CELEBRATING INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY DOMINICAN

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