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Text
FOIA Number:
2006-0198-F-4
FOIA
MARKER
This is not a textual record. This is used as an
administrative marker by the William J. Clinton
Presidential Library Staff.
Collection/Record Group:
Clinton Presidential Records
Subgroup/Office of Origin:
First Lady's Office
Series/Staff Member:
Speechwriting
Subseries:
Christine Macy
OA/ID Number:
17205
FolderiD:
Folder Title:
VITAL VOICES I STORIES
Stack:
Row:
Section:
Shelf:
Position:
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Gale's Quotations
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Gabriela Mistral
1899-1957
Chilean. Poet, Diplomat
Let me make my brick schoolhouse into a spiritual temple. Let
the radiance of my enthusiams envelop the poor courtyard and
the bare classroom. Let my heart be a stronger column and my
goodwill purer gold than the columns and gold of rich schools.
"La Oracion de la Maestra"
Born: April 7, 1899 in Vicuna,· Chile.
Died: January 10, 1957 in New York, NY.
Career Highlights: Verse volumes include.Lager, 1954; Sonnets of Death; won
1945 Nobel Prize.
Also known as: Lucila Godoy y Alcayaga
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Copyright (c) 1995 Gale Research Inc.
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Gale's Quotations
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Gabriela Mistral
1899-1957
Chilean. Poet, Diplomat
I will leave behind me the dark ravine, and climb up gentler
slopes toward that spiritual mesa where at last a wide light
will fall upon my days. From there I will sing words of hope,
without looking into my heart. As one who was full of
. compassion wished: I will sing to console men.
Selected Poems of Gabriela Mistral, Introduction (Dana,
1971)
Born: April 7, 1899 in Vicuna, Chile.
Died: January 10, 1957 in New York, NY.
Career Highlights: Verse volumes include Lager, 1954; Sonnets of Death; won
1945 Nobel Prize.
Also known as: Lucila Godoy y Alcayaga
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�+----------------------------- Gale's Quotations
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Gabriela Mistral
1899-1957
Chilean. Poet, Diplomat
Let me be more maternal than a mother; able to 'love and defend
with all of a mother's fervor the child that is not flesh of
my flesh. Grant that I may be successful in molding one of my
pupils into a perfect poem, and· let me leave within her
deepest-felt melody that she may sing for you when my lips
shall sing no more.
"La·oracion de la Maestra"
I
Born: April 7, 1899 in Vicuna, Chile.
Died: January 10, 1957 in New York, NY.
Career Highlights: Verse volumes include .Lager, 1954; Sonnets of Death; won
1945 Nobel Prize.
Also known as: Lucila Godoy y Alcayaga
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Copyright (c) 1995 Gale Research Inc.
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USIS MONTEVIDEO
"BUILDING BLOCKS" FOR FLOTUS PUBLIC STATEMENTS
General
•
Uruguay has been a model of democratic development and social consciousness
in this hemisphere. It is home to South America's first social democracy.
•
Uruguay also enjoys one of the highest incomes per person in South America
and according to figure~ compiled in 1990, Uruguay has more
.
telecommunication applications per person than any other country in South
America.
Education
I
•
Uruguay has the highest literacy rate (97 percent) in Latin America, and one of
the highest in the world; the highest rate of secondary schooling - 50% higher
tha11 the continent's average, and some of the highest indicators related to
communications and culture: newspaper circulation, televisions and telephone
lines per 1000 inhabitants (285).
· Womens Issues
•
Uruguay was the second country in this hemisphere to grant suffrage to women
(December 1932)
•
Uruguayan women were also the first in South America to initiate the suffragist
movement, and are said to be the first to give public voice to their opinion. In
December 1917 the first public meeting· in favor of woman's suffrage in South
America was held in the Assembly Hall of the Women's University.
•
Law No~ 10783 of September 18, 1946 established equality between men and
womeri in civil law in Uruguay (one of the first in the hemisphere, if not the
first). It also establishes the free administration and disposal of the woman's
personal property.
•
In 1923, Mrs Carrie Chapman Catt gave an address in the University of
Montevideo in which she insinuated that the women of Uruguay were "tres
1
pasos atras", but "considering the great strides they had made since that time
~02
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USIS MONTEVIDEO
and also the fact that it took them only 17 years to gain what the women in the
U.S. worked 70 years to acquire we can say that they hav~ more than: made up
their "three steps", and the men of Uruguay must look well to their laurels if
they do not wish to be surpassed.
•
In 1923, when President Brum presented a Bill asking for equal rights for both
sexes which was not passed, a leading man' of the day said: "If there has ever
been a flagrant injustice. in history it is that which man has been committing
.against women ever since her first appearance on the earth" and went on to
say: "When this Bill becomes a Law, as it soon will, Uruguay will hav~ nobly
responded to one of the most pressing questions of the day."
•
President Jose Battle y Ordones, the father of Uruguay's welfare system, was a
feminist by principle who "gave his vote and influence to all matters pertaining
to the elevation of women and the improvement of their conditions".
•
In an address to the National Federation of Women in 1923, Dra. Paulina Luisi
.said they were doing the work of preparation for future generations:
"We shall not reach the radiant Mount
Towards which our eyes are fixed today.
But on the ground which
are breaking
Our daughters shall march to Victory."
we
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USIS MONTEVIDEO
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Paulina Luisi
. . H.~
Hence, we should work to peacefully conquer with the weapons of equality
and justice the right for women to develop all her skills and draw from the
history of nations the part pertaining to human beings gifted \\itb heart and
thought
Ofelia Machado Bonet~ President of National Women's Cotm.cil
Professor of Literature at the Univeniity School of Humanities and at
Secondary Schools, writer, diplomat
On many ocassions, we have insisted that only education although so
important is not enough to abolish discrimination. Neither are the
intensive campaigns of women associations nor international instruments.
What do we have left? Shall we keep on waiting for a miracle for another
several centuries? We only have to legislate as it should have been done in
regard to slavery, racial discrimination, employers abuse and irresponsibilty
'Of some parents.
Sofia Alvarez Vignoli de Demicheli- Lawyer Senator, Colorado Party
(1943) co- author of the Women Civil Rights Act passed in 1946, co-author
of C6digo del Nifio
We want our voices and demands to be heard when laws are passed. we
want to be considered for what we are, equal to those who were created
with the same instincts, the same abilities, the same needs as ours- different
for the only purpose of perpetuating human race.
~
�'•
STORIES:
POLITICAL POWER:
Janet Jagan -- Buyaja's current president-- first elected to parliametn in 1953; and th~n
elected as independent guyana's first female head of state in December '97; --at present only one
irt our hemisphere; and her message is: urging Guyanese girls and women to play a g reater role
, in their country's social, and economic development. --in 1996, Guyana's parliament passed
.landmark "domestic violence."GUYANA
in HAITI -- Madame Ertha Pascal Trouillot -:- lawyer -- first female judge in haiti; first
female on haiti's supreme court-- and first femal president (march 1990) and hemispheres--.
Active in drafting decree abolishing gender inequality; instrumental in o reganzing hairit's first
free electoral process-- resulting in election of country's first democratically elected president.
In HONDURAS -- Alba Nora Gunera de Melgar-Casto -., president of leading opposition
nationalist party-- became first woman ever to compete for the presidency. She continues to be
poewrful advocate for women; 1997 saw seating of a record number of women as deputiines in
honduras' national congress.
in ECUADOR: over past 2 years-- a string of firsts: in 1996: Rosalia Arteaga was elected
first woman vice president of ecuador; 97 -- Alexandra Vela became first woman to be elected vp
of congress; 1998; Nina Pacari was first indigenous woman to be elected vp of congress; and in
1998: Ana Lucia Armijo became first woman minister of govermetn --most important seat in the
'
cabinet. Along with political power-- increased attention to women's issues: over past year-. Ecuador passed and began to enforce new laws against abuse of women; established network of
women's advocates; redrafted constitution to advance women's isues like protection of children
and elminiation of discrimination;
In BRAZIL ~- Senator Benedita de Silva -- granddaughter of a slave and grew up in a Rio
de Janeiro slum; community activist within catholic church; founding member of the worker's
partyu; became Brazil's first black female federal deputy and first black female senator;
IN BRAZIL -- Senator Marina de silva -- one of 11 children of an impoverished rubber
tapper from amazonian state of Acre-- now senator from that state-- at age 36 --elected in
1994. Also environmental activist;
In BRAZIL -- first lady Dr. Ruth Cardoso -- "Dona Ruth-- renouwned urban
antrhoplogist and sociologiest --worked to address issues ofheatlh, nutrition, etc.
In BELIZ -- first ever female speaker of the hosue of reps; an first ever president of the
senate recently sworn in;
�In SURINAME-- number of women active in politics is increasing; for fist time, a
woman elected chair of the national assembly; number of women in parliament almost doubled
from four to an all time high of7 ofthe 52 parliamentarians;
Eugenia Charles of DOMINICA was first woman prime minister in the caribbean;
Senator Milagros Ortiz Bosch: one of the Dominican Republic's most populare senator
and po litician; pioneering women; founded party now has the majority in Congress; her work
made it acceptable and desirable for women to be come politicians; forthrightness brought
vibrancy and honoest to a goverment;.... DOMINICAN REPUBLIC. Thanks in large part to
her effots, DR passed a law against domestic. violence in 1997 --it's broad coverage covers
violations from sexual harassment to rape and pandering; also covers failure to pay child support.
In 1991: 12 percent of managers and administraors in DR were women; in 1996, 21%. In 1994,
Congress had 5 female members of the house out of 140-- and 1 senator out of30. In 1998: 28
females membes of house and 2 senators. DR.
Mu Kien Sang -- daugher of Chinese immigrants -- with phd in history from sorvbonne -has become the advocate for gras roots democracy in DOMINICAN REPUBLIC. Director of the
Project for Democratic Initiatives-- a network of over 300 local groups that carry out projects in
leaderhsip trianin, civic education, and civic organizing. Personal blieve: one must life
democracy -- not just discuss it. Also most respected professor; She has said "There is always
someone with the will to begin a road. At every time and inevery moment, there is a person wh,o
assumed the challenge of starting something new; of combining will to construct somethere
where .this nothing yet. ... I am still convinced that hope is th emotor b ehind himan action ....
J
In PERU --Luisa Cululiza --mayor of district of San Bmja in Lima. 55 years old,
mother, nurse by profession; (invited to VITAL VOICES). Elected mayor of small town in 1975
--when few women were ever served; as a result of her position-- it's believed-- her husband
was brutally murdered; life of public service; --by 1990 --elected to San Borja; as mauyor, has
developed projects to proect children's and women's rights; prevent domestic violence; promote
rights of seniors; anc creation of occupational workshops to mpermit women to increase family
!income without having to leave their home; in 1997 -- peruvian congress passed law that
establishes that lists of candidats to municiapl counil positions must include at least 25% women;
-- law of quotas -- NGO groups -- including some supported by USAID -- helped with public
education about the law; thanks to the new law-- and that ngo work (some of those will be
attending VOICES -- more women have access to power and will join the ranks of the new
politicians !elected on October 11 of this year. Similar.law relateing to congersional electiosn
expected to have similar affect.
�In BOGOTA -- Gloria Isabel Cuartas -- 33 -- grew up near Medellin-- studied social
work; took a course in community rehab in Israel; worked to assist victims of natural disasters;
ended up runing for mayor of Apartado in.1990s; --on a peace platform-- in one of most
violent areas of her country. She battled against man made disasters-- strugled to establish
neutrality in the violence; in 1996 --she won the UNESCO MAYORS FOR PEACE AWARD.
In STRINIDAD/TOBAGO "We cannot sit and wait for people to do it for us .... women
must take responbility for themselves to further their interests, their is sues." Kamla PersadBisserssar -- fist woman to be papointed attorney general in trinidad and tobago an dnow first
female minister oflegal affairs. .. .. "It was commonplace to hear it said that behind eve
successful man is a good woman. Well, nowadays, it is not supririns got hear that behind every
sucessful woman is a good man."
Oma Panday --wife ofprimte minister ofTRINIDAD/TOBAGO: "I believe that in the
first decade of the third millennium-- we will look back at the latter half of the 20th century and
remark on how stragne were the days when women were still exluded form the top levels of:.·
business and polisticalleadership, much as we today recall when women could not vote.'}
HEALTH
Maria Del Carmen Caballero is one of 170 health promoters and 150 midwives who help
disseminate crucial into on nutrition, sanitation and other health issues relating pre and post natal
care. Helping broaden understanding of people. "When I first leanred I was pregnant" -- says
Ruth-- "I had no idea I was supposed to take vitamins, ...... I just thourght 'well, if my kid dies
(at childbirth) it's the will of god: Now, I know I can give God a little hand. EL SALVADOR.
MICRO ENTERPRISE:
Nortensia Linares overcame robberies, low expections of others and hoer own fears of
failure to tum her road side cakes stand into a profitable business -- with the help of a $46 loan.
In five years she's been able to make improvements to her house and shop --over $8,000. And
just recently-- she's been elected president of her village bank group --"courage is half of life"
says the mother of seven. (EL SALVADOR)
Ana Kessler-- ARGENTINA's cabinet level head of small and medium businesses
agency;-- is one ofthat country's invitees to VITAL VOICES CONFERNCE. One of most
prominent women in Argentine gobvemment; at summit of the Americas in Santiago in April,
she and Aida Alvarez SBA administrator -- signed an agreement to engasge in technical
cooperation projects na dpromote joint ventures and other business opportunieis for small
businesses between their two countries.
·
}
�In SURINAME; Marlene Cahenda --co director of Suriname's leading insurance
company; first woman chair of the Red Cross;
In VENEZUELA_,_ hrc --in her trip here in 1997 -- hrc visited FUDEP --non profit civic
organization founded in 1983 that provides micro loans to new enterpreneurs; 73% of
beneficiaries are women; ms. De Cardona was very first r ecipient of the loan -- now successful
owner of her own sewing and fashion factory. Prime example of multiplier effect-- she now
emplouys 12 women at herr sewing machines-- and 40 women who sew for her in their homes.
In BOLIVIA-- Mercedes Ortiz de Gaser ~-business woman and VITAL VOICES
participant-- established Bolivia Foundation for Women's Development-- affilliated with
women's World Banking-- which came out of '79 mexico conference-- this program one of
leading credit providers in bolivia-- with over 1346 borrows;
LABOR
One of the first strikes IN PARAGUAY was led by women-- in 1918 --after mayor of
Asuncion declard an end to all cooking in the municipal market; led by Eulalia Rosa Soto -famous strike lasted 3 days -- and the mayor forced to rescind his decree.
In BOLIVIA-- Basilia Catari--a delegate to VITAL VOICES-- heads the women's
worker union in bolivia; through her coordination effortts speaking out in favor of domestic
employees -- the "domestic workers law" is currently waiting enactment in congress -- to provide
basic rights to all domestic employees-- many ofwhom are currently subjet to harsh living and
working conditions.
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
IN BOLIVIA -- delegate to VITAL VOICES -- Elizabeth Iniguez -- lawyer and activist
who headed up commssion in charge ofwriitng recently passed (July 19, 9998) law aagainst
domestic violence and family violence; ids prevention methods and affords pr otection for
victims; most importantly, calls ford evelopment of a national strategy to eradicte violence
against women.
ENVIRONMENT
Ethelvina Morillo de Scobar: professor at U ofEl Salvardor; first owman to introduce the study
of the solar cell energy to improve living conditions in el salvador; hs spowkedn about solar
energy around the world; "What I do in the area of sola rresearch -- and science in general -- I do
toi improve the living conditions in el salvador and to dignify the status of the salvadoran woman
-- mainly those in poor communities. I wnat ot develop in this country the sense of female worth
and res pect for the ones who dnot have access to education. We need to stop thinking that
women shold be limitd to domestic chores." EL SALVADOR
�DEMOCRACY/PEACE
The Mirabel Sisters: killed for their courage; their success lies in inspiring others to fight
for liberty); 1981: November 25: chosen as international day against violence against women -in honor of mirabel sisters (DOMINICAN REPUBLIC); convent educated women killed by
dictator Trumjillow's henchmen; near wrecked jeep at bottom of a 150 foot cliff on the riorth
coast. Reported·as accident; Patria, Minerva, and Maria teresa mirabel --leading opponents of
trujillo. Founded politsical movjement "14 de junio" --and they were imprisoned; affectionately
called "the butterflies." --murdered on returning from vising their imprisoned husbands; since
then, the country still remembers their beloved butterflied who chose to die rather than yeild to
dictator; Miniou Tavarez-- daughter of Minerva is today the vice minister of foreign affairs;
In URUGYAY -- Luisi sisters: Paulina Luisi (1875-1950) imporant pioneer for
women's rights and health in Urugay in fist half of century-- first woman to graduate fortn
medical school-- organized national federation ofwomen --umbrella group to top slavery and
·trafickingof women; equal pay for equal work; equlaization of education; in 1919 -- founded
national alliance for woman's suffrage-- workg culminated in granting sufferage in 1932 -second in the hemisphere (who was first?) "We shall not rach the radian mount toward which
our eyes are fixed today -- but our daughters will march to victor on the ground which we are ,J
breaking." ..:~We should work peacefully obtain-- using the weapons of equity and justice -- the
right for all women to develop their skills."
In URUGUAY -- Clotilde Luisi -- first woman to graduate from law school -- founded
and served as first dean of women's univeristy --professor of history, p layright, poet;
The grandmothers of the Plaza de Mayor is one of ARGENTINA's most repsected
human rights ngos. Its president, Estele de Carlotte -- met privately with HRC when the clintons
visitd Buenos Aires in October '97. She will be attending VITAL VOICES ... Plaza founded in
1977 --during military dictatorship; mission: to ascerttain parentage of children born in captivity
to some of the ehousands who disappred at the hands ofthe military rulers; success evident of
power that private citizens can exercise when they organize for good cause.
In 1904 -- 22 women who made up the "C ommittee for Peace" tried to put an end to the
civil war betwen the colorado and liberal parties in PARAGUAY. They set sail in a small craft - the cCarioca" and sailed downstream until they met with the general -- and also secured
meeting with the revel geneal; begged him to put an end to the bloodshed; that had decimated the
country's male population since the war of the triple alliance (1864-79). --while Geneal Ferreira
accepted their letter -- he continued to prosecute the war -- which continued the war for almost
another 100 years.
