SEEKING NAMES OF INFLUENTIAL WOMEN

UNCLAS RABAT 000159 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA/MAG, STATE FOR S/WE SMEHRA AND GLANE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KWMN PHUM PREL SUBJECT: SEEKING NAMES OF INFLUENTIAL WOMEN REF: A. 06 STATE 202341 ¶B. STATE 00011245 ¶1. This cable is sensitive but unclassified, please protect accordingly. ¶2. In response to reftel, Mission Morocco submits the names of the following five women. Latifa Jbabdi Jbabdi is a well-known Moroccan human rights advocate. She is a founding member of the Moroccan Association for Human Rights (AMDH) and the National Observatory of Children's Rights (ONDE). In 1983, she founded the Feminine Action Union, a nongovernmental organization specifically relating to women and children. She was the coordinator for the National Council for the reform of the personal status code which was enacted as the Family Law of 2004. She has also represented Morocco in United Nation's organizations. Jbabdi served on the Equity and Reconciliation Committee (IER) which investigated human rights abuses in Morocco from 1956 through ¶1999. She is now a member of the Consultative Council on Human Rights (CCDH),which is implementing the recommendations of the IER, and is a permanent consultant to the Rabat Social Development Agency. Contact Information: Latifa Jbabdi President Union de l'Action Feminine 425, Avenue Hassan II Apt 13, Diour Jemaa Rabat, Morocco --Nuzha Skalli Skalli, a pharmacist by training and the former president of the National Trade Union Federation of Moroccan Pharmacists, is a member of the board of the socialist party (PPS),a parliamentarian and the first female head of a parliamentary caucus group. She is the founder and an executive member of several associations focusing on women, e.g., the Democratic Association of Moroccan Women, the Listening Center for Legal Assistance to Women, Victims of Violence and the Center for Female Leadership (CLEF). Skalli has actively fought for women's rights since the 1970s. Contact Information: Nouzha Skalli Chef de Groupe de l'Alliance Socialists Chambre des Representants 30, Rue Sidi Belyout, 5eme Etage, Apt. 54 Casablanca, Morocco --Yasmina Baddou Baddou is the State Secretary to the Minister of Social Development, Solidarity, Children, Family and Handicapped. Prior to this position, she was an accredited lawyer to the supreme court, a judicial advisor to the Wali of Casablanca and a director of the judicial department of the Banque Commerciale du Maroc. Baddou is a member of the Istiqlal political party and a deputy elected from Casablanca; and, as well, she is the vice-president of Alliance Pro, a "think-tank" nongovernmental organization. Contact Information: Yasmina Baddou Secretaire d'Etat aupres du Ministre du Developpment social, SIPDIS de la famille et de la solidarite 31 Avenue El Abtal, BP 8101, Agdal Rabat, Morocco --Asmaa Chaabi Chaabi is the director of a private school, a business woman, and the president of the Chaabi foundation. In 2003, she was elected the president (mayor) of the municipal council of Essaouira. Contact Information: Asmaa Chaabi Maire d'Essaouira 4 Rue Lalla Meryem, Souissi Rabat, Morocco or: Asmaa Chaabi Vice Presidente Ynna Holding 233, Blvd. Mohammed V Casablanca, Morocco --Rahma Bourquia Bourquia is a well-known academic and women rights advocate. Her career has focused on women's rights in Morocco and throughout the Arab World. Bourquia played an active and instrumental role in the formation and passage of the 2004 Family Law. As the president of Hassan II University in Mohammedia since 2002, she is the only female holding such a position. Contact Information: Rahma Bourquia Presidente Universite Hassan II 279 Lot Yasmina, BP 150 Mohammedia, Morocco ¶3. Mission officers following women's issues are: Rabat -- Cherie Lenzen -- LenzenCJ@state.gov, X2064 Casablanca -- Amy Wilson -- WilsonAM@state.gov, X4151 ****************************************** Visit Embassy Rabat's Classified Website; http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/rabat ****************************************** Riley