ACTION REQUEST: PLIGHT OF IRAQI WIDOWS A PRIORITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L STATE 029895 E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/26/2019 TAGS: EAID ECON PGOV PHUM PREL IZ SUBJECT: ACTION REQUEST: PLIGHT OF IRAQI WIDOWS A PRIORITY CONCERN FOR THE SECRETARY REF: A. CHUNG-RIDDLE EMAIL OF MARCH 13 ¶B. BAGHDAD 492 ¶C. BAGHDAD 543 Classified By: NEA DAS Richard Schmierer for E.O. 12985 reasons 1.4(b) and (d) ¶1. (U) This is an action request. Please see paragraphs 4-7. ¶2. (C) Summary: NEA/I commends Post's reporting on the plight of Iraq's war widows and developments within the Ministry of State for Women's Affairs (MoSWA) on this and other issues that affect Iraqi women (ref 492, 543). The Department is exploring opportunities to assist this vulnerable population, including through the establishment of a "Secretary's Program to Assist Iraqi Widows." In addition, we are looking to capitalize on the successes of existing programs that can help specifically address these pressing needs. End Summary. ¶3. (C) The Department understands that the Government of Iraq,s (GOI) widow stipend program is plagued with an unwieldy registration process and a shortage of staff, capacity and funding. These problems include, but are not limited to, registration challenges (e.g., difficulty in obtaining the spousal death certificate needed to register) and GOI lack of funds to pay stipends to the majority of registered recipients. ¶4. (C) In light of the Secretary's strong interest in this issue, information and action on the following items is requested: -- Convey to the GOI the increasing international concerns about the treatment of widows; -- Urge the GOI to address inefficiencies with the widows stipend program and any other GOI widow and women's assistance programs; -- Encourage the appropriate levels of the GOI, including the Prime Minister's Office and the Minister of Finance, to allocate the necessary amount of funds needed for MoSWA (Note: Post is requested to confirm reports that MoSWA received approximately 85% less in the 2009 budget than in the 2008 budget); -- Identify specific challenges within the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs (MoLSA) to distribute stipend funds, as well as obtain information on the steps (and bottlenecks) of the registration process; -- Encourage Provincial Reconstruction Teams to increase the amount of Quick Response Fund projects for widows, including for projects that would provide stipend registration information province-wide; and, -- Obtain information on any current or planned USG and/or GOI initiatives that specifically address how to counter AQI's ability to recruit suicide bombers from among widows of insurgents. -------------- -------------- USAID, MNF-I AND FORMER MINISTER OF MoSWA INITIATIVES -------------- -------------- ¶5. (SBU) We understand that USAID is currently assessing its ability to provide support to widows through various mechanisms; an update on these activities is requested. ¶6. (C) Following the resignation of the former Minister of MoSWA over staffing and funding issues, the former Minister reportedly received three commitments from international donors as well as a list of women volunteers to serve in MoSWA. As a result she reportedly sought to withdraw her resignation. The Department requests clarity on this situation as well as the feasibility of the MoSWA receiving and effectively using donor assistance under its existing leadership. ¶7. (C) MNF-I has informally reported that the Iraqi Strategic Women's Initiative Committee is considering lobbying the GOI to elevate MoSWA to a full ministry, or alternatively to push for a separate National Women's Commission that would be supported by the Council of Representatives. The Embassy's position on this initiative is requested, as well as an assessment of the feasibility and challenges of such proposals. -------------- -------------- USG ASSISTANCE AND THE PROPOSED "SECRETARY,S PROGRAM TO ASSIST IRAQI WIDOWS" -------------- -------------- ¶8. (C) NEA/I intends to request $3.5 million in the FY'09 Supplemental request for the Marla Ruzicka War Victims Fund and an additional $5 million for a proposed "Secretary's Program to Assist Iraqi Widows," which would be used to promote the work of NGOs with widows in the provinces as well as promote and assist widow stipend registration. NEA will work with USAID and Embassy POL and ECON sections to further develop this program in the coming weeks. CLINTON