In 1936 -- shortly after ceasefire between PARAGUAY AND BOLIVIA -- membes of
the "Union ofwomen of Paraguay"-- under leadership ofMaria Casati --wrote letter of
solidarity with women ofB olivia to consolidate the peace between 2 countries. In that letter,
�she asked them to join them in reamining vigilant to ensure peace took hold. "That no more
should war should fill our homes; so~r famrs and our cities with horror; that over the immense
sacrifice of both of our peoples, over the tomb of thousands of our dead loved ones; never more
agains should pas the chariot of the barbarities of war." (Like IRELAND)
In JAMAICA-- "Nanny of the Maroons-- led her people, the maroons of moore town in
easter jamaica-- in a rebellion against the british during the waar from 1720-39. Knowns as an
oustanding military leader who b ecame a symbol of strength and unity for her people in times of
CTISlS.
HAITIAN P OEM; "A woman is not a broom; a woman is not a broom to be kept behind
a door; a woman is not a curtain that you pull back and forth get througoh; a woman is not a bed
that you dress up to stay at home. A woman is the main post of life."
EDUCATION
.WOMEN'S RIGHTS:
Ester Schiavoni-- presidne of the National Council ofw omen ARGENTINA-- a
goverment umbrella org of legislators, ngs; agencies, unioins; working to achieve equality for
women; sponsored HRC's adres at the Colon theater in Buenos Aires; this year, IDB approved
alon to support he Council's new federal owmen's plan-- to establish similar organization at the
provicniallevel. (She met HRC at the White House to brief her on the plan. She and the IDB
prsident are planning to announce the loan at the conference -- and have invied HRC.
GUATEMALA's Helen Mack -- descendant of chinese immigrants -- her sister was
assinated in 1990 -- by member of the military -- she devoted herself to bringing justice to those
responsbile; resulted in conviction; now after those who ordered murder; has set up non pro fofit ·
Myrna Mack foundation -- which sponsors human rights seminars; technical assistance
workshops; and efforts to strengthen guatemaljudicial system and rule oflaw.
BAHAMAS Honoralbe Theresa Moxey Ingraham -- member of parliament: "-The next
century is going to be the Cnetury of Women. We must deliberately plan for the incorriirig ·entry :":J
of more women int.... ..
'
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. J
't
The
President's~lnteragency
FJ.rst Lady H1l1aly Rodham CUnton
Honorary Cbalc
..
Council on Women
Secretary of swe l(adddae k. Albdgbt
Q1&lr
•
S&:cn:ta1'y of Health and Human ~
Doonna. Sbalata. ltl'liDC:dtate Past Chair
.... DATE:
9L2-5
TO:~~
ORGANIZATION: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _~-------T-__,_--;;--;,.
FROM:____~~~~~~~~-~------~~~~~~~
1-5 {j, ~ 5 0
FAX NUMBE~
. PHONE NUMBER:
f 5 (o - 2'135
SU~ECT: ______________________~----------------~
·MESSAGE:._______~-----------------------------
NUMBER.OF PAGES (INCLUDING C()VER SHEET):.__________
United States Department of State • 2201 ·c St., NW • Room 2906 • Washington. D.C. 20520
Telephone (202)647-6227 • Fax (202)647-5337
http;/ /secretary.state.govjwww/iacw/index.html
'
'
�09/25/98
fRI 15:22 FAX
!4i002
Belf<'lst. Northern Ireland
. Follow-up
(J~trtncr-ships
t'atticipntion in l,ubli<.: Life
Ci,•ic Pnrticipation
•
Women's Resource nud Dc\•clopmcnl Agency will build a partnership t~s·parr of its
work to progress the ouh.:omes of the V/omen ·s Future Search which wok place in
hmc this year. We in\'ite you 10 join us in a p::mnet·ship-bnsed diall1guc nbollt <tn
impoz·tant emerging component of our new demo;;r~llic structures: lhc: Civic Forum.
The Civic Fmum was ~wiginally propo!>ed by tht: Won1en ·s Co•diliun and is now
\!'nshrincd withinlbr.: Bdlbst 1\g.recmcnt. It could pmvide tor bonom-~tp parLicipmkm
in politicallile. In this workshop w~ \viii explore wiLh you the potc:mi~\1 bcnctils and
barrit!r.s in this sitll<ttion am.l will ask 11n YlHII' views 1..Hl how to build this concept.
Also, there: will be: a core set of prindplcs that will guide the \vork. Contact: 1udy
Seymour. Ruth McC~tmbridge
Strcnt!thcnin:! the Rule of'\Vomcn ~\s C:ommunity 01·g~mizcrs
•
Street Law is develnt~ing new programs to educllrc youth in both st.:hools and
cnmmunil:· settings in law. conilict resolution. humm1 rights and democratic
principles in partnership wilh a diverse group ofNGO's. univershie.s. law schools and
other educ:uional expc::rl5 in Northern lrclnnd .. These programs include: the
d~!velopmcm of a civics course. based out of The Ulster People·s Coll~ge, on
democracy and citizenship in community sites; the implementation of a model
program i~ Northern Ireland's schools aimed at promoting active citizenship; pupil
empowerment through a student-centered, hnnds-on ilpproach to practicing
~kmocrat.:y: nnd the institution~diztttion nnd enhancement of peer mcdintion programs
f(.,,· young pt:,,ple. Stn.•ct Law and its Northern lrelam.l partners :u-e lm1king for
additional partners wlw h;~ve an intere~t and expertiS\! in education and empowem1ent
nfy~1tmg pt:'ople. C(lllt:td: Jennifer KkleS
A Con!crcnce sponsorcc:lby llle Govc-mmcnt ofTiu.: llni\c<l St.w::-s g., 1'h~ Sccret.uy of 5t<\te for Norther 11 lfeland
h1 ''mjlm((ioll wilh Ttw first .\ud Oq•1Uy ril'41 Millis~<:•:- <•I tlw Sh.ldow NorUu;·rn lr('IM\d 1\:!j.S~f.llbiy
�09/25/98
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,FRI 15:22 FAX
(
;
lltclusion in Politicul Systems
•
•
Womcn~s Cumpnign lntcmntionul will
conduct political and media lrainiug
W(lrkshops in Northern Ireland. The workshops will be.aimed at giving women the
skills :1nd tools they need to play a more active leadership role within the politiC?a~
sector. Contact: Mmjorie Margolies·Mezvinsky
.
'
Br·onagh Hinds, with nupp(lrt nnd financi:d r-esources
fr-01~
the Ulster Jleoplc's.
c:ullcgc will develop a resource unit for the community and voluntary sector to
support nnd equip thc!ll to interact effectively with the new political arrangements.,,
The unil \viii provide trJining in a broad r:111ge of politiclli issues, such as lobbying
nnd «;<tmpaigning. <.ts well as technical support such as the translation of legislation
nnd suppol't to voice input into policy. With support from U.S. networks, as well as
m:~ximizing existing <.:otn:~cts wilh European networks nod resources, the Northern
Ireland European Platform ·will provide support service to Women's NGOs from the
stan of the New Assembly. Contact Bn.magh Hinds
•
Shrum, Dc"inc, Donilon Inc. (n llOlitic:;1l, mcdh1 strategy firm), Lynne
W;u;scrm~m of the '"':tsscrm:m Foundation, the Center for- Policy Altcrmttivcs,
and ;1 tc:un of cxpcr·ts including EMIL Y"s List and the Ireland Leadership
Pwgr;mum: will hring up h.1 lifleen wc::nm:n from North~rn Ireland who are active in
· rlk pt,litk;;tl sect<.lr tc, \Vashjngton. D.C. for five days of illlel'tsive political strategy,
skilLs nnd mon11gemcnt training. cnnvassing, polling. lobbying, and political theory.
The:: progt·am will indudc hands·on experience. discussion. debate and networking.
•
Northern Visions and Frccbtncc Journalist, Kathleen Lee will launch
.. Rcm~u·kahlc \Vomcn~\ a new one-hour weekly television series about
'o1itc::mporary. everyday women (politicians, business women, community workers.
ciYil servants) IJ·om all arenas of society. who combal similar issues: age, stereotypes.
social and p~...,Jiticnl expectations. The show would focus on everyday women, who
have been. for many years. facing adversity and conllict with ~onviction and strength.
The \Vorking session is dedicated to est~blishing n list of topics/issues on which
spt:akcrs W('luld convcr=-c. ldcnlilying wotnc:n in different eommunities.who would be
willing to speak. oul in this time 1..1f ch;;mgc is csscntinl lo the success of thi~.t~roject.
�09/25/98
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Legal and Social Progress in a Civil Soc::ie!y
Institutional Change
•
The U.S. Department of Justice and the Northern lrelaad Women's AlD
Federation wil11ook at partnership opportunities between the U.S. and Northern
Ireland program to share lessons learned in battling domestic violence. The
Partnership will consider: · establishing,.electronic links between the ·two. countries to
share expertise and models of promising practices; appointing liaisons from both.
countries to serve the primary point of conta.c::t; providing training and technical
assistance in public policy.lawmaking, and victim services; establishing a National
Task Force at . offering scholarships to at least two persons from Northern Ireland to
attend the National Victim Assistance Ac~demy in the U.S. 1999; and establishing
exchange programs for cross-training in victim. assistance practices. Contact: Bonnie
Campbell ..
as
Education and Awareness
•
Lawyers Committee for Human Rights will create a work)ng group between
Northern Ireland and US organizations and individuals who to share expertise and;
strategies on Human Rights. Contact: Rose Styron and Nancy Rubin
Communication and Networking
•
Women and Public Policy Prograan of Harvard University's John F. Kennedy
School of Government and The Hunt Altenaatives Fund will present an
opportunity for women working at the grassroots level in contlict resolution in
Northern Ireland to partner with women from .other conflict areas as part of a growing
global network. The program will examille women•s role in working toward social
cohesion in divided societies and bring women from Northern Ireland into the early
·,
planning of the network. Contact: Swanee Hunt
•
The Foundation for Civil Society will develop a program on peace-building-and
civic participation. Real Responses to Emerging Challenges, drawing upon the
Foundation's extensive working in nourishing civil society combined with ifs ability
to bring people who have experi~nced similar situations throughout the world to share
their w!ry practical experience, insight and strategies. Contact: Paul Arthur, Andrea
Boult, and Monica McWilliams.
�09/25/98
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1-
Grassroots Organizing
•
The Youth Council for Northern Ireland would like to conduct civic education and
politic:al training for young people to engage them in public processes betweenyqung
people in the U.S. and young people in Northern Ireland Hofsat Abiola, John Noonan
and Tamsen Schultz (from the US) would like to work in partnership with young
people and youth organizations. lbis group will share on-going strategies to look at:
what role youth can play in sustaining the peace and increasing cooperntion.; what·
skills and networks do young people need to be more effective partners; what do
young people view as priority projects for mobilizing young people in a time of
transition. Contact: Paul Smyth, Kate Thompson, Hafsat Abiola. John Noonan,
Tamsen Schultz.
Economic Development and Opportunity in a Time of Change
Fundraising and Sustainability
•
Focus HOPE, Coastal Enterprises, Inc., and New Community Corporation
(community development corporations), Ford Motor Company, CKS Partners
Inc., other private sector corporations, the U.S. Department of Commerce, and
Business in the Community will build partnerships with community organiZations in
Morthem Ireland to facilitate on-going relationships for exchanges and training to
increase economic sus1:ainability. Contact: Virginia Manuel
Networking
Networking and Selling
• CKS Partners {US), the Irish Institute of Boston College (US), Network
Northern Ireland (NI), and Ulster Business School {NI) will forge a network for
on-going networking and selling skills to grow businesses. Contact William Cleary,
Maureen Campanella, Sharon o·cormor. and Melissa Doherty
Cross-Border Networks
• 'Cooperation Ireland will develop a program. Cross-Border Women in Business.
Growth, to foster exchanges between business women from Northern Ireland and the
Republic. The program will focus on women entrepreneurs who have been running
their own businesses for at least two years and wjsh to grow them through crossborder trade. It would highlight: cross-border trade opportunities and barriers. r
opportunities for business growth, available training and support, and the "CoOperation Model."
.
·
�09/25/98
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Building Networks in Public Relations ·and Communications
• Primetime Solutions, Monvw Communicatioa (public relations firms in the U.S.
and Northern Ireland) will build a partnenhip to bring together women in the field
of public relations from Northern Ireland, England, the Republic of Ireland, a.n.d the
United States to promote women in the communications field. Contact: :Mary Datey
.Yerrick and Gillian MoiTow.
Networks for Entrepreneurs
•
The Entrep.-eneurial Development lastitute will develop on-going training, and
partnerships for entrepreneurs Contact ; Melissa Bradley. The Emerging Business
Trust in Northern Ireland, througb support from the International Fund for
Ireland, will commit 250,000.00 pounds to fund: innovative technology-based·
businesses; development and training' programs for young women entrepreneurs;
seminars for local women· s enterprise; and identify women within the investment
portfolio to build partnerships· and mentoring relationships with younger women in
business. LiveWIRE Northern Ireland- Young Bl19iness Center, is committed to
helping young people between the ages of 16 and 30 explore the option of setting up
their own businesses as a viable ca,reer option, will look to build partnerships to
support women entrepreneurs in Northern Irelan~.
Education, Training and Mentoring
•
Institute of Directors will sponsor a business exchange program. involving
corporations throughout the world for middle managers, especially women. The
Institute will also forge large business to small business relationships to facilitate
mentoring programs, access to training, and training faeHities. Contact: Ann Shaw
•
The Marriott Corporation is committed to provide internships for students and
recent graduates in the tour and leisure industry in Northern Ireland. The corporation
will work in conjunction with The Children's Friendship Project for Northern
Ireland, a youth cross-community friendship and reconciliation program, as well as
Universities in Northern Ireland and the Training and Employment Agency. Through
the program they will develop practical skills to take back with them to support the
growing industry of tourism Northern Ireland. Contact: Sharon Herroun
�09/25/98
14Joo7
,FRI 15: 24 FAX
. Leadenhip
•
Xerox Corporation, the Center for Policy Alternatives and the Ms. Foundation
will: provide expertise, resources and support to women in business; increase
women's leadership capacity and economic well-being to give women a grdter
impact on the economy. Contact: Mary Quin, Linda Tan-Whelan
Child care
•
The U.S. Department of Labor and the Northern Ireland Training and
Employment Agency will build an on-going partnerships with respect to labor
market policy and child care. These agencies will address the need to improve
women's access to 1abor market services and training opportunities to better prepare
them to respond to opportunities created by economic globalization. In addition,
these agencies recogniz~ the important role of available and affordable quality .
childcare in enabling women to enhance the well-being of thefr families and
contribute to the economic growth of their nation, and will strategize on how to frame
child care as an important issue for employers and share methods for improving the ·
quality and training of child care strategies for framing child care as an important
issue for employers to share methods for improving the quality and training of child
care providers. Contact~ Kitty Higgins, U.S. Department of Labor
Information Technology
•
McDonough Computers will initiate a long-teun rural program which will work
with partners to: train women for targeted information technologies skill; develop the
ernployrnent network of schools and small busmesses that will hire these skills; train
women to train subsequent groups of women in their area. ElJen McDonough and
Cliona Sheeham.
•
The Community Information Network for Northern Ireland will present a new,
three.;\vay initiative with the Belfast City Council and BT Northern Ireland. CINNI is
an Internet Service Provider that provides assistance and training in information
technology and telecommunications to volunteer and communicy. organizations~ .
Millennium Communications and the Institute for Global Communication will look at
ways to keep the conference participants connected after the conference to exchange
information as part of this on-going initiative.
(
�14Joos
09/25/98 .FRI 15:24 FAX
.On-going Partners to the Vital Voices • Belfast Initiative
·Participation in Public Life
•
The Ireland la.stitute of Pittsburgh would like to build t an ongoing leaders!J.l.p .
skills training and development program for young womeu.. The follow-up program
will focus on three areas: empower women and enable them to have the maximum
impact on their local communities; enhancement of technology ski.lls development;
and public and political skills development.
Legal and Social Progress in Civil Society
•
NOW Legal Defense and Education Fund will provide training for women in
Northern Ireland to implement similar programs in Northern Ireland. provides
technical assistance to Congress and state legislatures. employs media strategies. and
organizes national grassroots coalitions to promote and sustain broad~based advocacy
for women's equality.
\
•
A YUDA. will offer training and expertise on domestic violence awareness and ·
prevention. It is a domestic violence program for battered immigrant women. · ·
•
·Women, Law and Development International will lead follow-up programs in
'·advocacy capacity building" and "issue and strategy development" for women in
Northern Ireland. They are committed to the defense and promotion of women •s
rights globally and works with. organizations throughout the world to train women in
responding to the inequities around them.
•
Ann Goldstein a Professor at Georgetown University Law Center will provide
expertise in international human rights law and wome~ 's rights law.
Economic Development and Opportulllity
or
•
The Institute for Irish Competitiveness will provide to one more small or
mediwn-sized enterprises owned by women in Northern Ireland and nominated by
Vital Voices. 40 hours of management consulting, in-company training or executive
development. The services will be provided by Research fellows from Ireland and
Northern Ireland.
·
·
•
Catalyst is a non-profit research and advisory organization that enables women to
achieve their full professional potential and helps employers capitalize fully on
wornen' s talents and abilities. They will conduct a training session on working with
business and professions to advance women.
�09/25/98 .-FJU 15:24 FAX
•
Clarehill Plastics Ltd. will offer expert advice and assistance on business
development from May Gracey, who formed the company in 1981. Mrs. Gracey has
built an extensive reputation for Clarehill's products throughout the U.K. She bas·
also involved her children in the business. Her daughter is the market manager. her
son-in-law is the plant manager, and her has rejoined the business to manage a,spin·
off opexation.
•
The National Centel'" on Education and the Economy
•
The In'dustrial Development Board Northern Ireland will present ways that IDB
can help businesses with event management and infonnation"technology/financial ·
systems.
