MISSION POLAND'S NOMINATION FOR SECRETARY'S WOMEN

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 WARSAW 001225 SIPDIS G/IWI - ANDREA BOTTNER E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KWMN PREL KPAO PHUM POL SUBJECT: MISSION POLAND'S NOMINATION FOR SECRETARY'S WOMEN OF COURAGE AWARD REF: STATE 099729 ¶1. U.S. Embassy Warsaw nominates Stana Buchowska, the Co-Founder and National Coordinator for La Strada Poland (Foundation Against Trafficking in Human Beings and Slavery) for the 2009 Secretary's Award for International Women of Courage. Stana Buchowska was notified by U.S. Embassy Warsaw of her nomination for this award. U.S. Embassy Warsaw also wishes to highlight recently-passed Irena Sendler, the rescuer of over 2,500 Jewish children from the Warsaw Ghetto as another exemplary Woman of Courage and encourage wider recognition of her amazing life. Information about Nominee -------------- ¶2. Information requested reftel follows: -- Full legal name: Stana Buchowska -- Job title/association: National Coordinator of La Strada Poland Foundation Against Trafficking in Human Beings and Slavery -- Date of birth: January 1, 1958 -- Country of birth: Slovakia -- Citizenship: Slovakia -- Address: La Strada, P.O. Box 05, 00-956, Warsaw, Poland -- Telephone: 48-22-622-1985 -- E-mail: strada@pol.pl, stanabuchowska@yahoo.com -- Passport number: P0308401 Justification -------------- ¶3. Stana Buchowska is the Co-Founder and National Coordinator of La Strada Poland Foundation Against Trafficking in Human Beings and Slavery, an NGO which in September 2008 celebrated thirteen years of regional leadership and activism in the fight against trafficking in persons in Central and Eastern Europe. She is also a member of the Global Alliance Against Trafficking in Women. Ms. Buchowska was one of the first persons in Poland to recognize the problem of young women trafficked to, from, and through Poland. She and her staff, comprised of a few dedicated full-time employees and many volunteers, continue to run the only shelter in Poland exclusively for trafficking victims trying to rebuild their lives. La Strada provides trafficking victims, regardless of nationality, with psychological counseling, medical attention, reemployment training, access to legal representation, and countless other services under the auspices of their crisis prevention and social rehabilitation programs. ¶4. Ms. Buchowska is both a skilled, attentive practitioner and an effective lobbyist for her cause. She works on a daily basis with Polish law enforcement officials who identify trafficking victims and deliver them to her capably equipped staff. She also sits on the Polish interagency Anti-Trafficking working group and pushes her government to do even more to help. La Strada in 2007 trained federal judges around Poland on the sensitive and effective handling of trafficking cases, and similar training for federal prosecutors is under development. Ms. Buchowska and her organization have advocated for creating a solid system of assistance and support for trafficking victims for many years. La Strada has developed such a reputation for excellence and commitment, that they now receive direct funding from the Polish government for victim assistance. ¶5. La Strada has long been considered the primary Polish source of information on trends, statistics, and other trafficking in persons issues, and is viewed as a model for nascent civil societies beginning to involve themselves in the fight against trafficking. Ms. Buchowska travels extensively throughout the region to La Strada partner organizations, regional conferences, and Poland's neighboring countries, sharing her expertise on trafficking in specific and the mechanics of NGO fundraising, communication, conflict resolution, and negotiation skills in general. Ms. Buchowska is a dynamic, yet humble, anti-trafficking hero, and a true international woman of courage. ¶6. Embassy Warsaw also wishes to highlight Irena Sendler as another exemplary Woman of Courage. Irena Sendler (February 15, 1910- May 12, 2008) was active in the Polish Underground and anti-Holocaust resistance, and is credited with saving the lives of at least 2,500 Jewish children from the Warsaw Ghetto. Sendler's story only came to light in recent years, which makes her situation all the more poignant Although she does not meet the standard nomination criteria, we believe that highlighting her amazing life -- perhaps by creating a special posthumous award -- would pay handsome dividends in WARSAW 00001225 002 OF 002 Poland, underlining the significance of the contributions made by Buchowska and other Polish women. ASHE