US embassy cable - 05MAPUTO165

UNCLAS MAPUTO 000165 
 
SIPDIS 
AF/RSA FOR RZUEHLKE 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ELAB, KWMN, PGOV, PHUM, PREL, EAID, Democracy, DHRF 
SUBJECT: 2005 DEMOCRACY AND HUMAN RIGHTS FUND BUDGET REQUEST 
 
REF: STATE 04389 
 
1. Post appreciates receiving FY2004 DHRF funding in the 
amount of $76,000, an increase from $70,000 in FY2003. 
These funds have enabled the Embassy to engage a broader 
range of Mozambican civil society in our efforts to help 
consolidate democratization and improve human rights 
performance. For FY2005, post requests an increase of 
$24,000 to $100,000 total, with projects to be dedicated 
primarily to trafficking-in-persons and women's rights 
issues. 
 
2. DHRF funding in FY2004 was used to support a variety of 
NGO and community group initiatives. Projects range from 
drafting a law to provide access to public information 
(much like the U.S. FOIA law), to publishing secondary 
school textbooks on law and human rights, to human 
rights-related radio programming targeted to non-Portuguese 
speaking populations in the north. Post funded six 
proposals in FY04, the same number as in FY03. The modest 
FY04 funding increase enabled post to dedicate larger 
funding amounts to some of the more promising project 
proposals, such as the public information law proposal. 
 
3. In FY05, post wants to expand its DHRF program to 
upgrade activities on trafficking in persons. Mozambique 
is a country of origin for trafficking in women; the 
International Organization on Migration has estimated that 
1,000 women per year are trafficked to South Africa to work 
as prostitutes. Information on trafficking is limited, 
however, and the real numbers of women trafficked may be 
higher, especially in the north. Mozambique does not have 
an anti-trafficking law but trafficking can be prosecuted 
under other laws. Mozambique's trafficking problem has 
increasingly come to the attention of both the government 
and civil society. In the past year, several human rights 
groups, women's groups, and legal aid associations have 
contacted the Embassy with project ideas on reintegration 
of trafficked women, drafting of anti-trafficking laws, 
public information campaigns on trafficking, and other 
ideas. Post believes that many of these organizations 
could be excellent DHRF funding candidates. 
 
4. Post also plans to upgrade programs on gender equity 
issues in FY05. Of particular concern is implementation of 
a new Family Law signed into law in September 2004. The 
groundbreaking new law replaces much of the colonial-era 
civic code and brings the law in line with equality 
provisions in the constitution. Primary provisions include 
elimination of language declaring that husbands are "head 
of family," legalization of common law marriages, and other 
measures that, if implemented, will help reduce 
discrimination against women. Initial returns suggest, 
however, that the general public has little to no knowledge 
of the new law, and the Ministry of Women and Social Action 
does not have the technical or financial capacity to 
promote public awareness. Many qualified NGOs and 
community groups are interested in undertaking such 
campaigns, however, and could carry out solid media and 
education programs with DHRF funds. 
DUDLEY