Representatives of the following organizations and c::orporations will participate in
the Partnership Opportunities Day and have expressed interest in building on-going
partnerships and business to business links:
·
Bonnie Anley, Struck Ferries ·
Stoy Hayward BDO Management Consultants
, Anne Thompson; Abbicoil Springs
Alec McRitchie and Catherine McKeever, Shorts Brothers
Jo QuiM, Marks and Spencer pic
.
Elizabeth Thompson, Bluepath Industries International Ltd.
Joan E. Ruddock. Educational Co. Ltd.
Liz.Goldberg. Adria Ltd. ·
Anna Eggert and Angela Lavin, National Lotteries Charities Board.
Gwen Savage, Gwen Savage Co.
Karen Harla.n, Despond and Sons Ltd.
Mary Lyons, Springvale Training Ltd.
I
'
Dagrner Muhle Belfast Hilton Inremat~onal.
Anne Deehan, Glenderrriott Enterprises.
Hazel Alexander, Stream International
Katrina McGirr. McGirr Solicitors.
Angela Kearney. Bank ofireland.
Deidre McBride, Belfast European Partnership Board.
Bruce Robinson, Industrial Development Board for NL
Deidre Stewart, CB(NI).
·
Pamela Henry, Workspace Group Of Companies
Jennifer Smyth, AIRporter
May Gracey, Clarehill Plastics Ltd.
Patricia McAllister, Training and Employment Agency.
Conor Patterson, Newry and Mourne Enterprise Agency .
. Caroline Whiteside, Ulster Carpet Mills.
Lucy Woods, British Telecom (BT)
Sue Tibballs, The Body Shop international
ltloo9
�09/25/98 ,FRI 15:25 FAX
Pamela Henry, Network Personnel, Ltd.
The following organizations and corporations wiD not J,e present for the
Partnership Opportunities Day bat, are looking to build on-going partnerships and
business to business links:
MCI Cormnuniea.tions ·
Good Housekeeping
Working Woman Magazine
The Aspen Institute
The U.S. Institute of Peace ·
National Democratic Institute (NDI)
T.J. Maxx (chain of clothing stores)
14] 010
�------------------------------
-----------------
----------------------------------~----
•
•
Uruguay's Foreign Minister Opertti will be the President of the UN General
Assembly this year, and the President will meet with him at the opening of the GA on.
September 21 inNew York.
•
- -- -
Argentina also hosts the next global climate change conference in November, and we
are working closely with key Latin American countries to advance the Kyoto agenda.
Internally, the Secretary announced in late June that, pending consultations with
Congress, she intends' to create a new Bureau of Western Hemispheric Affairs,
integrating Canada into the Bureau of Inter-American Affairs. This is more than a
semantic change, reflecting her goal of creating greater Western Hemisphere
solidarity and Canada's increasing integration into hemispheric events and
organizations. Reaction has been generally positive.
--
~-
-
;'
-
---· --
-
---·
-------
ARA Goals and Vital Voices Contributions
Goal: Expanding economic growth and prosperity
•
•
Vital Voices brings together established businesswomen to share experiences and
insight with younger women to develop their economic potential.
Workshops cover strategies for microenterprise, privatization, financing and '
integration into regional trade agreements (e.g. Mercosur, NAFTA).
Goal: Consolidating democratic institutions and promoting respect for human rights
•
•
Vital Voices brings together established female legal professionals with grassroots
advocates to network on ways to improve existing legal support mechanisms for
women.
Workshops include strategies for legislative action, EEO issues,' and action to combat
trafficking in women.
Goal: Follow up and implementation of Summit ofthe Americas action items on women
•
Vital Voices is a forum for women to network across the region, to compare legal,
political and economic systems in their countries and the opportunities and obstacles
they present to women. This directly addresses Summit action items on
--: Strengthening national mechanisms and government organs and regional
networks to promote legal equality and equality of opportunity;
--- Examining existing laws and implementation to identify obstacles limiting the
full participation of women in political, economic, social and cultural life.
\
�VITAL VOICES CONFERENCE - MONTEVIDEO
The United States Government and the Inter-American
Development Bank are co-sponsoring the "Vital Voices of the
Americas: Women in Democracy" conference to be held in
Monte~ideo, Uruguay October 1 ~ 3.
You will be the keynote
speaker on the second day 'of the conference; Inter-American
Development Bank President Enrique Iglesias and Uruguayan
President Julio Maria Sanguinetti will also address the
participants. Maria Canessa de Sanguinetti will introduce you
at a conference event.
·
·
· Vital Voices will convene approximately four hundred
women-leaders from the public and private sectors to build
networks with other leaders from throughout this hemisphere.
All countries of the Summit of the Americas process have been
invited to participate. The principal themes of the
conference are drawn from the goals set out in the. Santiago
Summit Plan of Action.
·
Participants at the Vital Voices conference will come
together to share their knowledge and expertise. They will
explore way~ to strengthen the roles of women in democracy
through three tracks of workshops: Law and Lea.dership;
Politics and Public Life; and Economiclntegration and
Business Growth.
Vital Voices furthers our commitment to integrate issues
affecting women into U.S. foreign policy. The Department of
State, USAID, USIA and other agencies h~ve collaborated on
conference planning. Similarly, the confer~nce advarices the
Inter-American Development Bank's commitment.to bring about
the fuller int~gration of women into all stages of the
I development process in Latin American and the Caribbean, and
to support the full participation of women in decision-making
positions. This conference also furthers the implementation
of the Plan of Action agreed to by 189 governments at the 1995
UN Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, China.
r
I
The conference will conclude with USAID and USIAsponsored workshops on poli t"ical and ·media training,
respectively., The workshops are designed to provide to6ls and
training for emerging women leaders. The political workshop
will ·focus on "Campaigning to Win: Nuts and Bolts of Running
for Officeu; "Technology and the Electoral Processu;
"Coalition Buildingu; and "Getting Your Community Involved."
The media training will be conducted by Marjorie MargoliesMezvinsky, former Congresswoman, national television
correspondent and founder of Women's Campaign International.
The goal of the workshop is to provide women with the
necessary skills to effectively tailor their message to the
media.
"Vital Voicesu is an ongoing initiative to promote
equality of opportunity. To ensure that the strategies
developed at the conference find practical application,
delegates will present follow-up project proposals to private
sector foundations and forge partnerships for continued
action, building on ideas and· needs identified. during the
Montevideo conference.
�URUGUAY Q&As
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Bilateral Events
U.S. Objectives in Uruguay
U.S. Assistance to
Urug~ay
•,
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RONALD REAGAN BUILDING .
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20523--5900
OFnCEOFREGIONALSUSTMNABLEDEVELOPMENT
DATE:
'1'0:
FAX#:
TEL#:
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'
FROM:
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TEL#:
FAX#:
202-216-3262- (5.09- 062U)
202-216-3403 - (5.09- 091U)
REMARKS:
320 Tw-E:-on·FIIIST SraEET. N.W.,
w.-~.sHI:>~GTcl'l.
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VISIT TO THE INTER-AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF .HUMAN RIGHTS
'
BY THE FIRST LADY OF THE UNITED STATES, HILLARY CLINTON,
AND SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT
SAN JOSE, COSTA RICA
MAY 8,1997
...
-·--·---·------
PRESENTATION
The lnrer·American lns.titute of Human Rights is pleased to publish the remarks of the First Lady
and the Secretary of the State of the United States, of IIHR staff and of the Central American participants
on the occasion of their visit to the IIHR during the afternoon of May 8, 1997.
First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton and Secretary of State .Madeleine Albright visited the Institute's
headquarters in San Jose, as part of President Clinton's recent official visit to Mexico, Costa Rica and
Barbados ..
·Our two distinguished visitors were thus able to learn more about IIHR activities throughour the
hemisphere and its different areas and programs. The Executive Director of rhe IIHR, Juan Mendez,
opened the session by explaining the Institute's approach to the problems of human rights and
democracy in the region.
·
The Institute's Gender and Human Rights Program organized a working session on the topic of
women's righrs as human rights and invited four colleagues from Central America to make short
presentations. The women who took part were the Human Rights Ombudswoman of El Salvador,
Victoria de Aviles; Sonia Cansino, also from El Salvadori Marfa Eugenia Mijangos of Guatemala; and
Patricia Rfos de Herrera of Nicaragua. (The latter three work for non-governmental organizations
5
�S6P-21-1'398
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involved in different aspects of women's human rights). Gilda Pacheco, of our' Gender and Human
Rights Program, described the InStitute's activities in the promotion of women's rights. The basic
objec6ve was to present the IIHR's general priorities and those of that program for the ne~t three
years, and to discuss. the progress being made and the challenges that lie ahead in regard to such
issues as the rights, health, political parti~ipation and legislation affecting women.
Mrs. Clinton spoke about the need to consolidate and further develop democracy. The First Lady
of Costa Rica, Josette de Figueres, and the Second Vice President, Rebeca Grynspan, also contributed
to the discussion, while Mrs. Albright reaffirmed that human rights and democracy will continue to
be a key objective of U.S. foreign policy. She also said that as long as she is Secretary of State she will
continue to support human rights, and the Institute's programs in particular. Sonia Picado, Vice President
of the Institute, closed the meeting.
This session was undoubtedly a milestone in the life of the lnstitu~e because ofthe importance of
our visitors. Therefore, we are proud to present to our friends this small remembrance of that afternoon.
=
Juan E. Mendez
Executive Director
Inter-American Institute of Human Rights
6
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR MENDEZ: Good afternoon. My name is Juan Mendez and I am the
· E~ecutive Director of the Inter-American Institute of Human Rights. It is a great pleasure to welcome
you to tne Institute. We wish to acknowledge, and appreciate, the presence of the First Lady of Costa
Rica, Mrs •.josette Figueres; the Second Vice President of Costa Rica, Rebeca Grynspan; and Ambassador
Sonia Picado, the Costa Rican Ambassador to the United States, who is also Vice Chair of the Board
· of Directors of this Institute, and my predecessor as E~ecutive Director. We are also very happy to
have with us Ambassador. Harriett Babbitt, the Head of the United States Mission t~ the OAS, and
Mark Schneider, our· good friend, and Directorfor Latin America of USAID. Weare also privileged to
have with us four dear friends and colleagues wno have come to Costa Rica for this occasion; Victoria
Marina de Aviles, the Human Rights Ombudswoman of El Salvador; Sonia Cansino, also from El
Salvador, a specialist on women and citizenship; Patricia Rfos Herrera, coordinator of a Nicaraguan·
network of women's health rights; and Maria Eugenia Mijangos, from Guatemala, a women's rights
attorney at the Center for Legal Acrion on Human Rights.
Joining us in this colloquium also will be Gilda Pacheco, a program officer at this Institute in
charge of gender-based rights. Madame First lady, let me express my admiration and that of the
entire scaff and Board of the Institute for your outstanding contributions in the area of women's and
children's rights and the universal availabiliry of health care; contributions we have long been familiar
with and admired. Madame Secretary of State, we also wish to commend you for your leadership at
the United Nations, and elsewhere, in pursuing peace and settling conflicts by attributing importance
�S~P-21-1998
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to human rights, and particularly for establishing truth and justice in response to atrocities, as an
integral part of peace-making and peace-building.
This Institute was founded in 1980 as the research and educational arm of the Inter-American
Court of Human Rights. It assumed the task of promoting human rights and democracy, at a time
when most Latin American countries were governed by military dictatorships that engaged in massive,
systematic violations of the most basic rights. Over time, rhe Institute assisted our societies in dealing
with the traumatic legacies of those abuses} in the period generally referred to as our "transiti?n to
democracy." ·
. Today our region is experi.encing a well-deserved and welcome period of constitutional
government. Although the struggle for human rights in our region is far from over, this new context
undoubtedly presents us with new challenges, but also offers us great opportunities for human rights
work. In most of our countries we suffer from what. we ca11'1 insufficient democracy", by which we
mean that authoritarian attitudes often co-ex is[ with elected and representative governments. For.
example, ~he independence of civil society organizations and their efforts to solve society's problems
are not always valued and recognized. Freedom of expression is vigorously exercised, but not a'ways
respected, and much less encouraged, despite its key role in fostering informed debate in a democracic
society.
a
Vast sectors of society are increasingly marginalized, not only from the econofTly, but also from
participating in the decisions that affect their lives and obtaining redress from the courts when their
rights are violated, Our Institute believes that the principal task facing our region is the need ro make
our democracies not only more stable, but also more meaningful in content and inclusive of the
underprivileged and the victims of invidious discrimination. We also feel very strongly that what
makes a sysrem democratic is that public officials are accountable to the rule of law and to their
·constituents. In that sense, we strive to make courts more accessible, but also more independent and
impartiaL so that acts. of torture, murder and other abuse committed by members of the armed and
security forces do no[ go unpunished.
The civil societies of our countries have produced some remarkable experiments in accountability
during rhe transition from dictatorship to democracy. We are moving again towards policies that
favor truth and justice, as well as reconciliation, and reject the notion that the atrocities committed in
the past should be overlooked and go unpunished.
These Latin American lessons can also be applied by the international community in tackling ·
difficult problems such as war crimes and crimes against humanity. We pursue these objectives at,the
Institute through a combination of programs and advisory services, which we make available to
governmental institutions and independent civil society organizations. For example, our Center for .
Educa.rional Resources prepares materials for use in teaching human rights and values of peace and
.9
�SEP-21-1998
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der:npcracy, intended primarily for elementary-school students. These materials have been incorporated
into the official curr:icula of some public schools ·in our region and widely disseminated in the
·hemisphere. ·
We think of this a's our long-term strategy forfostering a cuhure of tolerance and peace, which we
believe will ultimately replace our present ~~insufficient democracies" with democracies that are
more meaningful, comprehensive and inclusive. Some of those materials are included in the packages
that we have prepared for you. There is a video gam~ that teaches human righls values, a book of
children's drawings commemorating the Fortieth Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human
Rights, and a video that is now permanently on display at the children's museum in San ·Jose, Costa
Rica, and soon will be at a similar museum in Lima, Peru. There is also a CD-ROM containing
international documents in two languages related to human rights protection, and the latest issue of
our academic publication, including articles by Latin American scholars on the promotion of an
international criminal court.
·
. ·
Madame First L~dy, allow me to turn the floor over to you. After your presentation we will engage
in a discussion. Thank you very much.·
·
'
HILLARY CLINTON: Thank you very much, Director Mendez. Thank you very much for arranging
this opportunity for rhe Secretary of State and others in our party ro meet with you to discuss issues .
'
.
10
pertaining to human rights. We a~e obviously at a point in history, particularly in this re~ion, where·
we can be thankful that the massive human rights violations of the past are at least behtnd us. That:
does not mean then we' can let up on our vigilance about the imp9rtance of human rights or the need·
to make insufficient democracies sufficient democracies.
. . Secretary Albright an~ 1 particularly wanted to co~e here to honor the role that the Institute has
played in defending human rights, at a time when that took enormous cou~age. We kno.w that many
of your colleagues put themselves in harm's way when they spoke out agamst human r1ghts abus_es,
but we also know that their courage has saved countless lives and hastened the end of repress1ve
regimes. Wf:! want to hear about the work you are doing now and, particularly, now we can make
human rights rhe centerpiece of both domestic and foreign policy in our countries and around the
world.
I personally am very much in favor of your initiative to have a permanent war crimes :ribunal. I
visited the tribunal in Arusha (Tanzania) and received a briefing about the work they are domg there.
Much of what they have had to contend with is the necessary start-up problems ~hat you will alw~ys
confront when you are beginning an enterprise of such importance, trying to get 1t staffed and putttng
into place the necessary steps. ·
·
We are also interested in hearing about the human rights problems that continue to exisr in this
.11
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region, particularly those that affect women and children. I appreciate your having expertise representeq
here from around the r~gion on those particular issues·. We would also like to know what is being
done to address these challenges. I am particularly concerned about any limits that are placed
'either by law or by practice or by repression- on women's political participation.
Today I think it is fair to say that this Institute remains a leader in defending basic human rights. I
greatly appreciate the way in which you are expanding the definitfon of your work to include ~e
commitment that many of us made in Beijing to the proposition that women's rights are human rights
as welL We know that democracy, insufficient or otherwise, is not sustained by free and fair elections
alone. It depends on the internalization of values, on a change in attitudes, on the commitment of
people to live a democratic life. The questions and concerns that we bring to this table are not unique
to Central America, but you have led the way in addressing those concerns and we hope that you
will share the lessons that you. have learned with us.
Finally, I want to close by just recognizing what may be obvious to all of you -that the presence
of the United States Secretary of State at a meeting such as this sends, I hope, a very strong message,
as it is intended to send. Secretary Albright is here in two capacities: as. an individual who cares
deeply about human rights and who has spent a great part of her career advocating and articulating
that concern, and as a representative of the United States Government, where we are working to
make human rights and, in particular, women's rights, more of a central piece of our foreign policy.
I am delighted to be here and look forvvard to hearing from all of you. Thank you.
l2
EXECUTIVE DIREQOR MENDEZ: Thank you very much, Madame First Lady, for those kind
words. We'll now open up [he floor for discussion and I will try and make sure that everybody has a
chanc~ to p~rticipate .. Also, I will reserve the last pan for a presentation by Madame Secretary of
State, tf tha[ IS okay w1th you. Let me start with Gilda Pacheco.
.
GJLDA PACHECO (liHR)= Thank you and welcome to· all of you. In January of 1991, the Gender
. and Human Rights Progra·m was established, thanks to the support and vision of Dr. Sonia Picado,
who at the time was Executive Director of the Institute.
·
.
.
)
C~rrently it provides advisory services, technical assistance and training to civil society
organrzations and other human rights groups working to eliminate gender inequalities, in line with
rhe theory and practice of human rights. This program coordinates with other branches of the Institute·
ro incorporate this perspective into their work.
·
To achieve this it has been necessary to develop new concepts and methods that provide the
basis for a broader interpr~tation of human rights rhat incorporates the specific experiences and
ne~ds of women. Although there have been significant advances in this regard, 'it is still necessary to
defme r~e typ~s of vi~larions of women's rights that are attributable to their being women; being a
woman 1n lattn Amenca} as you know, can have dangers all its own.
;:--:-···~
/
...
