STATUS OF WOMEN IN THE SADC REGION

UNCLAS STATE 112270 FOR AMBASSADORS FROM PDAS BUSHNELL AND AF/S BLANEY E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SOCI KWMN SADC SUBJECT: STATUS OF WOMEN IN THE SADC REGION REF: A) STATE 86067 B) WINDHOEK 1174 (NOTAL) C) CAPE TOWN 363 (NOTAL) D) PORT LOUIS 740 (NOTAL) ¶1. THIS IS AN ACTION CABLE. SEE PARA 4. ¶2. DISMAL STATUS QUO: AS INDICATED REFTEL A, PARA 9, DEPARTMENT REMAINS COMMITTED TO THE PRINCIPLES ARISING FROM THE BEIJING CONFERENCE ON IMPROVING THE STATUS OF WOMEN AND SEEKS YOUR ASSISTANCE IN POSSIBLE FOLLOW-ON ACTIVITIES IN THE SADC REGION. THE STATUS OF WOMEN THROUGHOUT THE SADC REGION, IN VARIOUS RESPECTS, CAN ONLY BE DEEMED SECOND-CLASS. IN MANY COUNTRIES WOMEN SUFFER DISCRIMINATION IN TERMS OF BOTH LAW AND PRACTICE. EVEN IN STATES IN WHICH GENDER EQUALITY IS MANDATED BY THE CONSTITUTION OR LEGISLATION, WOMEN STRUGGLE AGAINST THE FORMIDABLE FORCES OF SOCIETAL CUSTOM AND TRADITION. POSTS HUMAN RIGHTS REPORTS HAVE DETAILED MANY ONGOING SUCH PROBLEMS, ESPECIALLY IN THE AREAS OF INHERITANCE, PROPERTY OWNERSHIP, FINANCIAL/CONTRACTUAL RIGHTS, AND THE ABILITY TO PASS CITIZENSHIP TO CHILDREN. ¶3. SIGNS OF PROGRESS: DESPITE THE GENERALLY DISMAL PICTURE, WE HAVE SEEN SOME RECENT SIGNS OF PROGRESS. WE NOTE WITH INTEREST REF B "NAMIBIA: PARLIAMENT PASSES IMPORTANT GENDER LEGISLATION," AND REF C "SOUTH AFRICA: COMMISSION ON GENDER EQUALITY APPROVED BY ASSEMBLY." EMBASSY PORT LOUIS IS ASSISTING THE GOVERNMENT OF MAURITIUS WITH BEIJING CONFERENCE FOLLOW-UP ACTIVITIES (REF D). SEVERAL ADDRESSEE POSTS HAVE UTILIZED 116(E) AND OTHER PROJECTS TO ASSIST NGOS WORKING TO IMPROVE THE STATUS OF WOMEN TO GOOD EFFECT. AT THE BEIJING CONFERENCE DELEGATIONS FROM THE SADC COUNTRIES PROVIDED SURPRISINGLY STRONG AND DYNAMIC LEADERSHIP IN THIS AREA. WE HOPE TO BUILD ON THIS SOLID FOUNDATION AND NOT ALLOW THE MOMENTUM GENERATED AT BEIJING TO WANE. ¶4. ACTION REQUEST: WE WOULD APPRECIATE RESPONSES TO THE FOLLOWING QUERIES REGARDING THE STATUS OF WOMEN IN HOST COUNTRIES TO HELP US MORE FULLY GRASP THE CURRENT SITUATION AND TO GAUGE WHAT WE MIGHT PRODUCTIVELY DO IN THIS AREA. -- IS THERE ANY CURRENT LEGISLATION THAT DISCRIMINATES AGAINST WOMEN? IF SO, HOW? -- WHAT IS THE LEGAL STATUS OF "CUSTOMARY LAW" REGARDING WOMEN? IF "CUSTOMARY LAW" AND MODERN STATUTE VARY, HOW ARE DIFFERENCES RESOLVED? -- WHAT ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT AREAS OF DIVERGENCE, IF ANY, BETWEEN LAW AND PRACTICE REGARDING THE LEGAL STATUS OF WOMEN? -- HAS THE HOST GOVERNMENT PUBLICLY COMMITTED TO IMPLEMENT THE PLAN OF ACTION FROM THE BEIJING CONFERENCE? -- IF SO, WHAT STEPS HAVE BEEN TAKEN? WOULD AN INFORMATION-GATHERNING QUERY FROM YOUR EMBASSY SPUR ACTION? -- IF NOT, WOULD IT HELP FOR YOU TO RAISE THE ISSUE WITH HOST-GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS? -- ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONAL WAYS YOUR POST COULD UTILIZE 116(E),SELF-HELP, D/G PROGRAMS, ETC TO SUPPORT PROGRESS IN THIS AREA? WHAT HAVE YOU FOUND TO BE MOST EFFECTIVE? HAVE YOU BEEN ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THESE PROGRAMS BY PROMOTING THEM THROUGH PUBLIC DIPLOMACY, SUCH AS BY PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS OR CEREMONIES TO MARK PROGRAM FUND AWARDS? -- FOR GABORONE: WHAT, IF ANYTHING, IS SADC DOING TO FOLLOW-THROUGH ON THE BEIJING CONFERENCE? IS POST IN CONTACT WITH SADC SECRETARIAT ON THIS ISSUE? WILL IT BE ON THE AGENDA OF THE AUGUST SADC SUMMIT IN MASERU? -- FOR GABORONE: TO WHAT EXTENT IS THE SOUTHERN AFRICA REGIONAL DEMOCRATIZATION FUND PROMOTING THE STATUS OF WOMEN IN THE AREA? (NOTE: COULD SARDF, FOR EXAMPLE, HELP NETWORK NGO LEADERS IN NAMIBIA, WHO RECENTLY CARRIED THE DAY IN THEIR LANDMARK LEGISLATIVE EFFORT, WITH COUNTERPARTS ELSEWHERE IN THE REGION?) -- WHAT COULD THE DEPARTMENT, ALONE OR IN CONJUNCTION WITH YOUR POST (BEARING IN MIND OUR BUDGETARY SITUATION),DO TO IMPROVE THE STATUS OF WOMEN IN THE SADC REGION? ¶S. WE LOOK FORWARD TO RECEIVING YOUR ASSESSMENTS AND INSIGHTS ON THIS IMPORTANT ISSUE. REGARDS. CHRISTOPHER