Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ASTANA2098
2009-11-30 09:32:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Astana
Cable title:  

KAZAKHSTAN: NOMINATION FOR INTERNATIONAL WOMAN OF COURAGE

Tags:  PREL PHUM SMIG SOCI KPAO KTIP KWMN KZ 
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VZCZCXRO2649
PP RUEHAST
DE RUEHTA #2098 3340932
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 300932Z NOV 09
FM AMEMBASSY ASTANA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6925
INFO RUEHAST/AMCONSUL ALMATY 2035
UNCLAS ASTANA 002098 

SIPDIS

STATE FOR INL/AAE, G/TIP, SCA/CEN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PHUM SMIG SOCI KPAO KTIP KWMN KZ
SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: NOMINATION FOR INTERNATIONAL WOMAN OF COURAGE
2009

REF: A) STATE 111471
B) ASTANA 1206

UNCLAS ASTANA 002098

SIPDIS

STATE FOR INL/AAE, G/TIP, SCA/CEN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PHUM SMIG SOCI KPAO KTIP KWMN KZ
SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: NOMINATION FOR INTERNATIONAL WOMAN OF COURAGE
2009

REF: A) STATE 111471
B) ASTANA 1206


1. In response to ref A, Post submits the following nomination for
the International Woman of Courage award:

NAME: Galina Morozova
TITLE: President
ORAGANIZATION: NGO Feminist League
DATE AND PLACE OF BIRTH: 15-Apr-1949, Russia
ID NUMBER: 000813104
LANGUAGES: Russian
ADDRESS: 107, Lubov Shevtsova Str., Kokshetau, Republic of
Kazakhstan
Tel.: +7-7162-262784
Cell: +7-701-662-1284
Email: galina_morozova@mail.ru


2. Galina Morozova is a tireless, compassionate, and effective
advocate for victims of human trafficking in Kazakhstan. For the
past 12 years, Morozova has devoted her life to the protection of
others. When she formed her NGO in 1998, Kazakhstan was a Tier 3
country that did not yet recognize the seriousness of trafficking in
persons. At that time, Galina was unable to afford the $200 fee to
register her NGO. A grant from a Peace Corps volunteer allowed her
to realize her dream. With no support from the government, she
overcame obstacles and took substantial risks to provide assistance
and protection to over 60 victims of trafficking in a make-shift
shelter in her home. Despite threats to her life from traffickers,
she refused to stop helping victims, continues to give them shelter,
and fights for tougher sentences for traffickers. Recently, a
trafficker threatened Galina's life in open court when she advocated
for the victim at the trafficker's sentencing hearing.


3. After 10 years of determined effort, Galina was able to
establish a safe, functioning shelter with funding from the Embassy
of the Government of the Netherlands in 2008. Her shelter, which
can house up to 15 victims, is in an unassuming house in the suburbs
of the northern city of Kokshetau. It is protected by a high wall,
locking gates, and video surveillance (septel). Since 2008, she has
assisted 40 more victims, many of whom call to thank her or ask for
advice. Galina's shelter not only provides immediate medical and
psychological help, but also vocational training. Victims can stay
in the shelter until they are ready to leave. Galina remembers
every story and every face, which she collected in a book about
victims of trafficking. She then persuaded a local playwright to
create an anti-trafficking play of these stories. Hundreds of young
people have seen that play, which continues to be performed in
Kazakhstan to rave reviews and standing ovations (ref B).


4. Galina has cultivated the trust of not only the international
community, but also government officials. Galina is a respected
member of the Trafficking in Persons Commission of Akmolinskaya
Oblast, which includes all aspects of the local government. She has
also developed a strong relationship with other NGOs and relevant
partners. The Feminist League is a member of three large
anti-trafficking NGO networks.


5. Galina has implemented many U.S.-funded programs to fight
trafficking both directly and through the NGO networks. In 2000,
she received her first grant from the Embassy's Democracy Commission
to train police officers in Uralsk, Kostanai, and Pavlodar. This
year, she received an INL grant to train community police officers
to identify victims of trafficking in Kokshetau and Astana. Galina
operated a hotline and conducted a series of anti-trafficking
information campaigns under a 2001-2008 USAID grant.


6. Galina organizes conferences, meetings, and workshops to raise
awareness of human trafficking in the government and NGO community.
In addition, she is creating sustained anti-trafficking information
campaigns for students through the development of school curricula,
extra-curricular activities, and summer camps for at-risk children.



7. Galina Morozova truly is an international woman of courage and
deserves a large share of the credit for advancing Kazakhstan's
efforts to fight every aspect of trafficking. Her creative public
awareness campaigns, model shelter to protect victims and unyielding
efforts to help the authorities find and prosecute traffickers make
her an inspiration to potential victims, police officers and
government officials alike. Despite the risks to her own life,
Galina has brought justice and security to vulnerable women
throughout Kazakhstan and saved the lives of many young girls and
women.

SPRATLEN