US embassy cable - 96STATE112270

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