13
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On~ of the main goals of our program is to involve more civil society groups in the proteo:ion of.
human rights. This is a task for specialists in the legal field, but women's groups, non-governmental
. human rights organizations, organizations for the advancement of women's rights, and national and
internarional networks should also be engaged. As examples of how we tackle these challenges, we
should mention the 50 scholarships awarded to women's organizations from 26 Latin American and ·.
Caribbean countries that were very active in the conference in which you participated, the recent
Workshop on International Protection of the Rights of Women which was attended by. 30 women
lawyers from 20 Latin American and Caribbean countries, as well as the dissemination of publications
on this subject in Latin America.
The main focus of the Gender and Human Rights Program over the next fe~ years will be the
protection of women's rights at the national, regional, and international levels. One of the priority
objectives is to increase such protection by means of technical training and assistance for community
groups, legal firms, non-governmental organizations and defense offices, on the use of narional and
international laws that address the defense and protection of women's rights -and here we want to .
stress our interest in training women lawyers and paralegals in this struggle. Also, we support
organizations that work to advance human righrs education and protection at the adolescent level,
by producing educational matefials and designing methodologies. In addition, we are advising Latin
American and Caribbean governments on the process surrounding the ratification of the Optional .
Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. Like
14
you, we feel this is not an easy path, but it is encouraging ro see how there is now greater awareness
of the importance of securing women's rights. This is a necessary task that must involve both men .
and woni.en if our goal is _to attain peace in all aspects of human life. Thank you.
VICTORIA de AVILES (Human Rights Ombudswoman ofEI Salvador):Distinguis~ed government
representatives, allow me to begin my very short presentation by addressing one of our special
guests, Hillary Rodham Clinton. You have said on numerous occasions that democracy, liberty and
justice must be addressed jointly and that government action should be effective, as well as ethical.
I subscribe totally to this approach, and, on that basis, would like to share with you some ideas from
'·
the human rights perspective.
I believe that the Central American nations must address human rights in their bilateral relationships,
not as an isolated subject but as an integral part of their overall policies, alongside trade. immigration,
drugs, etc. In Central America and in all of Latin America, human rights must be understood as an
issue that cuts across all relationships with other nations. Let me explain.· Democratic development
in Latin America is a question of achieving political rights, fundamental liberties, economic rights,
cultural rights and a respect for the democratic rule of law. I believe it is essential ro have open
economies, but also to combat poverty and maintain national social welfare policies.
In other words, I think that the development of democracy and open market econom i·es in Latin
15
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Amerka should go hand·in·hand with efforts in the area of human rights to ensure that governments
·respect the citizenry,. judicial systems are independent, and the state and society maintain a minimum
commitment to the poor. To that end, it behooves the United States to maintain respect for human
., rights as the mainstay of its policy in the region.
· Along the same li~e, the institution of the ombudsma~ is a state institution that defends the
interests of the general public. This institution must take on the difficult task, especially when
comes to women, of investigating violations of human rights by the government, prosecuting those
responsible-and ensuring respect for victims' rights. We ~ust contend with the arbitrary use of pow~r,
which, in Latin America, has caused us many problems and even placed our lives at risk. As a
watchdog entity, we must place special emphasis on the protection and promotion of women's
rights, as we fight to eliminate all forms of inequality, disadvantagement and discrimination. We
want ro bring the resolutions of Beijing to life, so rhat they may become accepted norms of behavior
for all of us, both men and women. As for children (a very vulnerable segment in our societies), their
rights must be prot('!cted to ensure our future.
't
No government can turn its back on its citizens who cross national boundaries in search of better
living conditions. Therefore, as an ombudswoman, I wish to convey to you my deep concern regarding
Cemral American immigrants in the United States. I recognize that your government has the right to
take the necessary legal measures -which I. am convinced must reflect the principles· of respect for
human dignity- to protect its sovereignty. I further recognize your dedication to democracy, and
~r :f orts
;.
1
on behalf of a population that today is experiencing suffering, uncertainty and distress.
However, I ask for you{ support in ensuring that such measures be flexible and ensure respect for'
human rights, given the ·sociat economic and political realities that our countries face today. Thank
·you.
EXECUTIVE DIRECfOR
MENDEZ: We will now give the floor to Sonia Cansino.
SONIA CANSINO (a specialist on women and citizenship from El Salvador): Good afternoon to
everyone. In post-war El Salvador, scarred by extreme poverty and political authoritarianism, the
women's movement has been a leader in the formulation of proposals. During the 1994 elections,
the first elections following the war, the women's movement gor together to prepare a political platform
characterized by independence from political parties. In the post-Beijing era, we have been able to
put on the national agenda those topics of importance to us. Due to time restrictions, I will men[ion
only a few achievements. These include: the recognition of violence against women as a crime; the
requirement that 30 percent of the ex-husband's Christmas bonus go to women receiving child- ·
support payments; and, recently, for the March election, a decree that requires successful corigressionpl
candidates to pay any unpaid child support payments prior to being accredited to their elected seats.
Also, it is important to highlight that in the most recent election, women increased their representation
in the legislature from· 10.7 to 16.6 percent thanks to their enormous efforts within their respective
·
parties.
17
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The post-Beijing-environment has forced the government to create the Institute for the Development
of Women, a step toward obtaining female representation and participation in the formulation of the
National Women's Policy, which has not yer been ,approved by our President.
Despite our accomplishments, undeniable creativity and undisputed political skill, conservative
ideals have become law in El Salvador. Last April25, outgoing male and female legislators legitimized
the inequalicy of women when they amended Article 137 of our penal code to make abortion a
crime, even in cases of rape, fetal deformities and situations in which the life of che mother is at risk.
Abortion has now been completely outlawed. This act makes it clear that female citizens are considered
good citizens only in their role as mothers, ignoring rhe violence and discrimination which is implicir
in this kind of legislation. Salvadoran women need women like you to take a stand against these acts,
which legitimize our subordination. lf.this is not stopped, Beijing will have been an unnecessary
effort, and women cannot afford this. Thank you very much.
MARfA EUGENiA MIJANGOS (Guatemalan Center for Legal Action on Human Rights): Good
afternoon and thank you for the opportunity to offer some ideas on women and rhe Guatemalan legal
system. Our legal system, based on wester~:~ law, written and formalistic in the letter as well as in the
judicial practice, makes us "invisible" and protects and subordinates us, condemning us to minority
status and supporting the prevailing culture very effectively. Fortunately, our participation in the
Fourth International Conference on Women facilitated, as we will see later, lhe development of the
women's movement in Guatemala.
18
We regard the cur~~nt situation as promising but
1
h ·
·
·
agreements - which incl d
h·
f ' · comp ex. T e rmplementatlon of the peace
. .
.
. . u e ac revements or women's organizations - is com licat d b
·
_combmat1on of d1fferent factors: citizen insecurity, which ha .
d h
p
e
Y a!
:~~~~~~~~~~nngs,~fnt~~~~;t~ebaapcpkapreadt al ingd.in the ~ield of hum.an ~i;~~s7~~~n~:icg~~~~~:~~~:~n~~~~:·
.
us an cuts m srate servtces· and I k f d" 1
b
government and civil society. As a result of these factors, and ;he defa a: ~ ;a ogu~ et~een the
~~~~;~~~ :;,ec:~;:~i~~;~~:~~ipating very actively in this post-warperiod: ~~r~:~p:;:en~~;~o~:~~~:
The Guatemalan women's movement
. ·
·
field, it drew attention to the dis ri . . proposes creative an~ diverse alternatives. In the legal
232 through 235 of the penal code mdma,~lon ~fhtheh Ia~, challengrng the constitutionality of Articles
e, ea rng w1t t e cnmes of adulte a d
1·
·
which severely penalized a woman's infidel it wh ·re .
ry n common aw marrrages,
society's d~~ble standard. A constitutional c~urr ~ec~~i~; ::~i~~e~~~~!: :~-a! way ~ legalizde thhe·
d oorto actrvrsm and the participation of w
,
. .
. .
IC es an
opene t e
For rhe first time in our coun[ry a court ~me_n _s o1anrza~~ns, thus_ gtvmg women status as citizens:
women over domestic legislatio~, serving a~~s~~~is ~~~~~tu~:t~~:~t~l~;~~e~t and human rights for
are
~~:~:~~~~t~~oa~~a~:p~c~:~ t~t (oda~ there are1tw~ legally established groups whose opinions
1
.
·
e war on ega re,orms, court cases and new laws. We were
19
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able to enact a new Family Violence Law this year and we are now lobbying for an overall women's
rights law that combines concepts from the peace agreements with the plans of action of Cairo and
Beijing and rhe conventions on women's human rights. This iniliative has been presented to the
Congress and was ccrsponsored by all the women legislators. This law is the fruit of many years of
work.
Of course, there are still problems to be overcome in the legal arena. First of all, mo~t women
experience great :difficulty gaining access to justice, not only because of their low educat1~nal and
socioeconomic levet but also.because the judicial system is riddl.ed with corruptioA, ritualism and,
on top of everything. an unreal, sexist view of the world.
Second, many women are unaware of and unable to exercise their basic rights. Ther~ is a n_eed ·
for legal assistance for women who are· subject to abuse at home, in the workplace and m soc•ety,
and those faced with problems arising from non-payment of child support. Finally, we se~ ~great
need for training for: women in fundamental rights and citizen rights, so that we can keep bUJldmg on
this new citizen participation. Thank you.
·
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR MENDEZ: Before giving the floor to Patricia Rlos I would like to:point
out that I think we have a little time for some additional questions and comments aside from the ones
prepared earlier. Please ask me the question and I will be glad to give you the floor.
20
J
)
PATRICIA RfOS (Coordinator of a Nicaraguan network for women's health rights): Good afternoon,
ladies and gentlemen. Thank you for allowing me to participate and talk a little bit about what is
going on in Nicaragua: The Maria Cavallieri Women's. Health Network was founded in 1992, and
today consists of 48 alternative women's health centers, which in turn are members of the Autonomous
·Women's Movement of Nicaragua. We have defined health for women as a dynamic process in
which emotional, social,. political, psychological, spiritual and environmental aspects interact. The
aim is for women to be in harmony with ourselves and with the world. around us. This means having
access to work, education, land and housing, bearing children when we wish. and being able to
share the responsibility. It also involves having female and male friends, having free time and enjoying
our sexuality, having access to information, being respected and not being objects of violence, and
desiring a world of equal rights and opportunities.
.
Thanks to our network, we have participated in the Guatemalan Conference on Risk~Free
Pregnancy, the International Conference on Population and Development, and the Fourth World
Conference on Women in Beijing. We have made valuable contributions to Nicaragua through our
proposals for the defense of human rights, particularly as regards improving the health of women and
their quality of life. Though these contributions have been in the area of public policy, achieving this
participation was no easy matter. It was achieved only with great difficulty during the previous
government, but there is liule hope of further participa[ion in view of the measures adopted by the
new government. For example, besides being unconstitutional, the Executive's bill for the creatipn of
21
l
r
qi:!'.l!~
!'1'1!1~~.~~."""'"'"""""·-~------'
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the· Ministry of the Family makes women's key role in society "invisible" and relegates women to
being little more than persons responsible for domestic chores and subordinated by a patriarchal
. _system, with total disregard for the true situation in Nicaraguan society.
The health system does not look at the situation of women from an integrated perspective, with a
view to preventing and reducing the number of deaths from AIDS, cancer, abortions, etc., and thus
overlooks the socioeconomic and cultural aspects. The system simply indicates the clinical cause of
death -saying, for example, that a woman died of a hemorrhage instead of exploring the socioeconor;nic
factors that led £0 her death,
I would like to mention-a specific incident in Nicaragua, A
doctor from PROVIOA accused the
· Pan American Health Organization of distributing a tetanus vaccine that carried a dangerous virus.
The rumor was that this virus sterilized women. As a consequence of this irresponsible rumor, rhe
Ministry of Health of Nicaragua stopped the vaccination campaign on orders from the Catholic
Church. With scientific arguments, and as a result of the Insistence of the Women's Health Movernenr,
we were able to restart the vaccination campaign.
What do we seek? We seek respect for women's right to holistic health, and rhe recognition of
sexual and reproductive rights at every stage in a ~oman's life, within [he framework of universal
human rights. We seek implementation of the internacional agreements signed in Cairo and Beijing.
22
~
\
. -~
;
\ 'r\
'\.)
1
1
We seek to participate jointly with the governmeot in developing policies odn tealthlt~du~~ti~;~
lation and development Also, we seek the withdrawal of t~e propose aw ca mg r
0
~r~ion of the Ministry of the Family, which we regard as unconstitUtional.
:
We want women
(~-live, but to
Clinton, for your genuine interest.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
live healthy, happy and long lives. Thank you very much, Mrs.
·
MENDEZ: Madame First Lady of Costa Rica, would you please take the
floor?
JOSETTE FIGUERES (First Lady of Costa Rica): Friends,_! would like to bri~fly review the acti~~s
we have taken over the three years of our admin.istration in t~.: area of human nghts an~~~::~Figueres administration took office one year prtor to the Betjlng World Confere~ce o
.This
be an b makin an exhaustive study of the human rights situation for _women m our country: .
stu~ inJicated ~at although progress had been made in the legal doma1~ and most of the provts•~n~
hat ~iscriminated against women had been repealed, much work re~a,~ed to ~e don~. One maf~e
~rea for conce~n was the enforcement of existing legislation. There 1s little P~•nt :av~ng 1015 10 n
.e~t~ni·
ra
legal safeguards if people are not aware of their rights or if there are problems m t e a m
w:
f
I
of justice.
23
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Therefore, we set out to define the conceptual framework in which we would work. We set out IO
define the list of human rights and freedoms that citizens should enjoy. They are: civil rights to liberty
and equality; social rights to health, education, housing and recreation; economic righ-ts to work,
property and produc;:tive resources; a right to a life without violence; political rights to freedom of
thought, expression and association, to elect and be electe9; as well as the right to participate in
decision-making regarding national development. All of these ~re human rights, which, together,
define the condition of an active citizen~ In other words, for us, citizenship is the right to have rights.
To attain these goals, the government developed three national plans, whereby for the first time
in Costa Rican history, we have strategic public policies to promote the human righrs of women.
They are strategic policies because: their implementation is the responsibility of all government
institutions; they are directed at all women, not just women's groups; and they call on civil society to
work together with the government. These plans are: the National Plan for Equal Opportunity, which
called for 190 actions over three years; to be taken by 34 institutions pertaining to the Executive
Branch, in eight areas: legislation, health, education, labor, the environment, culture and the mass
media, the family1 sociopolitical participation and decision-making.
We have a National Plan for the Prevention of Family Violence . This is a multi-sector plan ro starand prevent family violence by combining governmental responsibility and the participation of NGO·
that work in this area. The work is based on annual plans and is coordinated jointly by the legislatur·
24
and the co~rt system. We have been able to ado
.
.
have organized trainin~_courses for judicial offici~l~~o Jaws dealing with family violence, and we
.
Lastly, we have the National Anti-Pave
~o groups: wornen heads of household
I
,
ny pan rn the Area of Wornen. This is tar eted r·
.
~n progr~ss that provide training in pers:;~ ~~1~an~ t:en,ag~rs. For borh, there are ;ation~l ~%~~~m~t
een trained. And we offer programs for teenage ~~rl;~~aths ~s and ~more than 20,000 women have
e enter or Women and the Family.
In the are~ of human rights and legislation we
. .
.
=~;,~~s7~~k;;;i~7~~~h;;~;~~~~;i~:,a;,~r~~:se~al~:· ~;;,;',~~::;'!~'a~c~::~~~~:d~~i~~n~t~~e
::dh:lectlon ~a;~' as well as of rhe Constirucio~ i~~;1~~~~d ~ r.evlew of ~rimlnal, civil, family, Iabo~
W h ve war e Intensively wirh the court system es . . II, o lmprov~ t e administration ofjustice
pecla yon the topic of violence against warne ,
e ave supported training information w
s~o~sored large-scale inform~tion and diss~m~r tl.ng methodologies and research We have als:
~~~itomen frorn the communities through m~~~~~ ~:~~~ige~ bon the rights of.w~men and work .
y
p
y the Center for Women and the
k.
of In the area of.citizen participation for women we h·
r .
Women as Active Citizens (PROCAM) Th' . ,
. ave launched the Program for the Promo(
.
• . IS alms to mcrease the political leadership of wome~~~
25
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tl1et( COm mUMI(IeS, IM S.OCICII IIIUYt:ll 11:11\!1, Ill t"VI Hl'-41 t"Qill\:1'3, " ' t-'..,...,,...._ ..,.._., .,, ... _,~, .... ~....... , "'-• ·- ...
government. The objective is to· strengthen the leadership of women and empower them to ~xert
·greater influence in the public and private life of the country at the l~cal, national and internattonal.
levels. In this sense, I think my role as First Lady is that of a facilitator. Speaking with Mrs. Clinton, we
agreed that the fact that the institution of First Lady is _n_ot enshri~ed_ in _our :onstitutions at tim~S'
undermines government action. We have to act as facilitators to mst1tuuonahze our programs vta
public policies and government institutions.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR MENDEZ: Thank you, Madame First lady. We now have time for a few
minutes of discussion before we ask the Secretary of State to address us. At this point I would like to
ask yo·u to sign our Visitor's Book and continue with the discussion. ·obviously, t:he_fact th?t ~ur
constitutions do not assign a role to the First Ladies is an obstacle. However, so~etsmes thts. 1s. a
positive, especially when that role is played by persons who are willing ro exer~tse le~ders~•p tn
areas of importance to society. In that regard, we are very honored to have t'vvo F1rst Lad1es w1th us
today who are outstanding examples of such leadership. Thank you .
. HILLARY CLINTON: 1would like to hear from several ofthe people who have not yet spoken: the
Second Vice President of Costa Rica and this country's very accomplished Ambassador to the United
States. 1 know that both of them have been very active in these issues and related concerns, a~dl
would like to have a sense of what they see as the overall condition of human rights in Costa Rrca,
and in the region as a whole.
