Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04SANTODOMINGO1685
2004-03-12 21:15:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Santo Domingo
Cable title:  

CELEBRATING INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY DOMINICAN

Tags:  KWMN KSEP OPDC PREL PHUM DR 
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 SANTO DOMINGO 001685 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KWMN KSEP OPDC PREL PHUM DR
SUBJECT: CELEBRATING INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY DOMINICAN
STYLE

REF: SECSTATE 47117

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 SANTO DOMINGO 001685

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KWMN KSEP OPDC PREL PHUM DR
SUBJECT: CELEBRATING INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY DOMINICAN
STYLE

REF: SECSTATE 47117


1. Summary. International Women's Day was celebrated in
various fora in the Dominican Republic. On March 8 President
Mejia, accompanied by the First Lady, the Vice President and
the Secretary for Women, presided over an elaborate ceremony
at the National Palace to present 24 women with merit awards
for being champions of issues affecting women and for being
role models. Almost all cabinet-level ministries were
represented along with a strong diplomatic corps presence.
In a more subdued event, women representing more than 20
civil society organizations peacefully marched to the Palace
of Justice to deliver a petition against domestic violence.
To date this year at least eight women have died at the hands
of a lover or spouse. On March 9 Charge d'Affaires hosted a
cocktail for more than 100 prominent Dominican women from the
business sector, government and civil society in
acknowledgment of their achievements and camaraderie with the
Mission. End Summary.

PRESIDENT HONORS WOMEN


2. On March 8 President Mejia, in the company of the First
Lady, the Vice President and the Secretary for Women,
presided over an elaborate ceremony at the National Palace in
honor of International Women's Day. Among the 24 recipients
of merit awards, leaders of two women's NGOs were recognized:
the founders of Dominican Feminist Action and the organizer
of the Federation for Peasant Women. Other recipients
included women involved in politics, academia and the arts.
The Secretary of Women gave a 35-minute speech praising
women's accomplishments and the administration's record on
women's issues. She cited the laws affecting women that have
been passed under the Mejia administration, including a Law
Against Trafficking and Alien Smuggling, a law that
establishes safe havens for victims of domestic violence and
a decreee which establishes an Office for Equity, Gender and
Development in each ministry.

CHARGE HOSTS COCKTAIL FOR WOMEN


3. On March 9 Charge d'Affaires hosted a cocktail for more
than 100 prominent women representing the government, civil
society and the business sector. Prominent guests included
the Vice President and Secretary for Education Milagros Ortiz
Bosch and the President's sister Chavela Grullon, President
of the National Council for Children and Adolescents (CONANI)
and Congresswoman Minou Tavares Mirabal. Borrowing themes
from the Secretary's message (reftel),Charge praised
Dominican women "who are working every day to improve the
lives of all Dominicans in the areas of education, health and
human rights, and women who are fighting scourges like
trafficking and HIV/AIDS." Charge also acknowledged the
significance of November 25, UN International Day for the
Elimination of Violence Against Women, established in memory
of the Dominican Republic's Mirabal sisters who helped lead
the movement to bring down the Trujillo dictatorship.

A DAY OF REFLECTION AND PEACEFUL MARCHES


4. International Women's Day was also a time to reflect on
social issues as well as the effects of current economic
conditions. Several women's NGOs marched to the Palace of
Justice to deliver a petition against domestic violence.
Women also marched to Independence Park in Santo Domingo,
where civil society activists offered their views on the
state of affairs affecting women. According to newspaper
reports, some women are giving their children tea as a
cheaper alternative to milk. NGOs lament that women have cut
back on food portions for their children because they can no
longer afford to purchase larger quantities. The groups
called on the President to take responsibility for the
economic policies that have caused a deteriorating quality of
life for the general populace and particularly for women.

COMMENT


5. (SBU) International Women's Day received substantial
coverage in the press. The contrast in celebrations is
telling; President Mejia wants to put his stamp in the
history books for passing key legislation to advance women's
rights while civil society criticizes him for women's
economic woes. The press says that last year was more
violent for women than previous years, with estimates that
more than 40 per cent of women and children were victims of
domestic violence. This is the reality against which the new
law against trafficking and the law establishing safe havens
are aimed, in hopes of fostering better conditions for women
and reducing the obstacles and demeaning treatment they
confront.
KUBISKE