Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07PARAMARIBO649
2007-12-14 19:56:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Paramaribo
Cable title:  

EMBASSY PARAMARIBO ACTIVITIES -- TAKING ACTION ON

Tags:  PREL KWMN KAPO PHUM NS 
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VZCZCXRO2426
OO RUEHGR
DE RUEHPO #0649 3481956
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 141956Z DEC 07
FM AMEMBASSY PARAMARIBO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9869
INFO RUCNCOM/EC CARICOM COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RUEHAO/AMCONSUL CURACAO IMMEDIATE 1218
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

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