US embassy cable - 05ASUNCION1063

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASUNCION 001063 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
STATE FOR WHA/BSC AND USAID (MAGAN) 
WHITE HOUSE FOR SONYA MEDINA 
NSC FOR SUE CRONIN 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL, PHUM, KWMN, PA 
SUBJECT: PARAGUAY: READOUT OF THE FIRST LADIES CONFERENCE 
TECHNICAL MEETINGS, JULY 13-15 
 
1. (U) SUMMARY: From July 13-15, Paraguay hosted 
representatives from 20 countries at technical meetings in 
preparation of the 13th Western Hemisphere First Ladies 
Conference.  The conference will be held September 28-30 in 
Asuncion.  Delegates debated the Draft Declaration centered 
around the conference's main theme, Women and Family.  END 
SUMMARY. 
 
2. (U) Delegates from 20 countries attended the technical 
meetings for the 13th Western Hemisphere First Ladies 
Conference July 13-15 in Asuncion, Paraguay.  Paraguay, as 
host to the technical meetings and the upcoming conference to 
be held September 28-30, drafted a preliminary version of a 
Conference Declaration and a follow-up Action Plan.  Four 
representatives from Washington attended the technical 
meetings and brought experience from previous First Ladies 
Conferences and first-hand knowledge of the plenary session 
debates.  The U.S. delegation consisted of Sonya Medina, The 
White House, Special Assistant to the President for Domestic 
Policy and Director of Projects for the First Lady's Office; 
Michael Magan, USAID, Deputy Assistant Administrator, Bureau 
for Latin America and the Caribbean; Maureen Dugan, USAID, 
Office of Economic Growth for Europe and Eurasia; and Patrick 
Marcham, Department of Health and Human Services, 
International Health Officer/LTS Corporation.  The Protocol 
office within the Paraguayan First Lady's Office handled all 
of the logistics of the conference and events, which were 
held at the Asuncion Yacht and Golf Club. (COMMENT:  The 
Paraguayans approached our USAID mission seeking financial 
support to help offset some of the costs associated with the 
conference, including the venue and simultaneous translation. 
 Post agreed to fund interpretation services.  END COMMENT.) 
 
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The Draft Declaration 
--------------------- 
 
3. (U) The Draft Declaration is centered around the 
conference's main theme, Women and Family.  During the 
technical meetings, delegates debated several of the key 
issues raised in the draft.  By the conference's end, all 
delegations agreed to bring the text of the Draft Declaration 
back to their capitals for review.  The draft text considered 
the commitments States made in the following meetings and 
documents:  The World Conference on Population and 
Development (Cairo, 1994), the Fourth International Women's 
Conference (Beijing, 1995), the 23rd Special Session of the 
UN General Assembly (Beijing   5), the Millennium Declaration 
(2000-2015), and international Human Rights Conventions 
pertaining to women and children.  The Draft Declaration also 
affirmed States' commitments to the following principles: 
 
-- Human rights and women's development; 
 
-- Access to comprehensive health care especially during 
pregnancy and postpartum, including sexual and reproductive 
health, HIV and HPV; 
 
-- Strengthening of family relations; 
 
-- Participation of women in remunerated work; 
 
-- Women's access to education; 
 
-- Women's access to productive and financial resources; 
 
-- Food and nutritional security (especially for pregnant 
women and children under 5); 
 
-- Raising awareness of trafficking in persons issues; 
 
-- Impact of economic policies on the living conditions of 
rural women; 
 
-- and International Migration issues. 
 
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Outstanding Issues 
------------------ 
 
4. (U) During the plenary session of the second round of 
technical meetings prior to the First Ladies Conference, the 
delegates will review the Draft Declaration and seek 
consensus so that the document may be signed by the First 
Ladies of the Western Hemisphere. 
 
5. (U) Because of a lack of time, delegates in the plenary 
session were unable to start debate on the draft Action Plan. 
 As a result, the group agreed to review the draft 
declaration with their respective capitals and to provide 
comments on the Action Plan draft via email.  The plenary 
will revisit the Action Plan during the second round of 
technical meetings in September and approve via consensus. 
 
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Next Steps 
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6. (U) Post remains in contact with the Paraguayan delegation 
and will attend a logistics meeting planned for August 25 to 
discuss security, accommodations, receptions, and functions 
planned for September's conference.  Post will advise of any 
further developments and report via septel. 
 
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Comment 
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7. (SBU) The Draft Declaration contains a reference to Sexual 
and Reproductive Rights that is unacceptable to the U.S. and 
must be bracketed for purposes of discussion during the next 
round of technical meetings.  Additionally, the U.S. 
delegation anticipates that it will be difficult to reach 
consensus on an Action Plan. 
 
8. (U) The U.S. delegation cleared this cable. 
KEANE