26
REBECA GRYNSPAN (Second Vice President of Costa Rica): Thank you. Thank you, Mrs. Clinton,
and thank you Madame Secretary of State and all those who are with us today. I was thinking while
listening.to you that, although Central America is no longer divided by war and authoritarianism and
has become a society of-peace and democracy, perhaps the most important challenge facing us in
·the future is to eliminate poverty and discrimination, and, in the case of gender, to become societies
thar are integrared on rhe basis of equal opportunities for men and women. Also, l.was thinking about
the rime in Latin America when the debate focused on what the state should do and what private
society should do, a debate largely concerned with property rights: the debate over government and
social responsibilities was one over property. When we talk about the rights of women and children,
·.we are moving in the opposite direction. We talk of taking the debate from the private domain and
placing it in the public domain. Many of rhe problems have been hidden, kept in secret, kept private.
When we talk about violence against women or against children, we talk of bringing it out into the
open.
It made me think of Mrs. Clinton's book "It Takes a Village." We need a communir)t, an organized ·
society, in favor of women's and children's rights, to overcome the obstacles that women have faced
for a long time. I chink tha[ all the women who have spoken today have made us realize that if we see
a single daffodil it does no[ mean that spring has arrived. By truly working together, women and men .
-and we shouldn't forget men- can ensure that discrimination becomes a thing of the past, not only
for ethical reasons, but for important reasons of economic and social development.
·
27
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.,...·~,,.,..,,,
;.;,,...
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I recalL when conducting research in Central America on rural women, thai I had to tell the
' Ministers of Agriculture. that they were excluding a large part of the agricultural population- women
-and that if the manager of a company did not take 25%, of the work force into account, which is
exactly what they were doing, he would be fired. That is what is happening in our societies; the
ethical problem of the incorporation of women is also an economic problem. There is no way our
societies can develop fully and with sustain ability if 50 per cent of the population does not have the
same opportunities as the other half and is not integrated into the mainstream of development.
It has been good to hear about.the experiences taking place in Central America. On behalf of
Costa Rica, I'd like to say that we have made great progress in the legal area. However, as the First
Lady said, the programs that she and the Center for Women and the Family have developed make it
possible to implement the 'aw. That is the struggle that we all fac;e today. Thank you.
SONIA CANSINO: I would like to make a comment. Laws and legislation are somewhat
complicated when they produce a paradox, when public laws intervene in this private area, especially
in dealing with a woman's body. An example is the case of rape, where the result of the crime is a
human being, and rhe state intervenes, as in the case of El Salvador, to say, "watch out, citizenship for
you, woman, has its limits, and they are determined by us so that we can continue to control your
body.'' The current legislation legitimizes hypocrisy because it is not true, in the case of my country,
that the quality of life for these babies is really a priority for the government. In other words, it is not
28
l
.~
1
l
.
enough to espouse the belief that life begins at cone .
.
must guarantee the quality of life of the unb
d ~ptto~ and to defend life and the unborn. We
based on a double standard that produc thorn an ad. ensure that the citizenship of women is not
so
·
es ese para ox:es.
· giveEXECUTIVE you?·
the floor to DIRECTOR MENDEZ·· Thank you very much. Madame Secretary of State, may we
)
MADELEIN~ ALBRIGHT (US Secretary of State): Th~nk
.
.
a treme~dous drscussion, and I know that I speak on behalf yfou very .much. I must say this has been
from all of you. Let me sa thar I reaf Mrs. Clmton when I
how much we
drrectJon of this rnstiture and for everything that you have d ly c~mmend you, Mr. Me'ld~z, for your
thank you very much for getting together this
k bl
one or the cause of human nghrs, and I
kind of discussion. Also, I would like to sincer I :~ a k ehgr~~p of women so that we could nave this
us and taking such a part such an active
~ y. an the lrst Lady of Costa Rica for being here for
· ·
.
'
part m 1ssues t at are 50 imp0 rt t 1 k
h
.
tt IS to Amencans to have a First Lady who .
.
an · now ow 1mpon:ant
ld
b b
IS so acttve Were it not fo H'll
Cl'
wou nor e a le to exercise the kind of . ht th
r I ary mton, many of us
leadership in Beijing
throughout the w~'fd
~r we ;ant to exercise. Also, I thank her for her
women's rights and human rights it make r d.'ffi e IS our est Ambassador. When she speaks out for
the same holds true for Mrs. Figu~res.
s a ' erence. I am certain that, in the case of Cosra Rica,
h~ve ~nJoyed ~e.aring
say~
re;:
and
;h
29
~..~~r~o .P , c• - .. -.-.•• ·-··
..
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. I think, from what I have seen here, and knowing of your work previously, that the Institute really
is a peacon of justice and law and I commend you for, all the work that you have done, not only in
terms of women's issues, but in terms of fair elections and human rights training for police. I think
these are very important issues as we move forward with an era of democracy throughout the world.
I think the work that ~II of you have done and that you have been talking abour is also very courageous
and innovative, and I applaud all of you for the roles that you have taken in your own countries. I
must say, and I think I am sure that I speak on behalf of Mrs. Clinton, that whenever we travel abroad
and meet with other women I think we are struck by the fact that in various degrees the situation is
the same. You could come in from Mars to any country in the world and I think you would find
women's groups where the issues are exactly the same. Also, I must say as Ambassador Babbitt and
the Second Vice President and I got up from our lunch with all those men and came here, t8ey
wondered what we were doing.
.
;
I am gratified by the fact that we can have this kind of discussion wherever we go and feel as if we
are working on a common goal. I must say, however, that the greatest pleasure at the moment is to
know that we are facing a new challenge:' today the emphasis has shifted from protecting citizens
against the violations of human rights perpetrated by government agencies, to working with elected
governments to offer protection against violations committed by individuals. That is a big difference,
and one, I think, that shows the great advances that have been made, and yet how much work there
still is to do. It really is important to end impunity for those who abuse women. This is an issue thar
30
)
I have spoken out on when I was Ambassador to the United N~tions and in other fora. Some people
;ay that such abuse is cultural but I [hink we all know it is criminal. Therefore, it is important for us
:o speak out together on these issues.
I must say 1. am also very. gratified that the United States Agency for International Development
1as been supportive. Barring a.crisis, this support will continue as long as I am Secretary of State, and
:he United States will continue to stand on the side of those striving for justice, human rights, and
]ignity, We, too, are carrying oljt the commitments of Beijing within the United Stares government
·allowing up in all kinds of ways to make sure that the standards we set out in Beijing will continue.
\s Mrs. Clinton said, we have made women's rights a part of our overall foreign policy. I have made
t a point as I travel abroad to always meet with women's groups. I think it is very important because
>f whar we learn from each other, but it also sends a signal of where the United States stands on
vomen's rightS and human rights.
I also believe .that as countries go through their second wave of democratization, there is a great
~uphoria carried over from the first wave. In the second wave you come upon the issues that all of
•ou have discussed: social issues and economic issues, the kind of issues that really are the basis of
ociety and require a great deal of work. I can assure you thatthe United States will continue to be
·ery interested in making sure that there is an integration of democratic principals and human rights.
twill be a part of our foreign policy because it is what we stand for as a country.
31
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....,
• j •••-••" o•u•....,•• '"' \.,.n,._ VI !j1CCI.l .__Utl\...CIIl. II.
was discus~ed at the Presidents' conference. I am an immigrant myself. I carne to the United States at
the age of 10. So I know about the opportunities that tt,e United States offers. It is the most open
country in the world, with the greatest opportunities for immigrants. However, every country has a
right to protect its borders and to promote legal, rather than illegal, immigration. Therefore, our new
legislation is a serious attempt to ensure that there. are more legal immigrantsl so that the problems
creaced by having many illegal immigrants are dealt with by the law, and I think aU of you have
talked about the importance of the rule of law.
President Clinton has just finished a conference with his fellow presidents and has made it clear
that he will do everything he can to mitigate some of the harsher aspects of some of the legislation ..
There will be no mass deportations. I hope all of you will convey this message to the peoples of your
·
countries.
Let me tell you how much I admire all the work you are doing. I hope very much that we can all
continue to work together, because I believe that the kinds of issues that all of you have discussed are
the basis of society, and, as you have said, we are the resource of our societies. As long as there are
many divisions in our societies, it is up to the women to knit the societies back together. Thank you.
-.1.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR MENDEZ; Madame Secretary, I thank you very much for your substantive
statement on the policy of the United States, which we appreciate. vVe also appreciate your pledge,
32
.
.
1our commitment, to maintaining human rights as a centerpiece of foreign policy of rhe United
itates. I, too, have lived in the United States, and I appreciate the generosity of the people of the
Jnited States in welcoming among themselves people from other lands, especially those fleeing
1ersecution. I think, in fact, the concern expressed here about policies on immigration is a concern
::>r treatment with dignity. I think you have reassured us that that is the commitment of the Clinton
\dministration.
Also, I want to thank you very much for the deserved praise for the Institute. And I am not being
nmodesr in saying this, for the credit must go to the person most responsible for having builr this
1stitution into what it is today- the Vice Chair of our 6oa'rd, Dr. Sonia Picado, whom I would like to .
sk to take the floor.
SONIA PICADO (Vice Chair of che Board of Directors of the IIHR and its former Executive Director):
hank you, Juan. I am not here today in. my capacity as an ambassador. Representing my country in
te United States has been a new experience for me, one with i.ts own challenges and lesson 5 but the
Jmmitment to human rights is something you carry in your heart.
1
The Institute was created with the support of AID, the Ford Foundation, CIDA and the Naumann
lundation. AID lobbied strongly for the creation of the Institute, and especially for the CAPEL Program,
a time when human rights were highly politicized and there were those who felt that the IIHR
>uld not work in the area of political rights.
33
�56P-21~t998
14=09
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P.17
•n those early days there was a lot of work to be done in the area of institutional developm~m.
One of the greatest accomplishments was managing to increase and diversify our sources of fund mg.
- This headquarters. buiJding was acquired with funds donated by the Naumann Foundation. Later,
AID and the Government of Costa Rica provided the new building, which houses the entire professional
and technical team.
Despite its academic orientation, from the outset we knew it could not be a ''platonic" lnstiture.
There was an urgent need to make a commitment to those· in greatest need and to the victims of the
most serious human rights violations. Hence, we trained lawyers to work with the N(JOs. To illustrate ·
my point: of the 25 lawyers we trained through our first course, three were murdere.d and many o~the
others were forced to leave their countries over the course of the next year for then· own protect1on.
For me it was a great privilege to work at that time with people who were totally committed to the
cause of human rights. One of them was Roberto Cuellar, who is here today. He was the right·hand
man of Monsignor Romero in El Salvador, the man who risked his life for human rights. That re~lly
made a difference. to us all. We first met Juan when he was director of Americas Warch, and we
subsequently found ourselves together in many difficult situations.
I think the most difficult thing we have to do is to change the cultural values of the world. You
34
cannot have a culture of intolerance and a vertical culture in Latin America. We are not interested in
simply hearing people .read declarations; we want to change the mentality of people in this region ..
All of us, especially we wof!.1~n, know that we are required to pay a high price simply for the right to
think. Our culture is vertical i~ the home, vertical in the schoolroom, vertical in the army and vertical .
where the stare is concerned, and the combination of these factors makes it very difficult to change
the e~isting scheme of things and work for the human rights of everyone, both men and women.
Now there is talk of a new era, an era in which we can tatk about economic, social and cultural
righrs. Now, for [he· first time, this is accepted. It was actually not until Vienna that we were able ro
adopt a universal, integrated approach and say that women's rights were human rights. By the way,
not a single Head of State attended the Vienna Conference. This shows how states are often willing to •
talk about human rights, but not to implement them.
In the case of women, it is fair to say that the perspective of women in the underdeveloped world ·
is very different from those in the North, because in the North you can afford to address a wide range
of issues. We, on the other hand, still have to contend with the churches and with Roman law - not '
even modern law, but legislation that dates from the Roman. Empire.
We must also fight for recognition of the rights of indigenous peoples, and in. the case of countries
like Guatemala and Peru, where the indigenous population is almost the majority, this is a daunting
35'
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P.18
task. The Institute is proud to have produced some publications in indigenous languages, especially
in Guaternala, Bolivia and Peru, where we are engaged in working with the indigenous'population to,
· create a~areness of their rights, but doing it in their own languages.
·
We are bound to acknowledge the contribution of Mark Schneider, who is here today and has :
talways supported the IJJStitute. I should also like to mention james Michael, an AID official who
worked hard to improve the administration of justice. Also, Roma Knee, our "godmothe,-J' and another·
AID officiaL She is a wonderful woman who gave us a great deal of support for many years.
Mrs. Clinton and Mrs. Albright: your presence here is a recognition of the fact that the Institute·
has "graduated," that we deserve the attention of the world,. that we deserve recognition for r.he
many, many wonderful men and women who have risked their lives to work in human rights.ln most
of our countries it is still dangerous to wof'k in human rights. I should like to say something to the
women present here tqday. It has been extremely difficult to incorporate women's issues into the
struggle for human rights, often because most of the people working for the advancement of human
rights in Latin America belong to the Church. So we have to be very subtle in our efforts and establish
strategic alliances to promote some of the rights that we wish to promote.
Women have to work very hard in the field of human rights. The Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo
are a good example. They enjoyed great credibility and attracted a great deal of attention when they
,~u;~~:.o:y ~~~yc;~~:~.:~,~~~~~~·~'n~~~~:t:~sa!':,~~~;e~~:ne;,r;,~~r::~,~a~e1~~~~~n~
~ plft~ a ro~eh takrng advantage of the credibility they enjoyed in the political arena. This is a very
1
.rcu Issue. ow we are to come to terms with the past how w h ld
k· ·
ainful and ensure that violations do not go unpunished.'
e s ou war on ISSues that are so
Women's rights are human rights It
a l_ong struggle. The
is
d
1 · 1
·
lnstitut~ p~ou~~~~a~~ ha~g:~: 0~~;~~~~t;~~i;:;~~i~~~: ~~ct~~~~~~~;~:~
~en
0
Thank you very much for being here, and thank you, Juan, for doing such a great job.
~c:~: ~f ~;~~~~~hf~:;~ e;:ryone f?r.feing h~e, P~rticularly Madame First lady and Madame
)me ~ack again in the future.
en a prtvl ege an an onor to have you here. I hope you will
Thahk you.
~- I, ii!l.#k!L££ Ps a
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THU 16:53 FAX
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DANE JOA~ SAWY£R, CHIEF JUSTICE ffiAHAMAS' FIRST FEMALEJ,
SWORN IN ON OCTOBER 16, 1m, MAOE A DAME COMMANDER OF
THE MOST EXmmT O~OER Of THE BRITISH EMPIRE' MAY m1,
APPOINTED AS THE BAH~I'!AS' FIRST WOMAN JUDG~ IN ln7.
OR. SANDRA DEAN PATT~RSON' OI~ECTORt THE WOMEN'S CRISIS
CEHTER 119821 RENAH[O T"E CRISIS CENTER 1991, ADVOCATE
FOR WOMEN'S RICHJS, FOUNDER/PRESIDENT OF THE BAHAMAS
COUNCIL FOR THE HANDICAPPED 197), FIRST FEMALE PRESIDENT
BAHAMAS MEIITAL HEAl Til ASSOCIATION 1972• FAHil Y PLANNING
ADVOCATE,
-
J ,...;;:aAH.AHI AN-COVI:RNMf'Nr INITIATIVES.
.
.
.
.
I
UNC lAS NASSAU 592918
STATE FO~~'-'~~l~.D:
CO~ I ES:
846062
i
--,_, •
m GOUERHMENT OF THl BAH AtlAS SIHCE THE UN I TEO NAT I DNS
FOURTH-IIORLD-GONFEREIICEON \/OMEN, HHD IN BEIJING' CHINA.•
SEPTEI'IBER:-199S, HAS CONTiNUED ITS EFFORTS To PROMOTE THE
ADVANCEMENT Of WOHENLOCAllY. I~ENTIFJEO.AS.PRIOfllli'ITE"S fOR THt P£RIOD·J995·-mo
---~ ..
N/A
ECONOMIC tHPOWERMENT OF WOMEN
VIOLENCE AGAINST WOM!N
SlATE 168192
. 'povmv ·
AS REQUESTED IN REFHL1 THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION liAS
EFFORTS
SUBMITTED BV THE GGOB' S \r/OMEN' S DESK FOR CONSIDERATION
FOR THE FIRST LADY'S SPEECH AT THE VITAL VOICES
CONFERENCE.
__ . ___ -:
'... :Ho~oRAB1E;:_JANWG;=B~Sr~ifie~-R o~ -~R;I Anm./
.--------=-=· -·
.:2
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MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS; FIRSUEMALE-MEMBERO~_,
PARLTAMEHT, ElECTED;m2;-R£:fmm 1987· mz, AND
.1997dJRST FEMALE APPOINTED CABINET lliNimR • Fm
NATIONAl MOVEHENl GO\IfRNM£HTr 1992• FIRST WOMEN APPOINT£0
AS ATTORNEY GENERAl' 1994.
_HONORABlE -ITAI;-IA~'R:::J OHNSON,.::MEI'IBER~ Of. PARL·IAMENT ,_ _,
,-sPEAK~~ -of THE HOUSE or.~AsSEMBI:-V-IFIRSTcHMALE .lO HOC~
..THIs PDSi flo·N IN .MbRE_"T:HAN•2GS·· VEAR ... OF"BAKAMI·AN1'~ J
~p~~,ME~TA~thE~OCRACJl-;-WolfKEnniiSURi\Hi;f!HVUSTRY
'-FOR-2G' HARVmGTED "EMBER OF PARL lAMENT I~ 199, RfHECTED IN 1997.
BOARD OF'TRUSTEES - INHRMATIOHAl RESEARCH AND TRAINING
FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF WOMEN tiHSTRAWI 199'l-l99& PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD 1996·1997.
CONCF.R~S
INCLUOE:
SKI[fS~TR'AINtN(WORKSHOPS IN THf AREAS OF SHELl CRAFT,
STRA\1 WORK AHD BASIC SEWING TO ENGOURACE \IO~EN TO BECOME
SELF EMPL OYEO. SPOHSOREO BV THE BUREAU OF IIOI1EN' S
AFFIIIRS, THE DRGAHilATION Of AMERICAN STATES• BAHAMAS
mHNlCAl AN[J IIOCATIONAl IHSTITUTt Aim m BAHAI1AS
AGRICULTURAL ANO INDUSTRIAl CORP OR AT I ON.
