CANADA INTERESTED IN COOPERATING ON DARFUR WOMEN'S

UNCLAS OTTAWA 002928

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PREF PREL EAID SU CA
SUBJECT: CANADA INTERESTED IN COOPERATING ON DARFUR WOMEN'S
PROJECTS

REF: STATE 172323


1. (U) As requested in reftel, poloff met with officials from
Foreign Affairs Canada (FAC) and the Canadian International
Development Agency(CIDA) on 23 September to discuss U.S.
initiatives to counter violence against women in Darfur, and
to solicit Canada's support for such initiatives. Canadian
participants included Sanja Gavric from CIDA's East African
and the Horn branch; Foreign Affairs Director for Gender
Mainstreaming in the Human Rights, Humanitarian Affairs and
International Equality Division Ginette Saucier; FAC Human
Security Program desk officer Jessica Frasier; and Sudan Task
Force Deputy Director Shannon Smith.


2. (U) Ms. Smith noted that the GoC has recently committed CA
$260 million (approx. USD 221 million) over two years to
provide humanitarian aid to Sudan in support of the
comprehensive peace agreement and the African Union's mission
(AMIS). The largest share of the funds CA $80 million is
being distributed through international organizations, while
CA $156 million is allocated to the AMIS mission. A
"minimum" of CA $14 million over two years has been pledged
for peace-building projects, some of which may be implemented
in Darfur. An additional CA$10 million will be allocated for
to-be-determined small scale projects under the Additional
Peace Process Support for Sudan (APPSS) program. Canadian
Charge d'Affaires in Sudan David Ross was expected to provide
project recommendations during a visit to Ottawa the week of
October 3.


3. (U) Ms. Fraser said that the Human Security Office is
currently evaluating several proposals for Darfur that would
address gender violence. They include rule of law projects
with a Sudanese security force training component, a
reconciliation for peace and coexistence project, a
children's rights project, peace building workshops and a
women's dialogue project. Rapid implementation of at least
one of these projects is anticipated prior to the planned
November visit to the region of Canadian Special Envoy for
the Sudanese Peace Process, Senator Mobina Jaffer. The FAC
representatives expressed interest in learning more about USG
support and funding for media programming and radio
broadcasts.

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WILKINS