Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09DAMASCUS479
2009-07-09 13:59:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Damascus
Cable title:
WOMEN'S ISSUES: IOM HALTS FUNDS TO LOCAL WOMEN'S
VZCZCXYZ0000 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHDM #0479 1901359 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 091359Z JUL 09 FM AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6583 INFO RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 0629 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 0596 RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0668 RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L DAMASCUS 000479
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ELA
LONDON FOR TSOU, PARIS FOR MILLER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/09/2019
TAGS: PHUM PREF KTIP KWMN SCUL SOCI SY
SUBJECT: WOMEN'S ISSUES: IOM HALTS FUNDS TO LOCAL WOMEN'S
NGO
REF: A. DAMASCUS 00062
B. DAMASCUS 00471
Classified By: CDA a.i. Raymond Maxwell for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L DAMASCUS 000479
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ELA
LONDON FOR TSOU, PARIS FOR MILLER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/09/2019
TAGS: PHUM PREF KTIP KWMN SCUL SOCI SY
SUBJECT: WOMEN'S ISSUES: IOM HALTS FUNDS TO LOCAL WOMEN'S
NGO
REF: A. DAMASCUS 00062
B. DAMASCUS 00471
Classified By: CDA a.i. Raymond Maxwell for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) Maria Rumman, the Chief of Mission for the
International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Damascus,
reported that IOM ceased making grant payments to the
Association for Arab Women's Role Development (AWRD) in the
first week of July because of its failure to implement and
operate a shelter for victims of trafficking. The shelter,
which officially announced its opening on December 31, 2008
(ref A) and which was partially funded under a PRM regional
"Multi Action Program for Emergency Assistance for Iraqi
Victims of Trafficking," has yet to admit a single refugee.
Rumman told us the funds would remain on hold until AWRD
addressed outstanding administrative issues and began
admitting women.
2. (C) IOM had coordinated and funded AWRD to implement a
shelter for victims of trafficking in persons. We visited
the shelter in January, at which time IOM and AWRD felt
certain it would be open for business shortly (ref B). AWRD
received "verbal support" from First Lady Asma al-Asad, and
the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor donated the building
space. A shelter for victims of domestic violence (Oasis of
Hope),also administered by AWRD was located in the same
building as the trafficking shelter.
3. (C) IOM's assessment of AWRD tracks with what others have
reported to Post about the NGO's general effectiveness. As
previously reported (reftels),the Sisters of the Good
Shepherd (SGS) have long suspected AWRD of having a
dilettantish approach to the administration of both shelters.
On multiple occasions the Sisters have sought to place women
in the two AWRD shelters, only to be told that admittance of
an individual would require a board members assent. To date,
the SGS have never succeeded in placing a woman in either
shelter. According to Maria Rumman, the shelter for domestic
violence is open, but at present only has three women in
residence.
4. (C) Comment: We commend IOM for halting funding to AWRD,
given the poor management of the shelter, and for the
continued energy IOM displays on raising trafficking issues
with the SARG. Given the SARG's donation of the building for
the victims of trafficking shelter and the willingness to
facilitate AWRD's endeavor the gesture suggests, we do not
suspect the shelter's failure to be anything but a product of
AWRD's mismanagement and, perhaps, lack of commitment. End
comment.
MAXWELL
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ELA
LONDON FOR TSOU, PARIS FOR MILLER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/09/2019
TAGS: PHUM PREF KTIP KWMN SCUL SOCI SY
SUBJECT: WOMEN'S ISSUES: IOM HALTS FUNDS TO LOCAL WOMEN'S
NGO
REF: A. DAMASCUS 00062
B. DAMASCUS 00471
Classified By: CDA a.i. Raymond Maxwell for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) Maria Rumman, the Chief of Mission for the
International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Damascus,
reported that IOM ceased making grant payments to the
Association for Arab Women's Role Development (AWRD) in the
first week of July because of its failure to implement and
operate a shelter for victims of trafficking. The shelter,
which officially announced its opening on December 31, 2008
(ref A) and which was partially funded under a PRM regional
"Multi Action Program for Emergency Assistance for Iraqi
Victims of Trafficking," has yet to admit a single refugee.
Rumman told us the funds would remain on hold until AWRD
addressed outstanding administrative issues and began
admitting women.
2. (C) IOM had coordinated and funded AWRD to implement a
shelter for victims of trafficking in persons. We visited
the shelter in January, at which time IOM and AWRD felt
certain it would be open for business shortly (ref B). AWRD
received "verbal support" from First Lady Asma al-Asad, and
the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor donated the building
space. A shelter for victims of domestic violence (Oasis of
Hope),also administered by AWRD was located in the same
building as the trafficking shelter.
3. (C) IOM's assessment of AWRD tracks with what others have
reported to Post about the NGO's general effectiveness. As
previously reported (reftels),the Sisters of the Good
Shepherd (SGS) have long suspected AWRD of having a
dilettantish approach to the administration of both shelters.
On multiple occasions the Sisters have sought to place women
in the two AWRD shelters, only to be told that admittance of
an individual would require a board members assent. To date,
the SGS have never succeeded in placing a woman in either
shelter. According to Maria Rumman, the shelter for domestic
violence is open, but at present only has three women in
residence.
4. (C) Comment: We commend IOM for halting funding to AWRD,
given the poor management of the shelter, and for the
continued energy IOM displays on raising trafficking issues
with the SARG. Given the SARG's donation of the building for
the victims of trafficking shelter and the willingness to
facilitate AWRD's endeavor the gesture suggests, we do not
suspect the shelter's failure to be anything but a product of
AWRD's mismanagement and, perhaps, lack of commitment. End
comment.
MAXWELL