'THE BAHIIHAS IS PARTICIPATING ACTIVELY IN THE UNIFEII
4.
OR. KfUA BETHElr FORMER PRESIOE~T, COLLEGE OF THE BAHAHAS
11995-JSgBJ, 39 YEARS AS A DISTINGUISHEO E!IUCATOR !22
YEARS AT THE COLLEGE Of THE BAHANASI, PRESIDENT' BAHAMAS
GIRL WIUES ASSOCIP.TION, RECIPIENT Of THE ORDER or Sl.
MICHAEl ANO ST. GEORGE ICtiGl BY HER MJESTY THE QUEEN.
DEPARll'lF.NT OF ARCHIVES SINCE 19691 PRESIDm, BA"AMAS
HISTORICAL Soclm, AUTHOR OF SEVERAL BQQKS, RECOGNIZI!.D
BY THE UNIVERSITV OF m W£ST INOitS AS AN OUTSTANOING
GRADUATE DURING THEIR 50TH ANNIVERSARY· 1m, MEMBER'
TC AOORESS TH(SE
SPONSORED REGIONAl HVHAN RIGHT CA~PAIGH. ACTIVITIES
INCLUO£ TEGAi:-'EGOHDMlC~WORKS]fopS' ON VIOLENCE AGAINST
WOMENi FUHORJ\ISING EVENTS AHD A NOVEMBER REGIONAL MmiNG
OF 1101!£N'S C~ISIS CENTERS.
H. E. ANGELA HISSOURI SERMAN PETER• HIGH COHMISSIOHtR fOR
THE BAHAMAS T CANADA, APPO INHO JUlY 1991• 29 HARS
EXPERIENCE IN BILATERAL AHO "UllllAHRAL DIP~OMACY:. !II
PERANENT MISSION or lHE BAHAMAS TO THE UN/UN COMMISSIN .
ON NARCOTIC DRUGS AND OAS/CICP.D 171 ASSISTANT DIRECTOR,
POL IT I CAl AFFAIRS OIUISION COMMONWEALTH S[CRETARIAT.
OR. tAll SAUNDERS, D RtCTOR OF ARCHIVES lST AFF'
I
UNDERTA~EN
TWD'SEMlNARS ·lO CONDUCT AN ASSESSMENT Of AND TO PREPARE A
P.I:AN-OHCTIONfOR Til[ ERADICATION OF POVERTY (1996 AND
19981.
2•..,]!A!!M IAN..WOMEN~MAK'I NG~AliDH FJR£NGE:::.
;:-_.::i~~-_!'.... - ........... -..-.:~---=:-_::
.,..,.,.._ __ .,..,. _ _ _ .,. _ _ _ ., _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ . , , . . , . .
QUOTABLE QUOTES
"FOR THE FUIURE, THE 1;0\/ERNMENT OF THE BAHAI!AS HAUE
IDENTIFIED THE ECONOMIC fMPO\iER11€NT OF All OF OUR PEOPL£
AS ESSENTIAl TO fOUIPPING THEH FOR PRODUCJIUE
PARTICIPATION I~ A NEW MILLENNIUM. WOMEN REPRESENniFH
rfRCtHT OF THnA(ENrCAPAffff,-ABWflV'"'AND''INTEttECT OF'.
OU~ COUNTRY.-WNH· INFLUENCE EXlfNOING Tli~'-Si:YbND'"'~HAT IS. >
· REPRE.SfNffO BV THESE'ITGUilf:S.; tlUOTED BY THE HONORABL(
-.... ... ... ....
.. · . .
.J
JANn G, BOSTWICK, ~E11BER OF PARt IAMm, MI~ISHR OF
FOREIGN AFFAIRS RESPOIISIBlE FOR WOMEN'S AFFAIRS AI lHC
BAHAMAS 25TH ANNIVERSARY 0~ INDEPENDENCE CELEBRATION,
I11Aitl, fl, JUn 1990.
·- """""'- -- ~
--------~------"tlHE ;NEXT' CENTURY Is 1;0 I NG To -BETHf CENniilv!iF:t~~WfiMEN:--J
iiE-HUSnn-t BERATELfi'CIIN-FOR-THE·-1 NCOHI-NG ENTRY' or MORE
WOMEN INTO OWNERSHIP :N THE ~NTREPRE.NEII~IAt SECTOR,
ECONOI'IIC INDEPENDENCE COUPLED WITH EDUCATION· IS STILL
UNCLASSIFIED
�09/17/98
THU 16:53 FAX
rmo3o
UNCLASSIFIED
Printed By: Eva A. Weigold Hanson
ACTlON
AIUI.-0~
TEDE-00
SS0-00
PRM-01
DRL-04
NFAT-00 SAS-00
---·--------~-----GBOt74
l6l244Z /38
0 161236Z SEP 98
FM AMmMBASSY BRASILIA
TO SECSTATS WASHnC IMMEDIATE 29S7
INFO AMCONSUL SAO PAt.n.O
AMCONSUL RIO DE 3ANBIRO
INFO
LOG-00
JtJSE-00
O'SSS-00
~-01
L-01
A-oo
ADS-oo
UTED-00
NSCE-00
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H-Ol
OIC-02
AMCONS'O'L RBCIFE
UNCLAS BRASILIA 003523
DEPT FOR ARA/PCP EVA WEIGOLD
E.O. l2lHi8: N/A
TAGS; OVIP (CLINTON, HILARY), ~WMN
SUBJECT: VItAL VOICES: REQUEST POR'INFORMATION RESPONSE
REF: SECSTATB 168192
l.
PER R£FTEL 1 POST sUBMITS T~~ FOLLOWING INFORMATION
REGARD:!!.,G.:l10MEN -IN BRAZIL.----.,,
'~~%~'J:N~;T WOMEN_ULBAAZI:{fNr!;Ili'E BEGIN .•WITH !!!RAZIL' S
FIRS-t .LADY, o!l::-RTJ'i:'H-..:CJ.\imoso.-· ·•ooNA-RUTH,.l;.__rui'-sHB is
POPUx.J\RL"r;KNoWN. ts· A RENOWNED. t.JR&A:N- AN:Tlm.oPoLOGIST ·AND
2.
SOCIOLOGIST:.. liND-WAS .A SENlO.IL:RESEiiiRCHE:R ~TLl'HE'.~BUZ~·l:lii'AN-;'
CEN'I'J~!l,~_Qf~JU.lAiilt.'§~AND· PlANNING WHERE SHE COOilDINATEO.
STUD!ES_ ON SOCIAL MOVEMENTS~ ·YOUTH, _)IND_CIVIC>
J?ARTICIPATlON-~-SINCE-IiER HUSBAND'S Et,;EcTIOl'l IN 1994, SHE
H~S SERVED ~S THE PRESIDENT OF THS ADVISORY COUNCIL OF
THE SECRETARJ;AT FOR COMMUN!TY SOI..IDARITY ( 11 COMMONIDADE
SOLIOA1UA 11 ) •
IN THIS ROt.Ji: SliE HAS WORKED TO INTEGRATE
POORER CLASSES INTO SRAZILIJ:I.tLSOClETY ;:-:lll:lORESSING-ISSUES. ·
oF HEALTH_-.~u,!~nruTRI'l'ro~. MONICIPAL SERVICES, -ANO-iii.RAL'·. ·-o:
DEVELOPMEliiT .. _
. :7'=:::.:.::--::-- ?
3.
SENATO_~ ~~EPITA~PA ·siLVA~IS--\l"HE GRAN:ODAUGHTEl<. OF A
SI.JWE AND GREW UP IN A RIO nE JANSlRO SLUM.
M,l:I.RRIED AT
1a, SHE BECAME A COMMUNITY ACTIVlST W!THIN THE CATHOLIC
CHURCH AND IN THE LATS 1970S WAS .11. FOUNDING MEMBER OF THE
WORKERS' PARTY, NOW ~ PRIMARY OPPOSITION PARTY IN
BRAZIL.
SME·LATER-BECAME !!!RAZIL'S FIRST BLACK FEMALB
PED~ .. DE~UTX:'~.?::-Fr:rtST :cBL~P,!,Pf:EMALE · ,fji!Jf'T,C)R;,;,·, ·;;~B
NOW~~~_l'l:PA!~ FOIL.:THEc·VICE 0'GOVERNORSHI I? !•oF I,?.IO-.!?_~-=-::..,._...', ·":
J~-S'l'A!TcE ··'"'·· . -~ - --·==-c=·"
'Ip
.:.--·_..::::__ .:-·-~"'-~
~ ...
4 , SENATOR MARINA DA SILVA IS ONE OF ELEVEN CHILDREN OF
AN IMPOVERISHED RUBBER TAPPER FROM THE AMAZONIAN STATE OF
ACRE.
WORKING.AS-ll. MA!O;TO-PU'l' HERSEL~_THROUGH
UNI'IlBRS-I~fi!'~BHEo"SJ::~E-A: Tl'ilA€Bll:R~ANO-LATER AN.~----
ENV~.R!';l~ENTAL AcT:rvisT -:,~o.-:oRG.AN:i:~~!i!fS~R-TmsR.s :·
SHE- Wf\.Sc.ELECTED A qTY .COUNCIL:;>!':..~ACRE~IN~,~S~ ANn
SENATOR FROM THE STli.TE OF-ACRE, AT AQE 36, IN·l~94.
5 ...J)ENlSE FROSS.lUUl!TMEN_A.FEDEW--.niDGE -ANDNow A·
c;ANDI!>ATE::Ro~_;.,,'f;:!'!.li:-s.~p&.EROM••Ri!:O'•'DE"l'JANEIRb,':BECAME .
BRAZIL'S MOST FAAOUS J11RIST IN ~99$ .AFTER~S:HJ>·-~---'
SUCCESQLE:D THE PROSECUTION' OF ''l')iJi CHIEFS
(''BICHEIROS 11 ) OF ;nn;: ILLEGAL LOTTIORY IN RIO DE JIINE!RO.
THB BICHEIROS USED THEIR ASTRONOMICAL PROFITS ~0 BECOME A
L~W UNTO THEMS~LVES IN RIO, CONTROLLING ~T CRIME
NETWORKS IN THE POORER AREAS QO~ JANEIRO.
UNCLASSIFIEO
1
!0·00
ss-oo
/OllW
�09/17/98
THU 16:53 FAX
tiNC:LMSIFIED
Printed By, Eva A.
G.
/CLAUDIA
Wei~old
Hanson
COSTIN-~HAS=-RIS!W~.Tl:iR.OUGH
THE RA:ti'KS OF
GOVERNMENT SEill.V;I;CE.,TO~-BECOME, ATc.:AGE:-42, MINISTER OF
FE.PE;>pU.· ADMINISTF,ATION AND STATE REF:ORM.AND-THE ONL¥
WOMAN CABINET MEMSeR IN PRESIDENT CARDOSO'S
ADMillli$TAA'l'ION.
TWO WEil!KS AGO SHE ORDERED BY MINISTERI~
DIRECTIVE THAT ALL PUBLl~ SERVICE TRAINING COURSES
INCLUDE MATERIAL ON SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN THE WORKPLACE.
? .
ZELIA GA'J;'TAI IS -A RENO~ED AUTHOR AND MEMOIRlST FROM
• TME .STATE OF '91-\:f!IA .!\No THE WIFE OF AUTHOR JORGE AMADO.
·,!N THE~FORWJUUl
To-HSR -MEI'-IOIRS' "SENHORA-DONA -DO BAILE"
(MRS. BELLE OF THE BALL), BRAZILIAN AUTHOR CARLOS SeLlAR
CALLS ZELIA, "A !roMAN PHBNOMENON ... MARVElLOUS JI,ND 1-\LlVE,
FRIEND AND SO'PPORTER, HONEST JU<D PaRE, A RASCN,. JUlD A
SCAMP, A WHOLE PERSON.
MRS, CLINTON MET MRS • G1\.'ITAI
DURING A VISIT TO BAHIA IN 1995. MRS. CLINTON ALSO MET
SENATORS DA SILVA AND SILVA DURING HER VISIT TO BRAZIL IN
1997 AND MRS. CARDOSO ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS.
a. TWO IMPORTANT GOV~RNMENT CONTACTS WHO HAVt INFORMATION
ON RECE~T GOVERNMENT INlT~ATIViS, THE DEPARTMENT SEADS
FOR WOMEN'S ISSUES lN THE FOR~IGN AND JUSTICE MINISTRIES,
HAVE BEEN ~VAILABLm THE PAST TWO DAYS. POST W~~L
FOLLOW UP ON TRIS INFORMATION IF THE DEPARTMENT WISHES.
~- ~INALLY, PRtPCESS ISABELLA, DAUGHTER OF EMPEROR DON
PEDRO II, CARRIED OUT ONE: OF THE MOST SICiNIFICANT ACTS Oli'
B~ZILIAN HISTOR~ IN lSBB BY SIGNING TKE LAW FREEING THE
LAST SLAVES IN BRAZIL AND THBREBY COM~LETELY ABOLISHINO
Sl..AVERY IN TKE COtlNTRY.
DERHAM.
!41 031
�09/17/98
l{l]o25
THU 16:52 FAX
1
UNCLASSIFIED
AID
AMB:TCARNEY
AID':-MHAR~Y
AID.:J?EORBES.,..ECON.~EM,...DCM 7 KOIINCf>N
AIDA
.
AMEMB-Ass-Y.-=POR-T-=A:U:-P~l:NGJ;:
SECSTATE WASHDC, IMMEDIATE
INfO
AlOAC
FOR AR.A/PP.C EVA WEIGQ.I.D.
USAID FOR AA/LAC MSCHNEIDER
E. 0. 12958-:· N/A·
TAGS: OVIP (CLINTON, HILLARY), KWMN
sUBJECT: HAITI: succ&s-s-- &'PE>R::rss- FeR- FIF:&'P LA:DY' s- TIHP. .A:fJD
VITAL VOICES CONFERENCE
REF: STATE 16a.l. 92
1 .
AS· R-:sQB-E-5-'PE-D
RB1~!f.&:k,
'PH~-5-
MES-SAGE
~0¥1:9:8-S· S1JCC~SS
STORIES AND STATISTICS FROM HAITI RELATED TO WOMEN'S'
ISs:eE-5-· FOR· YS:E-· IN- P.ROPh.'R·:ING- RE-~5- FOR- THE- .FII~:S-'P 1AEJ¥.' S
TRIP TO THIS COUNTRY AND TO THE "VITAL VOICES" CONFERENCE
IN MONTEV:Tm;o.
THE MESSAGE PROVIDES BAC1tGR0YND- ON TWO WOMEN· PROMIN.~T
IN THE POLITICAL ARENA AND RULE OF LAW, ON A WOMEN'S GROUP
ACTIVE IN WOMEN'S RIG.R'l',. AWl). A WOMAN. WHO. HAS PLAYE-D. A
PROMINENT ROLE IN HAITI'S PRIVATE BUSINESS SECTOR.
2.
· -·murL.LQ~-.:.~-A. ·LA:WY:E.R B:Y ~'tiiAiN-niG 1
.. t:fci~i'~">~·:frAITI, THfFIRST ·FEMALE
ON: .HAITI. ':-s-sl!PREME:~ c;.9URT;: 'AND T.HE: ·~c.~~+E.Y:'~S T.wif}- ttiE ~
HEMI-SPHERE'~'S)
FIRST FEMALE--PRESIDENT. (MARCH 199Cr TO . ~}
A- "MADAME.::-E:ItTHA-
SHE~WAS~THE-~FfR's"'T"
9
-~~~~z:yw~6 ~S; w:=E~~~;~~tr~~I-~~~~~f~~-
}
/
I SSUE.S.- SHE. WAS VERY ACT.I.\lE. IN DRAET.ING.. THE.. DECREE.. OF
OCTOBER 8, 1982 ABOLISHING GENDER INEQUALITY. CHOSEN BY
CONSENSUS. 'E.O LEAD 'ERE. COUNTRY.· OU'P.. 0:£ 'ERE.· P..QL.I.Tl.c.:.Ah· IMEAS.SE
CREATED BY GENERAL___f.BQS.P.ER--AVR]].!"i'-S
IN.STRUMEN!AL..·~J:N:?lTHE..- ~.Z:A'ff:.mf'•·aF.
. .
ENT·;·· ~;
E - .. ~
ELECTORAL.:·PROCE.ss··wtcl:i .RESUL~tn·.. IN~-THE.··EIJECT:I-oN--O.F-'-- ~-----~-/
�09/17/98
141 0 26
THll 16:52 FAX
--
TH~.-cciuN.T.RY~' s.. n:TR.s~i~I.CALL.Y.. E.LEC.TED.. .. :eRRslnF.Nl:,
----·-·
B.
·~· ·-· - -- - -·--<-::c:~~
----
MADAME FRANCOISE BOtJCARD -- AT THE TIME OF JEANCU\UDE
nUV.AI,IEB..' &. B.EM..QVAL• EROM.. J?.QWEB: IN 1.986.,.. MADAME B.O.UCAB.D. ~AS
VERY ACTIVE IN THE COOPERATIVE MOVEMENT. EDUCATED IN :
BELGI.IlM.. AS.. A.. SQCLO!.J.QGI.S.'I.,.. MADAME B.OllCAB.D lS. Tl:U~. EOEMEE
HEAD OF THE NATIONAL TRUTH AND JUSTICE COMMISSION, A BODY
CREATED BY ERESIDE.N.'I ARISTID.E.. TO LNVESTI.GATE HtTh:lAN RIGHTS
ABUSES DURING HAITI'S COUP D'ETAT. THE COMMISSION WAS
IN'l'ENDE.D TO HEll BIU.NG... ABOUT RECONCIL.IAT l.ON.. FOR- THE
1
STRENGTHENING OF DEMOCRACY IN THE COUNTRY.
