AMBASSADOR MEETS NGO REPS ON WOMEN'S ISSUES IN

UNCLAS VILNIUS 000064

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM KWMN XH LH BE
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR MEETS NGO REPS ON WOMEN'S ISSUES IN
KAUNAS


1. Summary: Representatives of NGOs working on women's issues
in Lithuania stressed to the Ambassador on January 27 in
Kaunas their view that, "women's rights are human rights."
These groups are mainly funded on a project to project basis,
and promote women's equality, social support, and networking
in business, politics and academia. They strongly welcomed
the USG,s commitment on global women's issues and the
appointment of Ambassador-at-large for Global Women's Issues
Melanne Verveer. End Summary.


2. NGO Participants:
Women's Employment Information Center (WEINC) - Jurate
Puidiene, Director
WEINC - Eligijus Dzezulskis-Duonys, Board Member
WEINC/Women's Politicians Club (MILDA) - Dania Dobiliene,
President
WEINC/Women's Entrepreneur's Club (XXI cent) - Ale
Jurgaitiene, President

Social Innovation Club - Audrone Kisieliene, Vice Director
Social Innovation Club - Andzelika Lilaite, Staff Member

Lithuanian University Women's Association (LUMA) - Ausra
Pleseckiene
LUMA - Ada Azaraviciene

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WOMEN'S EMPLOYMENT INFORMATION CENTER (WEINC)
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3. WEINC, established in 1994, is one of the largest women's
issue NGOs operating in Lithuania. It is funded on a project
to project basis from local and national government agencies,
the European Social Fund, and some foreign governments,
notably Finland. Its goals are to improve the status and
equality of women in Lithuania through job training, such as
computer and English language skills, and opportunities for
networking/mentoring. WEINC has an international reach. In
recent business networking/mentoring events, the WEINC
through its satellite NGO Women's Entrepreneur's Club (XXI
cent) invited participants from both Belarus and Russia
(Kaliningrad),as well as some Nordic countries.


4. Another WEINC satellite NGO, Women's Politician's Club
(MILDA) seeks to get a consensus on policy toward women's
issues across the political spectrum. It also works to
involve more young women in the political process. One of
the current goals of this organization is to get men the
right to take paid paternity leave.


5. WEINC leaders characterized the current GOL as having a
"so-so" attitude on women's issues. Progress is hindered by
a lack of resources and also an overall weak system of
supporting NGOs. The WEINC is currently organizing a Women's
Day Conference March 8 in Kaunas and is looking for VIPs from
the international community to attend. Ambassador
volunteered to attend and also give a speech outlining the
current U.S. policy on women's issues.

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SOCIAL INNOVATION FUND (SIF)
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6. SIF, established in 1994, works primarily on gender
equality and empowerment issues both in Lithuania and in
neighboring Belarus and Russia (Kaliningrad). In the last
few years SIF has gotten much of its funding on a project to
project basis from the European Commission. SIF was active
in drafting the report on UN Convention of the Elimination of
Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) implementation in
Lithuania. SIF is actively looking for international
partners to work together on women's issues in developing
countries.

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LITHUANIAN UNIVERSITY WOMEN'S ASSOCIATION (LUMA)
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7. Originally established in 1929 and re-established in 1991,
LUMA coordinates women's issue clubs in universities around
Lithuania. It is currently based in Kaunas (the headquarters
moves to a different city every six years). LUMA is
currently focusing on getting university women -- both
students and faculty -- involved in environment and health
issues.
DERSE