EMBASSY PARAMARIBO ACTIVITIES -- TAKING ACTION ON

UNCLAS PARAMARIBO 000649 SIPDIS SIPDIS FOR WHA/CAR: JROSHOLT; FOR G/IWI; FOR G/TIP KBRESNAHAN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL KWMN KAPO PHUM NS SUBJECT: EMBASSY PARAMARIBO ACTIVITIES -- TAKING ACTION ON VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN REF: A. SECSTATE 142614 ¶B. PARAMARIBO 625 ¶1. (U) Summary. Post marked the International Day of Elimination of Violence against Women as well as World Day for the Prevention of Child Abuse by conducting a variety of events focused on violence against women and children. Events included a radio address, a reading to school children, a guest speaker at the public opening of a USG-furnished TIP office, a one-day workshop on domestic abuse, consultations with NGOs, and a stakeholders' lunch at the Ambassador's residence. Bringing together different stakeholders who work every day on assisting victims provided a forum for them to discuss new strategies with each other. End Summary. ¶2. (U) In response to the Secretary's request that Posts mark the International Day of Elimination of Violence against Women, and also to honor World Day for the Prevention of Child Abuse, Post conducted a series of activities focused on violence against women and children. The campaign was kicked off on November 14 when the Ambassador recorded a video statement on the prevention of domestic abuse for repeated re-broadcast by the local NGO, Foundation for Human Development. ¶3. (U) On November 19, Post commemorated World Day for the Prevention of Child Abuse through a public reading by Poloff to school children at the American Corner of abuse-prevention children's literature. Extensive portions of the lesson were carried on two local television stations. The same evening, for Post's monthly American Movie Night, Post showed the movie "Mystic River," which highlighted prevention of child abuse, to an audience that included former First Lady of Suriname Patricia D'Leon, one parliamentarian, and the Director of the Cabinet of the President. ¶4. (U) Strategic Speaker Initiative speaker Vivian Huelgo, the Director of the Community Liaison Project at the U.S. NGO Sanctuary for Families, was at Post for activities from November 28 through 30 (Ref B). She spoke to a diverse audience on trafficking in persons, violence against women, child abuse, and the connection between them. In addition, she was keynote speaker on November 28 at the public opening of a USG-furnished office for the police unit dedicated to fighting trafficking in persons. This speech received extensive media coverage, and several individuals subsequently contacted the Embassy to request permission to attend Huelgo's workshop the following day. ¶5. (U) Twenty-two representatives of the police, government, and non-governmental organizations attended Huelgo's November 29 workshop on domestic abuse. The workshop brought together key stakeholders to discuss issues related to domestic abuse and to develop best practices on how to address them. During her visit, Huelgo also conducted one-on-one expert exchanges with directors of three NGOs working on domestic violence issues. ¶6. (U) On November 30 the Ambassador hosted at her residence a lunch for guests working in the field of violence against women and children. The lunch brought together representatives from a number of prominent NGOs as well as government officials working in that sector. ¶7. (U) Comment. The variety of activities conducted to draw attention to violence against women and children reached a broad audience. The concept of "not blaming the victim" was emphasized throughout the events, which some workshop participants told us was "eye-opening" to them. The workshop and stakeholders' lunch provided an opportunity for stakeholders to discuss with each other new strategies to assist victims. End Comment. SCHREIBER HUGHES