SUDAN HOSTS ARAB WOMEN'S UNION CONFERENCE

UNCLAS KHARTOUM 000071 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR AF/SPG, S/CRS, AF/SE WILLIAMSON ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU USAID FOR DCHA SUDAN TEAM, AFR/SP E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM SU SUBJECT: SUDAN HOSTS ARAB WOMEN'S UNION CONFERENCE ¶1. (SBU) Summary: The Sudan Women's General Union (SWGU) hosted in Khartoum January 8-10 the fourth annual conference of the Arab Women's General Union (AWGU). Sudanese president Omar Hassan Al-Bashir addressed delegates at the opening session, promising that the Government of Sudan (GOS) will seek to advance women's issues, protect their rights, and prevent discrimination against them. Despite serious human rights violations against women in war-torn regions and a poor history addressing issues such as domestic violence, Sudan has a decent record on promoting women within the government. End summary. ¶2. (SBU) Conference delegates addressed the promotion of women's rights and freedoms, prevention of violence against women, and participation by women in the decision-making process. As would be expected at a meeting of delegates from Arab states, the conference expressed support to the struggle of women in Palestine, Iraq and Lebanon. Participants also called for a campaign to eliminate "technological illiteracy" among Arab Women, but warned against the dangers of "Cultural Globalization." ¶3. (SBU) President Al-Bashir addressed the delegates and praised the SWGU as a highly influential and broad-based organization that empowers women. He highlighted the close relationship between GOS and women's organizations. Al-Bashir assured participants that the GOS will work to prevent discrimination or violence against women. Attempting to link broader events in the Arab world to his own regime's struggles, President Bashir saluted the struggle of all Arab women "in Palestine, Golan, Shabaa Farms, Iraq, and those who are challenging sanctions." ¶4. (SBU) SWGU is considered the largest women's organization in Sudan and was established in 1992 primarily as a "volunteer organization" to promote women's issues in the work place, society and politics. It has charters in all 26 governorates of Sudan including the South. It was granted "Consultative Status" with the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSCO) in 2007. Fatma Khalid Ahmed Al-Bashir, President Al-Bashir's first Wife, is the honorary president of the SWGU. ¶5. (SBU) The Arab Women's General Union (AWGU) is the umbrella organization for women's organizations in Arab countries. It was established in Cairo, Egypt, in 1944. The AWGU was not active for several years following the Gulf War in the 1990's due to the severe differences between Arab countries that the war provoked. It resumed its activities with an annual conference in Sanaa, Yemen in 2005, and followed that with annual conferences in Syria, Algeria, and now Khartoum. ¶6. (SBU) Comments: In terms of advancement of women to positions in government, Sudan has a decent record. Several women with high-level positions in the Government of National Unity attended the conference, including: Dr. Samia Ahmed Mohamed, Minister of Social Welfare; Ms. Rajaa Khalifa, Secretary General of the Sudan Women's Union; and Ms. Amira Al-Fadel, Secretary General of Children's Welfare Council. Historically, it is worth noting that Sudan was one of the first countries in the region to appoint female judges. However, the regime's record on preventing violence against women in war zones is appalling, which makes its effort to present itself as a defender of women's rights less than credible. FERNANDEZ