PORTUGUESE NOMINEE FOR INTERNATIONAL WOMEN OF COURAGE

UNCLAS LISBON 002706 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS Department for G/IWI (Bottner) E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KWMN PHUM PREL PO SUBJECT: PORTUGUESE NOMINEE FOR INTERNATIONAL WOMEN OF COURAGE AWARD REF: SECSTATE 126072 ¶1. (U) Per reftel request, Embassy Lisbon nominates Ms. Ines Fontinha for consideration in the Secretary's 2008 International Women of Courage Award. ¶A. (U) Name and contact information: Ines Fontinha President of the Nest Association, Sociologist, Author Address: Rua Luciano Cordeiro n. 59, 4th floor, 1150-212 Lisboa Tel: +351-21-353 02 73 Email: geral@oninho.pt Date of Birth: 1943 Country of Birth: Portugal Citizenship: Portuguese ¶B. (U) Justification: Ines Fontinha was born in Madeira, Portugal and trained as a sociologist. In 1975, Fontinha became director of the NGO O Ninho ("The Nest"),a social institution that combats prostitution and the sexual exploitation of women by promoting access to social rights. By raising public awareness of the social problems that marginalized women face, Fontinha hopes to eliminate prostitution. Given that women are often victims and forced into prostitution, O Ninho helps women leave prostitution through counseling, protection, housing, and access to medical and legal services. In addition, O Ninho provides vocational courses aimed towards assisting women in social reintegration. Through these programs, Fontinha has changed the lives of over 7,000 women subjected to prostitution, violence, and social inequality. O Ninho received the 2003 Assembly of the Republic Human Rights Award. Fontinha is also the cofounder and member of the Secretariat of the European Federation for the Eradication of Prostitution (FEDIP). Along with O Ninho, FEDIP continues to be an important institution working for women's rights and the elimination of prostitution. FEDIP, as a multinational network against crime, also works to combat sexual trafficking of women and children throughout Europe. Fontinha has authored several sociological articles on prostitution, raising awareness of the causes and ways to eliminate prostitution in Portugal, as well as other topics such as HIV/AIDS. ¶2. (U) Post contact for women's issues is Pol-Econ Officer Dana Brown (browndml@state.gov, phone: ++351-21-770-2328). Hoffman