2005 DEMOCRACY AND HUMAN RIGHTS FUND BUDGET REQUEST

UNCLAS MAPUTO 000165

SIPDIS
AF/RSA FOR RZUEHLKE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ELAB KWMN PGOV PHUM PREL EAID DHRF
SUBJECT: 2005 DEMOCRACY AND HUMAN RIGHTS FUND BUDGET REQUEST

REF: STATE 04389


1. Post appreciates receiving FY2004 DHRF funding in the
amount of $76,000, an increase from $70,000 in FY2003.
These funds have enabled the Embassy to engage a broader
range of Mozambican civil society in our efforts to help
consolidate democratization and improve human rights
performance. For FY2005, post requests an increase of
$24,000 to $100,000 total, with projects to be dedicated
primarily to trafficking-in-persons and women's rights
issues.


2. DHRF funding in FY2004 was used to support a variety of
NGO and community group initiatives. Projects range from
drafting a law to provide access to public information
(much like the U.S. FOIA law),to publishing secondary
school textbooks on law and human rights, to human
rights-related radio programming targeted to non-Portuguese
speaking populations in the north. Post funded six
proposals in FY04, the same number as in FY03. The modest
FY04 funding increase enabled post to dedicate larger
funding amounts to some of the more promising project
proposals, such as the public information law proposal.


3. In FY05, post wants to expand its DHRF program to
upgrade activities on trafficking in persons. Mozambique
is a country of origin for trafficking in women; the
International Organization on Migration has estimated that
1,000 women per year are trafficked to South Africa to work
as prostitutes. Information on trafficking is limited,
however, and the real numbers of women trafficked may be
higher, especially in the north. Mozambique does not have
an anti-trafficking law but trafficking can be prosecuted
under other laws. Mozambique's trafficking problem has
increasingly come to the attention of both the government
and civil society. In the past year, several human rights
groups, women's groups, and legal aid associations have
contacted the Embassy with project ideas on reintegration
of trafficked women, drafting of anti-trafficking laws,
public information campaigns on trafficking, and other
ideas. Post believes that many of these organizations
could be excellent DHRF funding candidates.


4. Post also plans to upgrade programs on gender equity
issues in FY05. Of particular concern is implementation of
a new Family Law signed into law in September 2004. The
groundbreaking new law replaces much of the colonial-era
civic code and brings the law in line with equality
provisions in the constitution. Primary provisions include
elimination of language declaring that husbands are "head
of family," legalization of common law marriages, and other
measures that, if implemented, will help reduce
discrimination against women. Initial returns suggest,
however, that the general public has little to no knowledge
of the new law, and the Ministry of Women and Social Action
does not have the technical or financial capacity to
promote public awareness. Many qualified NGOs and
community groups are interested in undertaking such
campaigns, however, and could carry out solid media and
education programs with DHRF funds.
DUDLEY