MISSION, GOC, AND IO INVOLVEMENT IN ACTIVITIES AGAINST

UNCLAS NDJAMENA 000576 SIPDIS SENSITIVE STATE FOR AF/C AND S/GWI E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PREF PHUM EAID SOCI KWMN CD SUBJECT: MISSION, GOC, AND IO INVOLVEMENT IN ACTIVITIES AGAINST GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE REFTEL: STATE 120322 -------------- SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (SBU) In response to reftel, Post would like to take the opportunity to highlight its long history of fighting gender-based violence (GBV) and female genital mutilation (FGM) in Chadian society. The GOC has recently inaugurated its own GBV campaign. In addition, the UN system is deeply engaged in this issue in Chad among all three populations: host populations, refugees, and internally displaced. -------------- HISTORY OF POST'S EFFORTS AGAINST GBV -------------- ¶2. (SBU) In response to reftel, Post would like to take the opportunity to highlight its long history of fighting gender-based violence (GBV) and female genital mutilation (FGM) in Chadian society, as well as the . Over many years, the Mission has funded activities and assisted local organizations to combat GBV. The Embassy has been at the forefront of efforts to specifically combat FGM, including financial support for a national NGO that engaged with the GOC on passage and enactment of a local law criminalizing the practice of FGM. We have also funded a study examining the problem and nation-wide education campaigns to change attitudes and behaviors. -------------- GOVERNMENT'S CHANCE TO TAKE CHARGE -------------- ¶3. (SBU) More recently, the GOC, supported by the UN, has launched its own campaign to address the issue of GBV. First Lady Hinda Deby has championed the initiative, which kicked off with ceremonies and speeches in Chad's eastern city of Abeche on October 28, 2009. The Ministry of National Solidarity, which is headed by women, is particularly active on this issue through social outreach centers around the country. The GOC has developed and distributed a variety of graphic materials -- pamphlets, billboards, paintings on walls -- illustrating its message condemning FGM, early marriage, rape and GBV, sexual harassment, exploitation of girls, and use of child soldiers. UN officials have told us that they feel attitudes toward GBV are changing fastest among women of higher socio-economic classes, but also believe that poorer women are beginning to mobilize in locations where particularly egregious cases of gender-based violence have occurred. -------------- UN EFFORTS TO FIGHT GBV -------------- ¶4. (SBU) The UN Population Fund (UNFPA) has the lead among UN agencies to address the issue of gender-based violence among Chadian populations in the GBV "Sub-cluster" within the "protection cluster," as part of the response framework under the UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Activities (OCHA). UNHCR maintains the lead for all protection issues within the Sudanese and Central African refugee camps, in coordination with UNFPA. The Population Fund coordinated its 2009 activities according to its Annual Action Plan and is developing a 2010 national strategy to combat GBV. Under the 2009 Action Plan, UNFPA developed the sensitization training manuals for use nation-wide, and led UN agency activities pertaining to medical responses. The 2010 National Prevention and Response Strategy will have specific sections focused on activities for the east and south of the country where refugees, internally displaced persons (IDPs) and host populations live in often uneasy proximity. UNFPA, along with other UN agencies and INGOs, has built a data collection tool, the GBV Information Management System (GBV-IMS),which it intends to utilize to standardize all data collection in the varied communities they serve. Funding for the roll-out of the GBV-IMS is still needed, and UNFPA intends to make an appeal to the USG for assistance. NIGRO