ACTIVIST SEEKS TO EXPAND ROLE OF WOMEN IN BELARUS

C O N F I D E N T I A L MINSK 000679

SIPDIS

G/IWI FOR C. PONTICELLI AND G. CAVIN
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/27/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREF KWMN SCUL BO
SUBJECT: ACTIVIST SEEKS TO EXPAND ROLE OF WOMEN IN BELARUS
BEFORE 2007 LOCAL ELECTIONS

REF: MINSK 536

Classified By: Ambassador Krol for Reasons 1.4 (B and D)


1. (C) Summary: In her new role as head of the Commission on
Women in the United Civic Party (UCP),Women's Independent
Democratic Movement (WIDM) chair Lyudmila Petina told DCM she
is searching for ways to encourage women to become more
politically active, including the possible creation of a
women's wing of the UCP. According to Petina, WIDM is
already taking steps to prepare women voters and candidates
for the 2007 local elections despite the intense pressure the
organization faces from the GOB. Looking back at the role
women played in the 2006 presidential elections, Petina
proposed to DCM that WIDM and Post co-host an event for the
release of WIDM's latest bulletin which highlights the
experiences of women activists during the March presidential
elections. Petina recounted for DCM her positive experience
at the Global Summit of Women in Cairo and discussed her
desire to secure a place on the agenda for Belarus at next
year's summit in Germany. End Summary.

Petina's Pushes to Increase the Role of Women in UCP
-------------- --------------


2. (C) At a meeting on June 21, Women's Independent
Democratic Movement (WIDM) chair Lyudmila Petina told DCM and
Poloff that she wants to revive the women's party and
encourage women to become more politically active. At the
recent internal United Civic Party (UCP) elections where
Petina was elected as the head of the UCP's Commission on
Women, Petina proposed the establishment of a women's wing of
the UCP. She complained to DCM about the lack of ideas and
structure of the women's party "Hope" under Valentina
Matusevich and Matusevich's lackluster efforts to promote
women's issues as Ten Plus Coalition political council
member. In contrast, Petina praised the efforts of the young
women leader from Vitebsk, Kristina Shatikova, who was
recently fined USD 2,168 for staging an unauthorized protest
after she hung a red and white nationalist flag from a
television tower. Petina noted the importance of
strengthening contacts between up and coming and established
women leaders in further involving women in Belar
us' political life.

WIDM Prepares for Local Elections
--------------


3. (C) According to Petina, WIDM has already planned projects
to prepare women leaders and voters for the 2007 local
elections. Under the second tranche of her NDI grant,
Petina's organization will organize seminars in the regional
capitals for voter awareness campaigns in July before
providing a more detailed training for women in the fall.
Petina commented that she has established good contacts with
women farmers who appear to be potential allies for the
opposition during the local elections, given that many of
them are experiencing a number of problems with the city
councils. She emphasized, as she had done in the May meeting
with DCM (reftel),the importance of non-political themes for
the seminars, such as health and unemployment, which are key
issues for women.

Embassy to Host WIDM Election Bulletin Release
-------------- -


4. (C) Petina informed DCM that WIDM's bulletin highlighting
the experiences of women leading up to, during, and following
the March 2006 presidential elections is almost completed.
Petina proposed to DCM that WIDM and Post co-host an event
for the release of this bulletin, which recounts the
experiences of women activists in the October Square tent
city and in prison. Election heroines during the elections,
young women leaders and those featured in the bulletin would
be invited. Post agreed to co-host this event with Petina in
the Public Affairs Section building.

WIDM Experiences More GOB Harassment
--------------


5. (C) According to Petina, WIDM continues to experience
harassment from the authorities. Petina said that she was
called into the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) to speak with Chief
Specialist of the NGO Department Alexandr Khariton. (Note:
During her May meeting with DCM, Petina said she received a
letter from the MOJ accusing her of being involved in
unsanctioned political activities.) Petina said that she
believes that the GOB authorities are preparing an official
warning for WIDM and restated her fears that the organization
may be closed. While she stressed the importance of
remaining a legally registered organization, Petina told DCM
that the organization is prepared to continue working
underground even if it is officially closed.

Petina Prepares for Next Global Women's Summit
-------------- -


6. (C) Petina stressed that she was very pleased with the
contacts she made at the Global Summit of Women conference
held in Cairo in June, particularly the contacts with
European women leaders. (Note: Prompted by the Department's
Office of Women's Issues, Post proposed to Petina
participation in the Summit and located funding to cover the
cost of the conference (reftel).) Petina added that the IRI
representative at the conference sought her out to discuss
future projects.


7. (C) According to Petina, next year's Global Summit of
Women conference will be held in Berlin. Given Belarus'
close proximity to Germany, Petina hopes more Belarusian
women will be able to participate in the conference. In
Cairo, Petina lobbied for next year's conference to include
segments on Belarus and the role of women and NGO's in the
FSU. Petina noted that she has many contacts in Germany and
could coordinate with them to create a presentation on these
themes for the summit.

Comment

--------------


8. (C) Petina's participation in the Global Women's Summit
succeeded in exposing the Belarus situation to the
international community and facilitating contacts between
Belarusian women activists and influential global women
leaders. Petina is organized and clearly driven to promote
women's involvement in politics and democratic change in
Belarus. As a result, WIDM is one of the few organizations
in Belarus that is already focused on preparations for the
upcoming local elections.
Krol