2009 DEMOCRACY, HUMAN RIGHTS, AND LABOR

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 057344 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM PREL OTRA KTEX ETRD ELAB ECON AMGT ABUD, AFIN SUBJECT: 2009 DEMOCRACY, HUMAN RIGHTS, AND LABOR OFFICERS' TRAINING CONFERENCE-REGISTRATION NOW OPEN ¶1. This message contains action requests. See paragraphs 4-6. ¶2. The Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL) is pleased to announce that registration is now open for the 2009 DRL Officers Conference. On behalf of DRL, I would like to invite all democracy, human rights, and labor officers and other interested officers to the fifth annual DRL global conference to be held at the Department of State in Washington, D.C., July 15-17, ¶2009. ¶3. As mentioned in ref tel STATE 35677, our goal for this conference is threefold: to inform, update, and train officers on policies regarding democracy, human rights, and labor rights promotion so that they can help develop and implement strategies to achieve those goals, and enable the exchange of best practices on policy and program implementation, advocacy, and reporting. The 2009 conference will have sessions on democracy promotion efforts including electoral assistance, and developing and implementing democracy and human rights strategies, as well as on human rights promotion efforts including updating Human Rights Reports, how to be a more effective human rights officer, how religious freedom promotes human rights, and how to use intelligence community tools. The Conference will also have several sessions specifically focused on labor issues including child labor, forced labor, and labor and climate change. Officers should visit the DRL intranet site, http://drl.state.gov for the full agenda. -------------- Logistics -------------- ¶4. Scheduling: The conference will be held July 15-17 in the Harry S. Truman Building (HST). Overseas participants should arrive by Tuesday, July 14, in order to attend the opening session of the conference on the morning of July 15. There will be a networking reception with NGOs on Thursday, July 16. The conference will conclude on Friday, July 17 at 5:30 pm. ¶5. Registration: Officers should register online for the conference by July 2 via the DRL Intranet site, http://drl.state.gov, where DRL also regularly posts information about Bureau personnel, reporting requirements, and special events. The site includes the conference agenda, and will include background material as it becomes available. Posts should also e-mail their DRL country desk officer and their regional bureau's human rights officer regarding their attendance. ¶6. Funding: The Department expects posts to fund travel and per diem costs. DRL has a limited amount of funding available for a portion of the travel costs of those officers whose posts cannot pay; it will allocate those funds based upon the number of requests and the priority of the post in the Department's strategic goals for the promotion of democracy and human and labor rights. To request funding, please send a cost estimate to pf-drl-reports@state.gov, and copy Isabel Gates (GatesIN@state.gov),Susan Johnson (JohnsonSR2@state.gov),and your DRL desk officer. Please submit funding requests as soon as possible. ¶7. Accommodations: Following is a list of hotels located near the Department with rates within USG per diem. -State Plaza, 202-861-8200 or toll-free at 800-424- 2859 -Courtyard by Marriott Arlington Rosslyn, 703-528- 2222 or toll-free at 800-321-2211 -Best Western Key Bridge, 703-522-0400 Hyatt Arlington, 703-525-1234 Holiday Inn Rosslyn Westpark, 703-807-2000 or toll- free at 800-315-2621 Holiday Inn Georgetown, 202-338-4600 or toll-free at 800-315-2621 ¶8. Please direct questions regarding logistics and funding to Isabel Gates (GatesIN@state.gov). Please address questions regarding the conference agenda or STATE 00057344 002 OF 002 ¶9. We look forward to your participation in the 2009 Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor Officers' Conference. ¶10. Minimize considered. CLINTON