UNCLAS BASRAH 000016

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/I AND G/IWI
PLEASE PASS TO USAID

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KWMN EAID PHUM PREL IZ
SUBJECT: EMPOWERING THE WOMEN OF SOUTHEAST IRAQ

INTRODUCTION AND SUMMARY

1.) As part of our public outreach strategy, REO Basrah, along
with the British Consulate General, sponsored a conference on
empowering women on February 20. The purpose was to encourage
women to promote stability and economic prosperity. The
conference was held at the Basrah Airport and attended by 34
women from Basrah, Dhi Qar, Maysan, and Muthanna provinces. The
participants included politicians, attorneys and judges,
physicians, teachers, engineers, and representatives from NGOs.
The conference also received extensive press coverage. End
summary.

PEACE, STABILITY AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

2.) The first portion of the conference focused on peace and
stability. Our objective was to encourage women to take back
their streets from the militia who wage intimidation campaigns
on the citizens and target Coalition bases with mortars and
rockets. REO Director Louis Bono spoke of the power of women.
Quoting American suffragist Elizabeth Cady Stanton, he urged the
women to harness this power against the destructive forces in
their communities. He told the women that the role of the
Coalition is limited in this regard; it is up to the Iraqi
people to take back their streets. British Consul General
Rosalind Marsden said in the coming months that Iraqis would
retake control of security in Basrah and Maysan and discussed
how women can play a role in this process. (Note: Provincial
Iraqi Control - PIC - has already occurred in Dhi Qar and
Muthanna. End note.) One example she cited is the police
anonymous hotline. She said of the 45 calls received in the
previous week, all were from women.

3.) While the UK and U.S. officials focused on militia violence,
the Iraqi speakers focused on a different type - domestic
violence. Basrah Provincial Council member Esra al-Saad spoke
about the violence against women and children and called for
legislation to protect women. Judge Suad Nassar agreed that
women suffer under the law. She said the uneducated are most
prone to violence and stressed the need to train women,
including elected officials, on their rights.

4.) The participants agreed on the need for education on women's
issues, especial

ly for women in the countryside and ghettos, as
well as for male leaders. They said the Convention to Eliminate
Discrimination and Violence Against Women (CEDAW) was, in part,
inconsistent with Islamic principles but work is being done to
draft an acceptable version. They did agree on the utility of
using experiences of women in other countries as building
blocks. On militia violence, they discussed the need to address
violence sponsored by external forces in order to improve
security. One woman pointed out that most of the people killed
and injured in market explosions were women. Another drew a
nexus between militias and domestic violence: "sometimes when
women report on militia activity, they are beaten by their
husbands." There was also discussion on the rights of female
prisoners.

A ROLE IN THE ECONOMY

5.) The second part of the conference focused on economic
opportunities for women. By empowering women economically, they
will be more inclined to foster stability to protect their
interests. Two representatives from USAID's IZDIHAR project
addressed the conference. Susanne Jalbert spoke about small
business development and Thelma Tajirian explained about small
business loans and microfinance. The REO director cited the
Prophet Mohammed's wife Lady Khadeijah as an example of the
prominent role women can play in the business community. He
also mentioned USG programs for women, including the Gift Fund
to promote public-private partnerships. Many of the women
expressed an interest in seeking business opportunities and
helping those in their communities to do so. Jalbert handed out
a CD-rom containing information on how to start a business and
obtain credit.

ENGAGING THE MEDIA

6.) Media coverage of the conference was extensive. There
seemed almost as many reporters and photographers from
television, radio, and print media as there were participants.
We were surprised by the media presence, as we were told
beforehand that most women were reluctant to publicize their
efforts or their association with the Coalition. However,
during the conference, few if any, seemed camera shy. This
followed their discussion on media engagement to promote the
role of women in society and expose the issue of domestic
violence.


MOVING FORWARD

7.) One of the immediate successes of the event was bringing
together women from southeastern Iraq. All agreed on the need
for female representation in government, and there was
discussion on coordination between NGOs and politicians. We
encouraged them to form an umbrella association to remain in
contact and coordinate their efforts, but there was too little
time to accomplish this. However, several women got together to
discus the formation of such an association. There was
overwhelming consensus to continue the dialogue, and the
participants asked UK and U.S. officials for assistance. As we
move forward, Jalbert suggested we focus on leadership, business
development, and security training, as well community
coalitions. We are pleased with outcome of this event and will
continue our work with the women of the region.
BONO