PARAGUAY: READOUT OF THE FIRST LADIES CONFERENCE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASUNCION 001063

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

STATE FOR WHA/BSC AND USAID (MAGAN)
WHITE HOUSE FOR SONYA MEDINA
NSC FOR SUE CRONIN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PHUM KWMN PA
SUBJECT: PARAGUAY: READOUT OF THE FIRST LADIES CONFERENCE
TECHNICAL MEETINGS, JULY 13-15


1. (U) SUMMARY: From July 13-15, Paraguay hosted
representatives from 20 countries at technical meetings in
preparation of the 13th Western Hemisphere First Ladies
Conference. The conference will be held September 28-30 in
Asuncion. Delegates debated the Draft Declaration centered
around the conference's main theme, Women and Family. END
SUMMARY.


2. (U) Delegates from 20 countries attended the technical
meetings for the 13th Western Hemisphere First Ladies
Conference July 13-15 in Asuncion, Paraguay. Paraguay, as
host to the technical meetings and the upcoming conference to
be held September 28-30, drafted a preliminary version of a
Conference Declaration and a follow-up Action Plan. Four
representatives from Washington attended the technical
meetings and brought experience from previous First Ladies
Conferences and first-hand knowledge of the plenary session
debates. The U.S. delegation consisted of Sonya Medina, The
White House, Special Assistant to the President for Domestic
Policy and Director of Projects for the First Lady's Office;
Michael Magan, USAID, Deputy Assistant Administrator, Bureau
for Latin America and the Caribbean; Maureen Dugan, USAID,
Office of Economic Growth for Europe and Eurasia; and Patrick
Marcham, Department of Health and Human Services,
International Health Officer/LTS Corporation. The Protocol
office within the Paraguayan First Lady's Office handled all
of the logistics of the conference and events, which were
held at the Asuncion Yacht and Golf Club. (COMMENT: The
Paraguayans approached our USAID mission seeking financial
support to help offset some of the costs associated with the
conference, including the venue and simultaneous translation.
Post agreed to fund interpretation services. END COMMENT.)

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The Draft Declaration
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3. (U) The Draft Declaration is centered around the
conference's main theme, Women and Family. During the
technical meetings, delegates debated several of the key
issues raised in the draft. By the conference's end, all
delegations agreed to bring the text of the Draft Declaration
back to their capitals for review. The draft text considered
the commitments States made in the following meetings and
documents: The World Conference on Population and
Development (Cairo, 1994),the Fourth International Women's
Conference (Beijing, 1995),the 23rd Special Session of the
UN General Assembly (Beijing 5),the Millennium Declaration
(2000-2015),and international Human Rights Conventions
pertaining to women and children. The Draft Declaration also
affirmed States' commitments to the following principles:

-- Human rights and women's development;

-- Access to comprehensive health care especially during
pregnancy and postpartum, including sexual and reproductive
health, HIV and HPV;

-- Strengthening of family relations;

-- Participation of women in remunerated work;

-- Women's access to education;

-- Women's access to productive and financial resources;

-- Food and nutritional security (especially for pregnant
women and children under 5);

-- Raising awareness of trafficking in persons issues;

-- Impact of economic policies on the living conditions of
rural women;

-- and International Migration issues.

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Outstanding Issues
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4. (U) During the plenary session of the second round of
technical meetings prior to the First Ladies Conference, the
delegates will review the Draft Declaration and seek
consensus so that the document may be signed by the First
Ladies of the Western Hemisphere.


5. (U) Because of a lack of time, delegates in the plenary
session were unable to start debate on the draft Action Plan.
As a result, the group agreed to review the draft
declaration with their respective capitals and to provide
comments on the Action Plan draft via email. The plenary
will revisit the Action Plan during the second round of
technical meetings in September and approve via consensus.

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Next Steps
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6. (U) Post remains in contact with the Paraguayan delegation
and will attend a logistics meeting planned for August 25 to
discuss security, accommodations, receptions, and functions
planned for September's conference. Post will advise of any
further developments and report via septel.

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Comment
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7. (SBU) The Draft Declaration contains a reference to Sexual
and Reproductive Rights that is unacceptable to the U.S. and
must be bracketed for purposes of discussion during the next
round of technical meetings. Additionally, the U.S.
delegation anticipates that it will be difficult to reach
consensus on an Action Plan.


8. (U) The U.S. delegation cleared this cable.
KEANE