COTE D'IVOIRE - WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT, FOLLOW UP TO

UNCLAS ABIDJAN 000247

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT OF STATE FOR SASHA MEHRA AND GERDA LANE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KWMN PHUM PREL UNGA IV
SUBJECT: COTE D'IVOIRE - WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT, FOLLOW UP TO
SEC. RICE STRATEGY SESSION

REF: SECSTATE 06 178055


1. On February 21, Post received a diplomatic note from the
Ministry of Family and Social Affairs responding to Post's
September 23, 2006 diplomatic note outlining questions
presented in reftel.


2. Minister Jeanne Peuhmond indicated that the Government of
Cote d'Ivoire is in the process of drafting a Declaration of
National Policy on the Equality of Opportunity. This policy,
as drafted, would permit affirmative action and new
strategies to remedy the lack of women in science,
mathematics and high technologies and provide budget support
for initiatives designed to stimulate economic opportunities
among those historically at the margins of the economy.


3. The draft policy would also ensure that at least 30
percent of representatives to peace talks and in
organizations designed to maintain the peace and stability in
Cote d'Ivoire (disrupted since the 1999 coup and turbulent
aftermath ever since) be women.
Hooks