Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09NEWDELHI2332
2009-11-19 03:59:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy New Delhi
Cable title:
U/S OTERO ENGAGES GOI MINISTER TIRATH ON WOMEN'S
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UNCLAS NEW DELHI 002332
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
STATE FOR SCA/INS AND EEB, STATE FOR USAID
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KWMN KDEM KTIP IN
SUBJECT: U/S OTERO ENGAGES GOI MINISTER TIRATH ON WOMEN'S
EMPOWERMENT AND TIP
UNCLAS NEW DELHI 002332
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
STATE FOR SCA/INS AND EEB, STATE FOR USAID
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KWMN KDEM KTIP IN
SUBJECT: U/S OTERO ENGAGES GOI MINISTER TIRATH ON WOMEN'S
EMPOWERMENT AND TIP
1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Under Secretary for Democracy and Global Affairs
Otero met with Minister of Women and Child Development Krishna
Tirath on November 6 to discuss Government of India (GOI) measures
for women's empowerment and to combat trafficking in persons, two
enormous challenges India faces. They also discussed areas for
bilateral cooperation on both issues. Otero stressed that bilateral
cooperation on trafficking in persons would help U.S. understanding
of the scope of the problem and India's efforts while supporting
effective strategies to address it. END SUMMARY.
GOI WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT INITIATIVES
--------------
2. (SBU) During their November 6 meeting in New Delhi, Under
Secretary Otero and Women and Child Development Minister Krishna
Tirath agreed that a country could not reach its full development
potential without empowering women economically and socially.
Tirath presented Otero with documents detailing GOI efforts to
achieve this important goal. Tirath highlighted amendments to the
Constitution (Articles 14, 15, 15.3, 16, 19 and 42),the increase in
reservation of women in village councils (panchayats) from 33
percent to 50 percent, the 2005 Domestic Violence Act, the 1994
Prohibition of Sex Selection Act, the Working Women's Hostel
program, and the recent Daughters Against Dowry Awareness Campaign
as effective GOI measures. In addition, Otero and Tirath discussed
the importance of self-help groups to empower women. They also
briefly touched on Tirath's upcoming meeting with U.S.
Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women's Issues, Melanne Verveer to
discuss the Women's Empowerment Dialogue (WED),reported septel.
(Note: The WED encourages exchanges on women's empowerment issues
with the goal of mutual collaboration and cooperation. End Note.)
GOI MEASURES TO COMBAT TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS
--------------
3. (SBU) Otero and Tirath also addressed trafficking in persons
(TIP). Tirath emphasized the GOI's strides in combating the problem
and pointed to the Ujjawala program, launched in April 2007, which
acts to prevent trafficking and supports the rescue, rehabilitation,
and reintegration of victims of trafficking and commercial sexual
exploitation. As of March 2009, 79 projects have been instituted
under the program with each project assisting on average 50 women.
In addition, Tirath said the increased level of awareness of the
problem indicated that human trafficking is being addressed. She
added that the GOI has focused on the economic and social
empowerment of women as important factors in preventing TIP. Otero
stressed that the U.S. wanted to cooperate with India to help
prevent trafficking as well as obtain better information on the
GOI's varied anti-TIP efforts. This would help Indian efforts to
solve the problem and would assist in ensuring the accuracy of the
TIP Report. Tirath indicated she would investigate potential areas
of cooperation and would respond formally in a letter to Otero.
COMMENT
--------------
4. (SBU) Tirath, who has been minister since June, was not
comfortable with the details of her portfolio and relied on Economic
Advisor (and regular embassy contact) Manjula Krishnan for a
complete description of the GOI's various women's empowerment and
anti-TIP activities. Nevertheless, Otero's exchange with Tirath on
TIP helped underscore the importance the U.S. attaches to anti-TIP
efforts, and signaled our willingness to help the GOI address the
challenge.
ROEMER
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
STATE FOR SCA/INS AND EEB, STATE FOR USAID
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KWMN KDEM KTIP IN
SUBJECT: U/S OTERO ENGAGES GOI MINISTER TIRATH ON WOMEN'S
EMPOWERMENT AND TIP
1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Under Secretary for Democracy and Global Affairs
Otero met with Minister of Women and Child Development Krishna
Tirath on November 6 to discuss Government of India (GOI) measures
for women's empowerment and to combat trafficking in persons, two
enormous challenges India faces. They also discussed areas for
bilateral cooperation on both issues. Otero stressed that bilateral
cooperation on trafficking in persons would help U.S. understanding
of the scope of the problem and India's efforts while supporting
effective strategies to address it. END SUMMARY.
GOI WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT INITIATIVES
--------------
2. (SBU) During their November 6 meeting in New Delhi, Under
Secretary Otero and Women and Child Development Minister Krishna
Tirath agreed that a country could not reach its full development
potential without empowering women economically and socially.
Tirath presented Otero with documents detailing GOI efforts to
achieve this important goal. Tirath highlighted amendments to the
Constitution (Articles 14, 15, 15.3, 16, 19 and 42),the increase in
reservation of women in village councils (panchayats) from 33
percent to 50 percent, the 2005 Domestic Violence Act, the 1994
Prohibition of Sex Selection Act, the Working Women's Hostel
program, and the recent Daughters Against Dowry Awareness Campaign
as effective GOI measures. In addition, Otero and Tirath discussed
the importance of self-help groups to empower women. They also
briefly touched on Tirath's upcoming meeting with U.S.
Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women's Issues, Melanne Verveer to
discuss the Women's Empowerment Dialogue (WED),reported septel.
(Note: The WED encourages exchanges on women's empowerment issues
with the goal of mutual collaboration and cooperation. End Note.)
GOI MEASURES TO COMBAT TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS
--------------
3. (SBU) Otero and Tirath also addressed trafficking in persons
(TIP). Tirath emphasized the GOI's strides in combating the problem
and pointed to the Ujjawala program, launched in April 2007, which
acts to prevent trafficking and supports the rescue, rehabilitation,
and reintegration of victims of trafficking and commercial sexual
exploitation. As of March 2009, 79 projects have been instituted
under the program with each project assisting on average 50 women.
In addition, Tirath said the increased level of awareness of the
problem indicated that human trafficking is being addressed. She
added that the GOI has focused on the economic and social
empowerment of women as important factors in preventing TIP. Otero
stressed that the U.S. wanted to cooperate with India to help
prevent trafficking as well as obtain better information on the
GOI's varied anti-TIP efforts. This would help Indian efforts to
solve the problem and would assist in ensuring the accuracy of the
TIP Report. Tirath indicated she would investigate potential areas
of cooperation and would respond formally in a letter to Otero.
COMMENT
--------------
4. (SBU) Tirath, who has been minister since June, was not
comfortable with the details of her portfolio and relied on Economic
Advisor (and regular embassy contact) Manjula Krishnan for a
complete description of the GOI's various women's empowerment and
anti-TIP activities. Nevertheless, Otero's exchange with Tirath on
TIP helped underscore the importance the U.S. attaches to anti-TIP
efforts, and signaled our willingness to help the GOI address the
challenge.
ROEMER