·
c._. ~Kii~~ ·-~:ERONallNCEJ), ~m· :EllliJ ~--i. cAik.us
OR
·cOALl~oN- · ·'"j
OF-2)-:.~WMEN'.S· GROUPS .WORKING ..TO .. REFORM -THE- LEGAL.. =coDE-~Tb~
BRiN.G...:~ '1':. :J;NTO.. COMEL..IANC,E: W:I.TE. INTERNATIONAL-. NORMf>· -1\N:Q-~./
INSTRUM:ENTS-'CONC~RN.ING ·woMEN-AND NON-DISCRIMINATION SUCH:
AS tHOSE.. ADVQCA.TED AT THE BELIIN.G.. CON.EE.BENCE.... DESPITE. THE
LEGISLATIVE GRID-LOCK WHICH HAS HELD SWAY IN HAITI, THIS
GROUP HAS SUCCESS-FULL-Y BRQUGl;lT TOGETHER GROO-PS. WI:i.I.CE H].\VE
TRADITIONALLY BEEN AT ODDS, UNABLE TO COOPERATE EVEN ON
THE... GB.QUE. HAS S.UC.CESSEULLY B.UILD
ALLIANCES WITH KEY LEGISLATIVE LEADERS WHO ARE PUSHING
'I'BEIR AGENDA lN· THE PAR-LIA:ME-N!f!. A FU.lr:b· DOS·S-lER-O·F
PROPOSED CHANGES HAS BEEN DRAFTED AND OFFICIALLY SUBMITTED
T.O. .l?ABl...I.AMENT EOR AC:.T..I..oN. ONCE. Tl:IE. EOLI..'I.LCAL S.TAI...EMAXE.... IS
RESOLVED.
COMMON. GaJE.C.T.I..VE.S •
D.
GENEVTEVE DEI.A-'J!.0~~--=--1-s.:~Tl{E::-DIRJOC'!'OR~-Q.F.. T:Ji.~, "CG¥MEP.GifL
SERVICES", ONE OF HAITI'S LEADING IMPORTERS AND-·-.._______..
DIS!liiBUTORS.. OF E?liARMACEUTICAL... PRODUCT.$._ SHE. I.S.. AMONG. I.fiE
FOUNDING MEMBERS OF THE CENTER FOR FREE EN'I'ERJ?RISE AND
DEMOCAACY,.... CLED,.. WlUCH E.S..TABLI.Sl:IED IN- 1992 TO HELP BRING., A
MORE FORWARD LOOKXNG, YOUNGER GENERATION OF HAI'riAN
BUSINESS. LEADERS IN.T.O. THE .. PUBLIC POLICY OEEAT.E._ '.l!HE.. GRSUP
HAS BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL AT OPENING DIALOGUE BETWEEN THE
PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SEE:'POR RE-GARD-:ENG- PUB-LIC POLICIES T~T
STIMULATE OR DISCOURAGE PRIVATE SECTOR INVESTMENT AND JoB
CREATION WHICH ARE SO NECESSMY TO CREA'l'E W.EAI/I!H ~D
FINANCE DEVELOPMENT IN HAITI. THE GROUP HAS WOHKEb
CLQ.SEL-Y WITH· HERNANDO- :CE SQ..'Ji.Q.. O'bl-AN- Ull-1\IATI'\lE. ~ro..
FORMZ\LIZE LAND TITLES IN THE INFORMAL SECTOR, PRIMARILY
l-\MONG .. TBE. POOR~ TO GLVE THE.. SECURITY NEEDEil TQ FOSTER
ECONOMIC GROWTH.
3.. ~
s.mus. aE .w.0ME!'f-i1i~-HA~r ~S:o:M.E._ KEY EACi~AND
S·TA-TTSTIG$~:_~~--
.,
~
·
.
. ..
- .. " ---·--·-
--'
---~-----
·------·
�09/17/98
!41027
THU 16:52 FAX
-- HAITIAN WOMEN HAllE ONE. OE THE. HIGHEST. RATE.S. OF
ECONOMIC PARTICIFATION IN THE HEMISPHERE.
-- _ONE..-~I~~}~ W.~-~ID\.llE;:-NQ.""'~~I.ON. AT. ~L ·
AND EXPE:R~ENCE-::"'T,HE -RIGHESJ;' RA!l'E=OF.c.·:MATERNAL--::::':M0R~M,I.,,rr_w'""' IN__
Tif~-WESiERN--:HEMISPHERE .. ·-- -=-=·"'~·- ... .,--- ' ----~----- -----· · c.::c __:;_/
--~DESE~·:'J'.E_}\~ES:(RE_,-fOR_ ONLY 3 CHILDREN, THE }\.VERAGE
HAl.TIAN. tt:l.OMEU. ·Wr-I:J--;::-.:G.Lv:E.:::-ItiBTH~T!l-:::6...-c.RI:LD.B.EN... ~·
,_.:, __ ,__._--·
:.:::- -------
~
HAITIAN WOMAN ARE FREQ.'Q_EN'!L.Y.. VIC'I.IMS. OF VIOLENCE,
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ABUSE OF YOUNG GIRLS AND RAPE.
MORE. THE.. 7Q. l?E.RCE.N.T OF THE FEMALE.. l?Ol?.ULAT.IQ.N. ~VE
EXPERIENCED SOME FORM OF VIOLENCE, OF WHICH 37
EERCENT IS SEXUAL IN NATURE •
GENDER~BASED LEGAL-- CONSTBAINTS_.REMAIN-, ---£~__£:~;!::ALLY IN
T.HE._ .8REA5_ QE PROPERTY AlSIP I.NHEBLTANCE.,. FAMILY LAN AND
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
4.... 1\... HAlT.Dlli CB.E.QLE__ EB.Q'\lERB WHICH M.I.GllT. . BE. USE.E1IL._ IN A
PRESENTATION IS .. "..D9~E YON FANM_S~__PQP___T_OJJLF:?J'l"M<~--- _ ,
MEANIN.u,.. "'Il:LE.. EA.lJ:i. QE:--:::,A::.W:9MAN- -LS.."THE..:. ·EAIN · 0£: ~lillc:lMEN'-.!!J
5.
SIMILARLY,
THE FOLLOWING SONG WRITTEN
WOME.N.' S M.IP-CRO CREDIT GROUP MI.GHT BE.
BY
A USAIDFUNDED
USEFr.p~:
A WOMAN'-~fS~NOT-lCBROOM~
~.......---------~-----~---
_)
A W~:: !s~:NOT--1\-~BROOM--Tq· BE-~EPTc-BE-H-r·ND-;-A=-OOOR~---.
A woM1\.:N;_.IS""NC1T•rc't'iR!T'A'rN!"'T~~¥0u''Ptrnr:;!T1-- BACK AN-n-FoRTH To
GE.T -THB.Oll~H"t-
.
. . ... ...
-,
TO STAY-A'!' H~E,
. ..
..;.:::-·MEtt.J:§fr.':f_}'I:lft-'1'- ·~HE-¥- we-R-~ HARDSR- 'PH:Al!J: THB W~N- ·-------.:..:..:
WOMEN SAY THAT THEY ARE THE SOURCE OF LIFE.
"Pr· WOMAN,_:J;·$=_N.O.T.A- SED- THA-T YOO DRESS- UP.
A -woMAN" IS THE MAIN POST OF LIFE.
..
· A rt.1.0MAN.--IS. NOT A BLIND-.. PERSON. .. It!UiOM. YOU.- CAN- TA.KE
ftil.H~R
You-wANT,
A· W.OMAN--:-IS.- W.O.T A: C:HILO: WO-- DOESN-'T KNOW- HOW- T-0- .WAI.K -j;:ET I
-----.....:.
�09/17/98
THU 16:53 FAX
A.. WOM8N IS NOT A- WOB.K. OF l:'lRT WHICH._ CAN'T TALK.
MEN SAY THAT THEY ARE CHIEF OF FAMILY,
W.OMEl\L SAY THAT THEY ARE. THE l?RO"\l!DERS OF Ll:g'E.
A WOMAN IS NOT A BROOM!
CARNEYJUl
~028
�,
(YJ .
II' CONFERENCIA DE
ESPOSAS OE JEFES DE ESTADO
Y DE GOBIERNO DE lJ.S AMERICAS
Under the slogan "America Builds Today the Roadsfor the Year2000," the
Eight Conference of First Ladies of the Americas will address the following
tssues.
1-
Education
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
Sound schools
.Sex education for girls
AIDS.HIV prevention among young people
Hemisphere-wide program of reinforcement of ·rural women's
integration in productive, entrepreneurial systems and social economic
democratization.
Horizontal Cooperation - INTEGRA Conference
2-
Intrafamiliar Violence ·.
a)
b)
c)
d)
Legislation
Judicial systems and education of judges
Protection of children in schools
Practical operating systems in each country
3-·
Promotion of participation rights
a)
b)
Senior Citizens, experience in work with this age group and results
Women's Leadership
I
/
.
.
.
4-
Coordination among agreements · adopted at the II Presidents
Social Summit and the Eight Conference of First Ladies. of the
Americas.
a)
b)
c)
·commitments assumed
Agencies in charge of carrying out the commitments
First Ladies, as drivers or communicators of those agreements ·
Tel~fonos
GABINETE DE U\ SENORA DEL PRESIDENTE DE LA REPUBLICA DE CHILE
(56-2)- 6904207 /6904470/6904955- Fax (56c2) 6904969/6904783 E-mail: plagos@ pr~sidencia.cl I vmunoz@ presidencia.cl
·
Palacio de La Moneda - Santiago - Chile
�Embassy of the United States of America
Santiago, Chile
July 24, 1998
Ms~ Nicole Rabner
Advisor to First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton.
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, DC 20522:
Dear
~icole:
Enclosed is material provided to us this week by the office
of Chile's First Lady in connection with the upcoming gth
Conference of Wives of Heads of States and Governments of
the Americas, to be held in Santiago September 28 through.
'30,, 1998.
.?
We are forwarding the original packets to you, with the
exception of the originals of Document No. 4, "Forms to be
Filled," which the Embassy will hold here. in Santiago to
facilitate submission. Our thinking is that the
information could be brought with one of the. Advanc.e Teams
or faxed to us. We would then comple.te the original forms
and· submit directly to the. Con_ference Coordinator.
We look forward to working with you again.
Stephen G. Wesche
Acting Deputy Chief of Mission
Enclosures:
Document 2 Document 3 Document 4 Document 5 Document 6 -
I
Draft Declaration
Debate Regulations
Forms to be Filled
Follow-up
Assistants
�UNCLASSIFIED
'Pr~nted
ACTION
INFO
f4joo6
THU 16: 46 FAX
09/17/98
By: Eva A.
~eigold
Hanaon
A.RA- Ol
LOG·OO
NSCE-00
TEDE·OO
PM·OO
0 l51Sl6Z SEP 58
ADS·OO
ONY·OO.
SSO•OO
SAS•OO
STR-00
OS!E-00 ) /OOlW
-----··--------"·-GABEAE 151823Z /02
FM AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES
TO SECSTATE WASRPC IMMEDIATE 3052
I~FO AMEMBASSY MONTEVIDEO
USIA WASHOC 9815
UNCLAS 'SOENOS AIRES 004.754
STATE FOR ARA/PPCP (WEIGOLD)
MONTEVIDEO FOR DCM AND ADMIN
USIA FOR. AR
!1;.0. 12958: NA
TAGS OVIP (CLINTON, HlLLA.R.Y), KWMN, AA
SUBJECT: VITAL VOICES: ARGENTINE SUCCESS STORIES
REF: {Al STATE 166192,
(B) BUENOS AIRES 4J.SO
1. THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION IS SUeMITTED IN RESPONSE TO
THE REQUEST IN REF (A) .
GRANDMOTHERS OF THE PLAZA DE MAYO
2 . . THE GRANI>MOTHER.S OF THE PLAZA DE MAYO IS ONE OF
ARGENTINA 1 S,MOST RESPECTED ~UMAN RIGHTS NGO•s. THE
PRESIDENT OF THE GRANDMOTHERS, ESTELA DE CARLOTTO, AND
OTHER L~ERS OF THE GROUP MET PRIVATELY WITH THE FIRST
LADY WHEN THE CLINTON'S VISITED BUENOS AIRES IN OCTOBER.
1997. MAS. CAR~OTTO WILL 'SE AT~ENDING THE VITAL VOICES
CONFERENCE, SOSJECT TO USG APPROVAL OF HER REQUEST FOR
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE {REF B) .
l. THE Gl~MOTHBRS WERE FOUNDED IN 1977, DORING THE LAST
MILITARY DICTATORSHIP. TEEY AR~ NONPARTISAN AND PRIVATELY
FUNDED. THEIR MISSION IS TO ASCERTAIN THE PARENTAGE OF
CHILDREN BO~ IN CAPTIVITY TO SOME OF THE THOUSANDS WHO
DISAPPEAA:t::D AT THE HAND$ OF THE MILITARY R.OLERS. THEY HlWB
ACCOM~~ISHED MUCH THROUGH PATIENT ~ SELF-EFFACI~G WORK.
THElR SUCCESS IS EVIDENCE OF THE POWER THAT PRIVATE
CITIZSNS CAN EXERCISE WHEN THEY ORGANIZE FOR A GOOD CAUSE.
=
THE SECRETARIAT FO~ SMALL AND MEDI~ BUSINESSES
(SEPYME) IS A CASINET-LEVE~ AGENCY ESTABL~SHED IN 1997 TO
1.
::~!ri~!.
:s:=~
~~~-:~~:~:sr~iT~TO
NE:i
THE VITAL vorc.s:s coNFE:RENCE
·fHs -xsllil oF ssPYME AND- o'NE
OF THE'--MOS;_;::l?ROMINE~ WOMEN' IN Tl:!E ARGENTINE GOVERNMENT.
AT THE SUMMIT OF THE AMERICAS IN sANTIAGO IN APRIL, SHE AND
AIDA ALVARE~, ADMINIS~RATOR OF THE U.S. SMALL BUSINESS
AOMINISTRATION, SIGN~O AN AGREEMENT TO EN~G5 IN TECHNICAL
COOPERATION P~OVECTS AND TO PROMOTE JOINT VENTURES AN~
OTH2R BUSINESS OPPOR~ITIES BETWEEN S~L BUSINESSES IN
THE TWO COUNTRIES.
lrs
WCLASSIF!ED
l
(AS-Ol
�09/17/98
.
THU 16:47 FAX
,;
•Printed By:
_
Ev~
~007
lJNCLl\.SSIFl:ED
A. Weigold Ranson
5.
SMALL-BUSINESSES ~U\VE B~EN HIT HARD BY THE ECO~OMIC
C!U\NGES THAT HAVE OCCORRED IN ARGENTI~A.
SEPYME' S
OBJECTIVE IS TO H£LP REJUV~TB THg SECTOR THROUGHOUT THE
COUNTRY, ~D MS. KESSLER MAS BEGUN~ AMBITIOUS PROGRAM TO
REACR THl\.T GOAl:..
{SHE Wit.lo BE ACCOMJ?ANIED l\.T TME
CONFERENCE BY Til~ DIRECTOR OF TRAI~ING FOR SEPYME, LAURA
MIGOEL.l
NATIONAL COUNCIL OF WOMEN
6.
~.¥J:;N,!\'I'l01'7l:I.L-COtmCIL-oF-WO!<tE:N-IS-A-NONPAATI'SAN'\
GOVERNMENTAL..:.OMBRELLA'-DRGANTZAUON-OF:;LEGISt.ATORS,-- NGO '-S,
soc:rAL sr::!i:vrc;E AGENCIEs~;- 'UN;J;oNs·,-·limi;,;·c,fH.il:R GRoui?s woRl<ING
TO ~ACHI!!VE'-EQ'OAl:..ITY~to:o&t7 'WoMEN . ~ . THE:,~·,COUNCIL--AND TRE JmBAs S"i
co'-3l;:PJIISOIU;:RJ!!\~J:!J.l!,KI;RS:Z: Ll\DY' S· ADPRESS AT "E_HE_ 9()_L_(),N. THEATRE
IN ,BUENOS AIRES 'IN""OCTOBER-:nJ 9'7-;-A-H!GHLY SUCCESSFUL EVENT
TKAT-DREW-OVER-2 ;'OOO-PROlYiiN~T WOMEN FROM THROOGR:OUT
ARGENTINA AND RECEIVED FRONT-PAGE COVJffiAGE IN THE ARGENTINE
AND U.S. PRESS.
API?R.OVED
7.
TJo!IS YEAR 'THE IDI\l HAS
ALOAN-OF IJSD 7:'5\
MI-LI.iiON TO Stl.PPORT-THE.:COuNCIL ''S NEW FEDERAL ·WOMEN 1 S; PLJl.N,
wli;rcHwrLL ESTl\SLisH oRGANIZATioNs-siMI-LAR ~To- THEl cotllllc:r;IJ
AT THE PROVINCIAL LEVEL.
TH~ ARGENTINE GOVERNMENT WIL~
MATCH 'n!E LOAN.
THE PLJ\.N' S GOAL IS TO ENS1JRE THAT WOMEN
OUTSID~ THE FEDERAL CAP!T~ HAVE EQUAL ACCESS TO ECONOMIC,
POLITICAL, AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT OI?POR'rONITIES. THlS IS
or ENORMOUS IMPOR~ANCE TO THEl FUTURE DEVELOPMBNT AND
PROSPERITY OF A COUNTRY AS LARGE AND' HIGHLY CENTRALIZED AS
AAGENTINA.
o.r..
e , ···ESTEl'CS~CHIAVONI, PRESIJ:?EN'f
TH~ .CO:t)NCU,, I.~ .. :._
INVITEE TO TI.O:: VITAL VOICES CONFERENCE. "IN-MAY ·sHS Ml!:T--~-:7
WITH THE HRST 'LADY AT. THE ... WHITE HOUSE TCLBRIEF_-HER-QN-'I'HE.__.,
PLAN , .. .:._!:1~-JU'JP--'l'HE- 'fDB:=~}tES :[Dttfl':ARE-:P:GAN"NI:NG_::To~JuiNOtllllCE ~- ~
THE IDS LOAN AT THE..CONF.ERENCE-A!!O_:HAVE:INVITED-'MRS
CL~NT_c>~.TO..BJi:_J?RESENT AT-THJ; 'ANNOUNCEMENT (REF Bl .
