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