BELARUSIAN WOMEN UNITE TO NETWORK, NOT PROTEST

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MINSK 000312

SIPDIS

SIPDIS
DEPT FOR G/IWI, EUR/UMB, EUR/ACE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/16/2017
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL BO
SUBJECT: BELARUSIAN WOMEN UNITE TO NETWORK, NOT PROTEST

Classified By: Ambassador Karen Stewart for reason 1.4 (d).

Summary
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1. (C) Belarusian women's groups are working together to
establish a women's network and a large women's coalition
that would eventually focus on democracy promotion and
increasing women's activism in Belarus. However, many
obstacles, including fear, economic instability, and social
attitudes, prevent most women from actively working to
promote change in the country. In an effort to facilitate
networking opportunities for women leaders, Ambassador
conducted several events during Women's History Month
highlighting the accomplishments of international women
activists and encouraging Belarusian women leaders to
establish and strengthen contacts. End summary.

Women's Groups in Belarus Focus on Networking, Not Politics
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2. (C) In a recent meeting with Poloff, Belarusian Women's
League Head Nina Stuzhinskaya lamented the lack of
opportunities in the past for women leaders to network. As a
result, Stuzhinskaya and other women's groups leaders are
working together to establish a U.S. NGO IRI-funded women's
network in Belarus. The network's member groups, which
include Belarusian Women's League, Vitebsk women's
organization "Uliana", Belarusian Association of Students,
Gomel Organization of Women Lawyers, Women's Club "Bona" in
Kobrin, Svetlogorsk Women's Initiative, the women's wing of
the Belarusian Popular Front, and two women's groups in
Mogilyov, are actively recruiting more women's groups and
activists to join their network.


3. (C) Stuzhinskaya and the other women leaders' goals center
on the creation of a formidable women's network for democracy
promotion and a large women's coalition. However, the groups
in the network avoid initially discussing democratic themes
with potential members. For now, they are holding seminars
and networking events that focus on "safer topics," such as
gender equality and domestic violence, while broadening their
contact base. Once the network is fully-established,
Stuzhinskaya told Poloff that the leaders plan to shift the
focus to activism and democracy promotion.


4. (C) On March 28, in honor of Women's History Month (March)
and International Women's Day (March 8),Ambassador gave a
presentation on the efforts of historical and contemporary
women activists to transform the world and presented the
poster show "Road to Equality: How American Women Won the
Right to Vote" to Belarusian women leaders at a reception at
the Pushkin Library American Corner in Minsk. Stuzhinkskaya
praised Ambassador's main Women's History Month event as a
valuable opportunity for Belarusian women to hear of the
success stories of international women activists as well as a
rare opportunity for Belarusian women to network with each
other on a large scale.


5. (C) In a meeting with Econoff, Fund for Economic Research
and Legal Initiatives Advisor Tatyana Bykova expressed her
belief that women's groups organized around professions would
be successful in helping women network and improve their
skills. She appreciated the vision of organizations like the
Women's Institute "Envila", noting that the university plans
to set up resource centers in the regions for its members and
other women to help them succeed professionally once the
college has a critical mass of alumni. Also, in honor of
Women's History Month, Ambassador spoke with students from
Envila about the successes of women activists around the
world and encouraged them to consider their roles as future
women leaders. (Note: Ambassador conducted similar
presentations and discussions during March in the regions
with local female students and community leaders. End note.)

Unemployment, Fear, and Social Mores Limit Women Activism
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6. (C) Leading women activists agree that most Belarusian
women are not ready to work for change because of their poor
self-image, their satisfaction with the status quo, and their
fear of an uncertain economic future. Kobrin Women's Club
"Bona" Head Alla Sapezhinskaya stated that only a small
portion of women are ready to defend their rights. The rest,
she asserted, are content with being dependent on their
husbands.


7. (C) According to Women's Independent Democratic Movement

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Head Lyudmila Petina, the majority of women support
Lukashenko because his numerous social initiatives help
mothers, families, and children and provide stability to the
country. She added that the few women that desire change are
afraid to protest for fear of having their benefits or
family's source of income taken away. Stuzhinskaya and Gomel
United Civic Party activist Galina Sokhorod separately told
Poloffs that women are less likely to stand up to the
authorities given the relatively few economic opportunities
available to them. With unemployment among women so high
particularly in the regions, they argued that potential job
loss resulting from their political activities would be too
much to risk.


8. (C) Petina offered, however, that a small percentage of
the young and middle-aged women is more willing to protest.
Like their compatriots, they too value stability, but hate
the strangling control the GOB has over them, which makes
them more wiling to stand up for their rights.

Comment
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9. (C) It is encouraging to see that women's groups are
finally seeking opportunities to establish a formal network
and become stronger. However, fears and social attitudes are
proving to be considerable obstacles in uniting women to
actively work for democratic change in Belarus. If
Belarusian women can overcome these obstacles, a strong
women's coalition could be a formidable force in bringing
about change in Belarus.
Moore