CABINET DOWNSIZING: WILL THE AFHAN MINISTRY OF

C O N F I D E N T I A L KABUL 000443

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR SA/FO AMBASSADOR QUINN, S/CT, SA/A, G KATE
FRIEDRICH, G/IWI CHARLOTTE PONTICELLI AND DIANNE GRAHAM
NSC FOR AHARRIMAN, KAMEND
CENTCOM FOR POLAD, CG CFC-A, CG CJTF-76
TREASURY FOR LMCDONALD, WBALDRIDGE, APARAMESWARAN, ABAUKOL
STATE PLEASE PASS USAID
USAID FOR AID/ANE, AID/DCHA/DG

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/01/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR KWMN AF
SUBJECT: CABINET DOWNSIZING: WILL THE AFHAN MINISTRY OF
WOMEN'S AFFAIRS SURVIVE?

Classified By: A/DCM ANGUS SIMMONS FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D)


1. (C) SUMMARY. During a January 25 meeting with A/DCM and
POLOFFs, Minister of Women's Affairs Massouda Jalal expressed
concern that the Ministry of Women's Affairs might not
survive a possible upcoming cabinet reorganization. Karzai
has indeed said that he would like to streamline his Cabinet
to 19 ministries, although the details of this are yet
unclear (SEPTEL). His new Cabinet will have to be confirmed
by the new Parliament. Post does not believe that MOWA is in
serious danger, or that we should be telling the GOA how to
structure the Afghan government. However, we will let the
GOA know that, whatever decision they might make on Cabinet
re-structuring, they will need to demonstrate to the
international community and the Afghan population that they
are committed to improving the lot of Afghanistan's women.
END SUMMARY.


2. (SBU) During her meeting, Jalal asked for the assistance
of a technical expert from the US to assist MOWA in
developing a project proposal for additional support for
women's councils across Afghanistan. She would also like
support for project funding for these councils (after the
expert develops a proposal and a donors conference is held).
In response, A/DCM stated that support to the women of
Afghanistan remains a high priority for the US. POLOFF
suggested Jalal might also seek private funding for the
expert she seeks (for example, from Ambassador Swanee Hunt,
who has expressed interest in this type of assistance).


3. (C) Jalal mentioned that she has heard rumors that MOWA
will be eliminated, and asked for support to counter this
action. Other agencies in Kabul (such as UNIFEM and the
Dutch Embassy) have also begun to seek support for a demarche
or other action in support of the existence of an independent
MOWA. Post has separately heard rumors that a proposal to
combine MOWA with the Ministry of Youth Affairs, Ministry of
Martyrs and the Disabled, and Ministry of Social and Labor
Affairs into a single Ministry of Social Affairs is under
discussion as part of a general reorganization of the Cabinet
and reduction of the number of Ministries. Other
international and Afghan sources, including one Minister and
one AIHRC Commissioner, say the merger is likely to only
involve three Ministries, with MOWA remaining separate
because of its symbolic importance to improving women's lives
in Afghanistan.

Comment
--------------


4. (C) Jalal's requests for support for MOWA may be an
attempt to demonstrate her importance as a Minister and her
ability to bring in funds to Afghanistan when she is facing
challenges on two fronts: her position as Minister (which
must now be confirmed by Parliament) and the independence of
her Ministry. Jalal has faced substantial criticism during
her tenure, in part for spending extensive time overseas, and
has expressed concern about the likelihood of her
re-nomination by Karzai or confirmation by Parliament to
EMBOFFs. Post is not supporting the re-appointment or
confirmation of any individual Minister.


5. (C) Post does not believe it is our role to determine the
structure of the Afghan government, but will work to ensure
that women's issues do not get short shrift in whatever
future structure the Afghan bureaucracy will take. We will
remind the GOA of the symbolic importance that the Ministry
has to Afghans and the international community. If a merger
of Ministries were to take place, we would stress the
importance of maintaining Women's Affairs in the name of the
Ministry and of sustaining programs that empower women. END
COMMENT.
NORLAND