EMBASSY SUVA NOMINATION FOR INTERNATIONAL WOMEN OF COURAGE

UNCLAS SUVA 000496

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPT FOR G/IWI, Andrea Bottner

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KWMN PLUM PREL KPAO FJ
SUBJECT: EMBASSY SUVA NOMINATION FOR INTERNATIONAL WOMEN OF COURAGE
AWARD - FIJI

REF: STATE 126072


1. Embassy Suva is pleased and proud to nominate Ms. Virisila
Buadromo, Executive Director of the Fiji Women's Rights Movement
for the Secretary of State's International Women of Courage Award.
Ms. Buadromo has been notified of her nomination.


2. Ms. Buadromo's particulars are as follows:

Virisila Buadromo
Executive Director, Fiji Women's Rights Movement
DOB: November 9, 1971

Contact Information:
Fiji Women's Rights Movement
29 Knolly Street,
PO Box 14194, Suva, Fiji
Tel: (679) 3313 156; Fax: (679) 3313033
Email: virisila@fwrm.org.fj


3. Justification: Virisila Buadromo has been a strong advocate for
women's and human rights since 2001, when she was appointed
Executive Director of the Fiji Women's Rights Movement (FWRM).
Having endured detention and abuse at the hands of Fiji's
military-backed government for her vocal opposition to the December
2006 coup, Ms. Buadromo nevertheless continues her efforts to
advance women's rights, human rights, and democracy in Fiji.
FWRM has been at the forefront of the women's movement in Fiji for
more than 20 years, advocating and lobbying for gender equality and
legal and policy reform. Following the December 2006 coup, Ms.
Buadromo and the FWRM became outspoken critics of the coup and
military-installed government.
As a result of this pro-democracy advocacy, Ms. Buadromo was seized
by soldiers from her home in the middle of the night on December 24,
2006 and taken to a military barracks. Five other coup opponents
were taken with her. Over the course of the night and into
Christmas morning, the group was physically beaten, verbally abused,
threatened, and humiliated - stepped on, made to lay and crawl on
the wet pavement, and lick soldiers' boots - before being forced to
run several miles in the rain through Suva, followed by soldiers in
vehicles. The Interim Government imposed a travel ban on the
activists, preventing them from leaving the country, which was
maintained for two months.
Ms. Buadromo's efforts on behalf of women's, civil and human rights
have not flagged, despite this abuse and intimidation. As
chairperson of the Fiji NGO Coalition on Human Rights, her
involvement in these issues has, if anything, grown.
The 2006 coup, and Fiji's post-coup environment, has posed unique
challenges for FWRM. Traditionally, the organization focused its
energies on lobbying Fiji's parliament and the Fiji Government. In
the post coup environment this is no longer an option because there
is no parliament to lobby and engaging the Interim Government would
compromise the organization's stated position that the government is
illegal.

In this environment, FWRM has re-energized its community based
efforts, and two are particularly worth mentioning. One is the
Emerging Leaders Forum (ELF),a year-long training program for young
women, covering a wide variety of important topics, from the
environment and sustainable development to feminism and public
speaking. The 2007 program particularly emphasizes democracy and
human rights. Critical to the development of future women leaders,
the ELF provides a safe forum for young women to debate and explore
their thoughts and ideas about the current political situation in
Fiji. Another key program is FWRM's outreach efforts targeted at
raising awareness of Fiji's family law and the Family Law Court.
Advertising with pamphlets in English, Hindi and Fijian, and in the
future on TV as well, FWRM is working to inform and educate Fiji's
most vulnerable citizens about their rights and ability to access
justice.

Ms. Buadromo has a long history of activism and advocacy on behalf
of these important issues in Fiji. That she continues to advocate
democratic and human rights issues, despite continuing and very real
danger, is a testament both to her commitment and the importance of
her work in Fiji.


4. Emboffs following women's issues at post:

Brian Siler
Pol/Econ Chief
US Embassy Suva
Tel: (679) 331-4466, x8114
Fax: (679) 330-2401
Email: SilerBJ@state.gov

Quinn Plant
US Embassy Suva
Tel: (679) 331-4466, x8184
Fax: (679) 330-2401

Email: SilerBJ@state.gov

MANN