DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: UN'S INSTRAW GETS NEW DIRECTOR

UNCLAS SANTO DOMINGO 000863 SIPDIS STATE FOR WHA/CAR, WHA/USOAS, IO/UNP, AND DRL STATE PASS AID/LAC E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PHUM KWMN DR MX SUBJECT: DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: UN'S INSTRAW GETS NEW DIRECTOR ¶1. Dr. Carmen Moreno, the recently arrived new director of the UN International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women (INSTRAW),briefed local diplomats on her plan to revitalize the UN entity, at a breakfast hosted by the Spanish ambassador February 3. Moreno, former Mexican ambassador to the OAS and Guatemala, was named as part of a UNGA mandate to resuscitate INSTRAW, which had atrophied as its funding dried up in recent years. At the moment, aside from the director, INSTRAW has a staff of five at its Santo Domingo headquarters, of whom only one is a professional researcher. Moreno anticipated visits by UN officials from New York to help her craft a new strategy for the institute. ¶2. Moreno said she had developed her proposals in consultations at UN and OAS headquarters, with key permreps, and with research and academic institutions. She identified as priorities: -- Addressing problems of migration of women, in particular criminally organized trafficking in persons; -- Local/municipal training of women for development, using computer technology to provide access to information and the wider world; -- Advancing dialogue with men on their responsibilities with regard to women's health and problems such as domestic violence; -- Reducing the isolation of vulnerable groups such as young women and female senior citizens; -- Increasing knowledge of women's important roles in agriculture and managing natural resources such as water supplies and forests; and -- Promoting women as entrepreneurs running micro-enterprises. ¶3. We understand that Spain is contributing US $200,000 to the revitalization of INSTRAW. The UNGA has authorized US $500,000 from the UN's regular budget to finance the institute's core activities, half of which is contingent on voluntary contributions from UN members. At the breakfast, Moreno and the Spanish ambassador appealed for donor nations to consider such contributions. ¶4. Poloff suggested to Moreno that she contact other U.S. Embassy staff involved in gender aspects of development and human rights. ¶5. Dr. Carmen Moreno's e-mail is cmoreno@un-instraw.org . Website is www.un-instraw.org . HERTELL