2001, 2002
(January), 2003 (June), 2004 (June/July)... 2006 (May) (Acting) H.R.H. Princess
Hajah Masna binti Omer Ali of Brunei, Brunei |
|
Since 1995 Ambassador-at-Large and Second in Command of the Foreign
Ministry and Acting Foreign Minister and Head of Delegations to APEC,
ASEAN, ASEM and other international summits on various occasions.
She is the sister of HM Sultan Hassanal Bolkian Muizzaddin of Brunei
and married to Pengiran Lela Sahibun Najabah Pengiran Haji Abdul
Aziz bin Pengiran Jaya Negara Pengiran Haja Abu Bakar. Her full
title is Paduka Seri Pengiran Anak Puteri or Yang Teramat Mulina
Pengiran Anak Puteri. (b. 1948-). |
|

|
1997-2002 Minister of Foreign Affairs Naira Melkumian,
Nargonyi-Karabakh |
|
Formerly the Province of Nagorno-Karabakh in Azerbaijan, an enclave
inside Armenian Territory inhabited by Armenians. The republic
declared its independence in 1992 and Naira Melkumian was very
active on the international scene in behalf of the republic during
her tenure in office. |
|
 |
1998-2002 Lila Ratsifandrihamanana, Madagascar
|
|
1997-98 Minister of Scientific Research, Ambassador to Senegal, Mali, Burkina Faso, Morocco, Cape Verde and Côte d’Ivoire 2002-06 and Permanent Observer of the
African Union from 2006.
Also known as Ramatoa
Ratsifandrihamanana Lia (b. 1959-).Also known as Ramatoa
Ratsifandrihamanana Lia (b. 1959-). |
|

|
1998-2003 (†) Anna Lindh, Sweden
|
|
Deputy Mayor of Stockholm 1991-94, Minister of Environment and
Planning 1994-98. President of
the Council of the European Union
(Coundil of Ministers) 2001. The most popular politician in the country, she
was killed while shopping by a young man of Serbian origin. In an
interview Prime Minister Göran Persson said that he had planned
stepping down in 2005 and hand over power to her. She was married to
the former Minister Bo Holmberg, who is Governor of Södermanland,
and mother of two sons b. 1991 and 1994, and lived (1957-2003). |
|

|
1998-2000 Rosario Green Macías de Heller, Mexico
|
|
María del Rosaro
Gloria was
Ambassador to East Germany, DDR 1989-90, Subsecretary of
Foreign Affairs for Latin America, Cultural Affairs and
International Co-operation, 1992-94, Deputy Secretary General of
United Nations for Political Affairs 1994-98, Ambassador to Argentina
from 2001, Secretary General of PRI 2005-07 and Senator since 2006 (b.
1941-)
|
|

|
1998-2000 Tuyaa Nyam-Osoryn, Mongolia |
|
In 1999 she was appointed
acting Premier after the former premier resigned. (b. 1958-). |
|

|
1999-2004 Lydie Polfer, Luxembourg
|
|
Apart from being Foreign Minister she was also Vice-Premier Minister
and Minister of External Trade and Minister of Public Service and
Administrative Reform. She was Mayor of Luxembourg Ville
1982-99, Member of the Bureau of Chamber des Deputées, President of
the Parti Democratique 1994-2004, Chairperson of the Committee of
Ministers of the Council of Europe in 2002 and from 2004 Member of the
European Parliament. (b. 1952-). |
|
 |
1999- Dr. Nkosazana C. Dlamini-Zuma, South Africa |
|
1994-99 Minister of Health. Offered the post of Deputy President in
2005 after her ex-husband, Jacob Zuma was fired after corruption
charges. She was candidate for the post of Deputy President of ANC
in 2007 but lost to a man, who has been also been charged with
corruption, like her ex-husband who became ANC President. (b. 1949-). |
|

|
1999-2004 Maria Eugenia Brizuela de Avila, El Salvador |
|
Former Academic and administrative career.
(1956-). |
|

|
1999-2000 and 2001- Dodo Aïchatou Mindaoudou, Niger |
|
1995-96 she was Minister of Social Development, Population and
Women. (b. 1959-). |
|
|
1999 Hilia Barber, Guinea-Bissau |
|
Also known as Ilia her full name is Hilia Garez Gomes Lima Barber,
she was ambassador to Israel 1995-99. (b. 1942-). |
|
 |
2000-04 Soledad Alvear Valenzuela, Chile |
|
1990-94 Minister for the National
Women Service, 1994-99 Minister of Justice; She was leader of the
Election Campaign of President Ricardo Lagos Escobar in 1999, before
becoming Chancellor or Foreign Minister. She was chosen as the
Christian Democratic Party's candidate for the primary of the
centre-left Concertacion coalition, but she quit the race in May
2005 to pave the way for Michelle Barchelet's nomination. Senator
and President of theDemocracia Cristiana from 2006. (b. 1951-). |
|
 |
2000-04 Benita Ferrero-Waldner, Austria
2004- Commissioner of External Relations, European Union |
|
A career diplomat, 1993 she was Minister-Counsellor and Assistant
Chief of Protocol of the Foreign Ministry, 1994-1995 Assistant
Secretary General of the United Nation and Chief of Protocol
1995-2000 Minister of State of Foreign Affairs. In 2000 she was
Chairperson-in-Office of OSCE and Presidential Candidate 2004. (b. 1948-). |
|
 |
2000-02 Haja Mahawa Bangoura Camara, Guinea |
|
In 1995 she was Ambassador to USA and later to the
United Nations. Her official title was Minister to the
presidency charged with Foreign Affairs and an alternative version
of her name is Camara Hadja Mawa Bangoura. |
|
 |
2000-04 Lillian E. Patel, Malawi |
|
1996-99 Minister of Women's and Children's' Affairs, Community
Development and Social Welfare 1999-2000 Minister of Health and
Population. From 2004 Minister of Labour and Vocational Training. |
|

|
2000-05 Dr. Maria Elisabeth Levens, Suriname
|
|
Trained teacher and former head of various bureaus within the
Ministry of Education and Community Development and Policy Advisor
to the Minister of Education. Also chair or member of several
commissions, from 1975 Secretary of the Progressive Women’s Union
and Chairperson of the Forum of NGO’s in Suriname 1991-2000. (b.
1950-). |
|

|
2001 Antonieta Rosa Gomes, Guinea Bissau |
|
Leader of Foro Cívic da Guiné (Guinean Civil Forum) since 1995 and
Presidential Candidate in 1994 and 1999. 2000-2001 Minister of
Justice. 2001 also third in the cabinet. |
|
 |
2001-02 Tanaka Makiko, Japan
|
|
1994-95 Minister of State, Director General of Science and
Technology Agency. Tanaka Makiko is has been an LDP MP since 1993
and is daughter of the late former Premier Tanaka Kakulei (b.
1944-). |
|