MEXICO BACKS FOLLOW-ON TO UNSC 1820

C O N F I D E N T I A L MEXICO 002795

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

WHA FOR MEX DIRECTOR LEE AND STAFF, IO/UNP, AND DRL/MLGA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/11/2019
TAGS: MX PGOV PHUM PREL UNGA
SUBJECT: MEXICO BACKS FOLLOW-ON TO UNSC 1820

REF: A. SECSTATE 96047

B. SECSTATE90254

Classified By: Confidential by Deputy Minister Counselor for Political
Affairs James P. Merz
Reason: 1.4 (b),(d).


1. (C) Juan Gonzalez Mijares, the Foreign Ministry's Deputy
Assistant Secretary for Multilateral Affairs and Human
Rights, underscored to Poloff 9/22 that the Mexican
Government strongly supports initiatives that will provide
technical support for victims of sexual violence, such as the
follow-on to UNSC 1820 (Ref A). The GOM also supports naming
a Special Representative of the Secretary General (SRSG) on
this matter in order to elevate the issue of victims of
post-conflict sexual violence. However, according to
Mijares, the GOM has more interest in direct, impact-oriented
assistance than dialogue. Therefore, it would prefer to see
the creation of a task force rather than a Special
Representative. To Mijares' knowledge, the follow-on to UNSC
1820 will be presented October 5.


2. (C) Mijares expressed two concerns overall regarding the
follow-on measure to UNSCR 1820. The first relates to a
potential overlap between the proposed SRSG on Sexual
Violence in Conflict proposed in 1820's follow-on and the
prospective "composite gender entity" that the USG has
proposed replace the four existing UN bodies dealing with
gender issues (Ref B). From Ref A talking points, Poloff
related to Mijares that a SRSG on sexual violence would
potentially preside over the twelve UN entities that deal
with this issue. He expressed interest in this anticipated
structure. However, he noted that some countries in which
these existing twelve entities are currently located, such as
the Dominican Republic, which hosts the United Nations
International Research and Training Institute for the
Advancement of Women (INSTRAW),may request some type of
reimbursement and/or seek to host some new UN entity if/when
those offices are moved to UN headquarters in NYC. From
Mexico's perspective, this kind of settlement could well
cancel out any financial or organizational benefit the UN
hoped to derive from creating a single institution for gender
issues. Mejares asked that the U.S. discuss the
possibilities in advance with UN staff and representatives of
the countries involved.


3. (C) In part due to the 8-9% economic downturn that Mexico
has sufferred in the last year, Mijares' second concern
related to funding. He asked how the UN and member states
would finance the proposed SRSG and Task Force institutions.
He stressed that, in its current budget position, the GOM
would find it challenging to contribute to any new programs
or positions. Poloff noted that we were asking fellow UNSG
members to support funding the SRSG position from assessed
funds, but that we suggested that salaries for the SRSG's
staff and travel for the Task Force be funded from voluntary
funds (Ref A). Mijares asked Director for International
Women's Issues, Norma Contreras Felix, to take note of this
and signaled support for such an arrangement in principle


4. (C) Comment: Mijares stressed the GOM's genuine concern
about and involvement in gender and discrimination issues in
the UN. The only potential hang-up for Mexico is their
concern over the USG proposed "composite gender entity" in
Ref B. In principle, Mijares said the GOM would support both
the SRSG and, particularly, the Task Force. Based on our
exchange over this issue, Post suggests we consider looking
to Mexico as an ally on gender issues within the UN in the
future.
Visit Mexico City's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/mexicocity and the North American
Partnership Blog at http://www.intelink.gov/communities/state/nap /

FEELEY