ROCHA
UNCLASSIFIED
2
�09/23/98
~029
WED 10:15 FAX
!>'r.tnted By: Eva A. Weigold Hanson
ACTION ARA-Ol
INFO
LOG-00
SAS·OO
AMA0-01
/002W
TEDE-00
UTED•OO
ADS-00
---·------k-----·-5ACBCA
ONY-00
1520l7Z /39
0 l52039Z SEP 98
FM .1\MEME!AsSY NA-SSAU
TO SECSTATE WA$aDC IMMEDIATE 4519
AMEMBASSY.MONT£VIDEO
ONCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NASSAU 002028
STATE FOR ARA/PPC EVA WEIGOLD
8.0. 12958: N/A
TAGS, OVIP (~INTON, HI~Y), KWMN, BF
SUBJECT: OFFICIAL·lN~ORMAL: BAHAMIAN SUCCESS STO~IES FOR
FI~ST LAD~'S TRIP AND VITAL VOICSS CONFEREN~
REF:
STATE 168192
NASSAU •Ol OF 02
2028
. Ae requested in r'eftel, the following information was
submitted by the GCOB•s Women's Desk for consideration
for the First Lady's speech at the Vital Voicee
conference.
1.
2.
2AHAMIAN WOMEl:-0 M.li.!GNG A
DIFFERE!:olCE
Honorable: J'anet G. aoatwick. ·Member of Parliament,
MiniGter of For~ign Affairs, fir.st female member of
parliament, elected 1982, re-elected ~997, 1992, and
19~7, first fem~le appointed cabinet Minister - ~ree
National Movement government, 1992, fir~t women appointed
ae Attorney General, 1994.
Honorable Italia R. Johnson, Member of Parliament,
Speaker of the ~ouae of ~ssembly (first female to hold
this position in more than 268 year of B~mian
parliamentary democracy), worked. in insurance industry
for 20 years, elected Member of Parliament in 1~9. rc·
elected in 1997.
H.E. Angela Mi~~ouri Serman Peter, High Commissioner for
The Bahamas t Canada, apr;>ointed July 1997, 20 years
cxperiencein bilateral and multilateral diplomacy: (1)
Peranent Mission of The Bahamas to the UN/UN Commiaain
on Narcotic Drugs and OAS/CICAD (2) Assistant Director,
Political Affairs Division Commonwealth Secretariat.
Dr. Keva Bethel, former President, College of '!'he Bahama4
(1995·1998), 39 years as a distinguished educato~ (22
yeare at the College o( The Sahamas), Pre~ident, aahamas
Girl Guides A990ciation, Recipient of the Order of St.
Michael and St. George (CMGl by Her Majesty the Queen.
Dr. Gail
s~unders, Director of Archives (staff,
Department of Archives sin~e 1969) President, 2ahamas
Historical Society, author of $eVaral books, recognized·
by the University of the West Inaiea as a~ outstanding
graduat~ during their ~Oth Anniversary, 1998, Member,
BoarQ of Trustees • International Resea~ch and Training
for the Advanc:enu:nt of Women (INSTRAW) 1992-1998 President of the Board 1!l!l6-H!97.
UNCLASSIFIED
• 1
'
SSO•OO
�llf]030
09/23/98
P~inted
WED 10:15 FAX
By: Eva A. Weigold Hanson
Dame Joan Sawyer, Chiet Justice (Bahamas' first female),
sworn in on October 26, 1996, maoe a Dame commander of
che Moet Excellent order of the British Emptro, May 19~7.
Appoint~d as The Bahamas' first woman judge in 1~87.
Or. Snndra Dean Patterson, Director, The ,Women's Cri~ia
Center (1992) - renamed The Crisis Center 1991, ~dvocate
for women's rights. Founder/President of The Bahamas
council for The Handicapped 1971, ~irst female president
Bahamas Mental Health Association 1972, FDmily planning
advocate.
3 ,
B.Ali.n.MIAN GOVERNMENT INITIJI.TIVE:s
The Government of The Sahamas since the Onited Nations
Fourth World Conference on Women, held in Beijing, China,
September 1995, has continued its efforts to promote the
~dvancement of ~omen locally.
Identified ae prior~ty
item~ for the p¢riod 1995·2000 ~re:
Economic Srn~o~erment of women
violence against women
Povorty
Efforts undertaken to address these concerns include:
Two seminars to conduct an aseesament of and to prepare a
plan of action for the eradication of poverty (1996 and
1998) •
sk.Ula training wol;'kshops in the are<~s of shell craft,
atra~ work and basic ~owing to encourage women to become
self employed. Sponsored by the Bureau of Women's
Affairs, the Organi~ation of Ameri~an States, Bahamas
Technical and Vocational Institute and The Bahamas
Agricultural and Industr~al Corporation.
The Bahamas is ~articipating actively in the UNIPEM
apon~ored Regional Human Right campaign.
Activities
include legal economic workshope on violence against
women; fundraising events and a November regional meeting
of women's crisis centers.
NASSAU
02 .OF 02
2028
"For the future, the government of The 'Bahamas have
identified the economic empowerment of all of our people
as essential to equipping them fo~ productive
participation in a new millennium. Women represent fifty
per.cent of the to:~lent, capacity, ~t~bilit;.y and intellect of
our country, with influence extending far beyond what is
represented by these fi9Ures." Quoted by the Honorable
Janet G. Bo$twick, Member of P~rliament, Minister of ·
Foreign Affairs re~~onsible for Women's Affairs at The
Bahamas 25th Anniversary of Independence celebration,
Miami, Fl, ~uly 19~8.
"The next century is going to be the Century of Women ..
We must deliberately plan for the incoming entry of more
women into ownership in the entrepreneurial sector.
Economic independence coupled with education, ia still
the moat certain way upward out of poverty and away from
domestic violence." Quoted by the Honorable Theres;:~.
UNCLASSl:FIED
2
�141031
09/23/98
WED 10:16 FAX
P~inted By: Eva A. Weigold Hanson
Maxey Ingl:'aham, ·Member of Parliament, Minister of Lober,
!~migration & Training at the opening of the National
Trade union's Women'S Aaaooiation First Annual Women's
Symposium, Nassau, March
1998,.
BRIDGEWATER
UNCLASSIFI!;;D
3
�16:48 FAX
14!014
ONC:t.ASSXFIED
A. Weigold Hanson
INFO
LOG-00
AMAD-O~
SAS-00
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···-- --6AC672
0
l5~924Z
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/002W
~5~94~Z
/38
SSP 98
FM AMEMBASSY BELIZE
TO SECS.ATE WASHDC IMMEPrATE 7419
~-------
-~
UNCLAS-BE:t.UE-0009li:l
}
---.I
FOR ARA/PPC • EVA WEIGOLD
E.O. 12958:
N/A
TAGS:
OYIP (CLINTON, HILLARY), KWMN, BH
SUBJECT:
OFFICIAL-!NFORMAL: VITAL VOICES
R~F
CONFER6NCE
STATE 168192
1, iALTHO'OGH-WE-~-IMPR.ESSED-BY-n:rE-S'I'R!I:ll'ilS-BELIZBAN-WOMEN HAVE~ MADE
IN 'p.e:c:ENT· •YEARS {JIJST..T.O...:...Cl.cT~ 'l'WO R.ECEN':l'..!ilXAt-f_l?_f.,EIS, Ti{E FIRST-EVER·~
FEMALE SPUKER _OF 'l'.HE HOO'SE OF REPRESENTATIVES 1\ND 'l'HE FIRST-_EVER,
PRESIDENT OF THE SEN.li.TE WERE SWORN lN ON ·sATURDAY)·; WE DO NOT-HAVE
THE . soRT
_iT'oRil:;s 1QUOTATioNs-NEEDED-FOR-THE-F_IRST··:t.ADY' s· SPEECH. ·-.
or
2 ~ ALso, ·J:i.s
"'BE~IzE;so-ov~IENT--THAT
:_JOSi~-·11mBE oAYs·~oL~-=~~
AR.E NO REC:eN'I' ·aosT GOVERI'>!ENT INITIATIVES •o REVISE:::OR.ADOPT._~-- ..;
LB:GISLATl:ON AFFECTING WOM_EN' S ISSUES.
IN HIS INAUGURAL SPEECH, PRIME
MINISTER S,AlD MUSA PROMISED-TO END OISCRIMINATlO~ AND ABUSE AGAINST
WOMEN, BUT GAVE NO SPECIFICS.
FRETZ
UNCLASSIFIED
1
�09/17/98· THU 16:50 FAX
·.•
Printed By: Eva A.
W~igold
@019
UNCLASSIFIED
Hanson
ACTION JUUI.•Ol
L00-00
A-00
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---··------··-----6B472C
lG21SSZ /22
R l6155GZ SEP 98
FM ~EMBASSY BOGOTA
TO USIA WASHDC ~SOG
SECSTATE WASHDC 5095
UNCLAS BoGOTA 010552
USIA
USlA FOR AA
STATE FOR ~/PPC-E~ WEIGOLD
E,O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OVIP
(C~INTON,
HILLARY), KWMN, CO
FO~ FIRST tADY'S TRIP AND
SUBJECT: SUCCESS STORIES
V~TAL
VOICES
CONFERENCE
SUMMARY: COLOMBl:A HAS A
WJ;:AL'l'H
·oF· WOMEN'LBADE:RS"·AND,ACTIV:I~1'S.,
Btrl' THREE _::F TH~-~OST -~T-~IJ!G_AND..~LJ:.-:~~I'p. NATIONWIDe: HAvE "AI,l,
MADE THEIR li'!AMES IN POLITICS, ONE.AT--THI> LOCAL-LEVEL~AND .T.RE--. OTHSI<. TWO ON "THE NATIONAl. LML. END STJMMARY'
--
1.Ci~isABEL· cTJA;T~~ii;--GR;~ ; ; .~ ~OL;M~I-;..·,~I~-- ~-
~
~~~~~i~~~~~ci?~iVE~~~:~. S=~o6-~~~~oR~~E~~;~:TY ~
.<I.EliDr'B'iLf'TATIO'ff'"iN:·ISRAEIJ: :UPoNo GRADUll.TION-SHE-wORKED "TO AsSIST
.
<::;
V-ICTIMS ...OF
THE NATURAL J;!ISASTERS TO WHlCii COLOMBIA HAS BEIW
PRONE, .. INCLUDING ElARTijQ'O'Al<ES.. AND._:VOLCAN:CC_ ERUPTIONS. IN 199'1 SHE
WAS SENT TO M~AGB A CENTRAL GOVERNMENT HOUSING-PROGRAM IN THE
TOWN OF APARTAPO (80,000}, TaB CENTER OF COLOMBIA'S
BANANA.':::G~ING-~j§GIQ!!,..J'.M~mri)_:UP~RUNNINI:;.-:-l>.Q~:::.~Y:OR::ON~A'
PEACE PI..ATFORM-Il'I~Tii:l:S, ONB .OF "THE· MOST.:VtOLENT AR~_:oF-THE-·
COUNTRY. AS MAYOR, SHE BATTLED AGAINST THS MAN~MADE DISASTERS IN
THE REGION, STaUGGLING TO BUILD AN OASIS OF NEUTRALITY lN,ONE OF
THE MOST VIOLENT MUN~CIPALITIBS IN COLOMBIA, A REGION RIVEN BY
SAVAGE CROSSFIRE BETWEEN LEFT-WING GUERILLAS, RIGHT·WING
PARAMILITARIES, AND, AS sOME SAID ~T THE TIME, THE NATIONAL ARMY.
SID: !'lAS BEEN QUOTED AS SA-YING THAT "I ALWAYS_RElm A LOT ABOUT
LISERAt'I oN~THsOLoGIY'~::;Tat..i'.:...H.AS-::::sEEN-MY~Gt!IDE. -- f W""E:tl!JdATED ·N'o'i:'--->
JUST' TO -TALK OF JESUS- AND JUSTICE BU'i' TO CONSTRtiCiiT ;u SHE
j
E:lCHORTED-THE::-'I'OwNSPBOl?LE TO DECLARE·"ACT!VE NEtlTIUI.LITY" AND AVOID
TAKING SIDES IN THE SECTARIAN CONFLICT. ALTHOUGH SOME OF ~
LOCAL PLAYERS QUESTIONED HE:R NEUTRALITY, HER EFFORTS DREW
NATIONWIDE AND INTERNATioNAL ATTENTION. IN 199G -SHE-WON THE -,~
UNF,:$CO MAYORS FOR PEACE: AWARD .-""SINCE- L~YING~ OFFICE, CUARTAS •HAS
WRI'l"rEN WEEKLY- COLUMNS-ON ISSUES OF SOCIAL JUSTICE ~~I?EACE FOR
BOGOTA's SECOND LEAD!NG DAI:t.Y, EL ESPEC'l'lmOR. SHE--WAS SELECTED AS
A PARTICIPANT IN TI~E USIS-SI?ONSO~ED HOTJS'l'ON PEACE PROJECT MELD IN
TEXAS Il'il' FEBRIJARY 01" THIS YEAR.
·------~--
.
.,_r-= .. ~-_..;._-.
.-
'
i
2. NOEMI.. SANIN·, 49, ·lUlS ·J:U!LD -pRQ!;!INENT ,P.OSinPN-S,:_oN~THE-COl]NTR.i"'S
:poi:ri'r~1lii STAGE:-Fbti~riF:-THE:~r oEiCADE AND A HALF. sHE l'iAS
OF C'OMMONICATIONS (BEGINNING IN
H83), AMBASSADOR TO VENEZUELA. (1990), MINISTER 0];' FOREIGN
-SER.VBD··VAR.IOUSLY'~AS-MlNISTER
RELATIONS (1991-1994), AND AMBASSADOR TO G~T BRITAIN (1994-95),
A POSIT~ON WH!CH SHS RESIGNED ALLEGIING THAT sHE COULD ~OT REMAIN
IN SERVICE TO THE S~PER ADMINISTRATION WHICH AT THE TIME WAS
ACCUSED OF ACCEPTING NARCO-DOLLARS_DORING.THE_PRESIDENTIAL
CAMPAIGN;-..:: IN.::COLOMB~'S-RE~.-,.PR.BSIDMJ:AL- cAiv!r>AiiiN;SJi.Iu N RAN
..
AS-AN·l',NOEI?ENDENT ·CANDIPATE FOR PRESIDENT; _WITH.HER~l?.OLIT'l:CAL~
MOVEMEN'T, "01?CION VIDA" (OPTION FOR LIFE) ESCHEWING A
UNCLASSIF:Ci:.D
l
~
\;~ \
�09/17/98
.
141020
THU 16:50 FAX
Printed By: Eva A. Weigold Hanson
CONTINUATION OF TRADITIONAL COLOMBIAN POLITICS. ALTHOUGH SHE WAS
IN THE FIRST OF THE TWO ROUNDS OF VOTING, SHE G~NERED
NEARLY ~ 4HlRD OF THE VOTE, A RECORD FOR ANY COLOMBIAN
INDEPENDENT PRESIDENTIAL CANDID~4E.
E~lMINATED
INGR;I:D BETANCOURT·,-3 6·,- BOllN~F-.,_~ wEl.CcoNNECTED"' MEDELLIN--'---,._
FAMILY.,JJFATHER A FORMER 9ABINET"7"'MINIS.TER~--AND-MOTHER--A-FORMER__ \
--BEAUTY QUEEN-AND--AMBASSADOR) BEGAN HER. PUBLIC CAREER AS AN
ADVISOR TO TIIE~Ml:Nl:STERS OF--HOUSING-AND-TRADE/ AND ENTER.ED
ELECTIVE/POT"ITICS AS A MEMBER OF. THE.::HOOSE .OF...:REPRESENTATI"I[ES IN
1994--::---AsAI." MEMBER OF THE; HOOSE SHE PROPOSED LAWS PROTECTING :.rJJ:S:-;o
.6!NVIRONMEi!NT, ~.I~TAX_REFORM-;-:-AND-:PROMOTING~~SMA~:.:..B.~.§_S. "fi(".
TJoliS YEAR 1 S SENATORIAL ELECTIONS, SHE. WON WITH THE LARGEST NUMBER
oF-'::voTES-OF-Am'-SENATORIAL-CANJ:HriATE-:...:AN;ARDEN'f ADVOCATE- OF,
PoLITI
REE'C)~-AND-·A MEMBE!f::DF _ 'l'~J:o.!BERAL PiRrY";-.:.siiE=::;::-,
NEVERTHELEss··cROSSEO POLITICAL LINEs·-To·-:.-sUPPORT..:CONSERVATIVE::..- -·-")
CANDIDATE ANDRES ~ P~STRANA ·IN THE.RECENT...:PRESIDENTIA!i::-Et.ECTlON_$; ,-: -.,_
J .
f
bu.
~FILOSTRAT<:-
IJNCLASSIFIED
2
�14]021
09/23/98
WED 10:13 FAX
Printed By: Eva A. Weigold nanson
ACTION AR.A•Ol
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/02?W
------ --·----·---6B2C7D l61SS7Z /02
~8
FM T>MEMBASSY I.A PAZ
TO SECSTATE WASHOC PRIORITY 7663
INFO ALL AMERICAN REPUB~IC OI~LOMATIC POSTS PRIORITY
UNCLAS LA
FOR ARA
P~
00~264
MICH~E
MANATT;
tETT; USAID/LAC JODY
MONT~IDEO
AR.A/P~CP
GI~MORE;
EVE WE!GOLD, S/PICW DANI
USIA/LA FOR KATHY DAVIS;
BOB GOLDBERG.
E.O. 1295.8: Iii/A
TAGS : KWMN I PGOV. KJUS' pHIJM I ECON I PREL I SOL. li.R
SUBJECT: VITAL VOICES OF TH~ AMERICAS: WOMEN llfJ PEMOCRACY
COt'!FEJ!.ENCE
REF: A) LA PA~ 04130 8) STATE 16819~
l, PER ~BFTEL B, PARA. 2, PARA. 4, EMBASSY LA PAZ !S
PLEASED-TO SUBMIT THB FOLLOWING SUCCESS STO~IBS:
J;A CATAA
A DELEGJ>.TE. I{EAOS THE WOMEN's WORKJ;;R
THROUGH HER COORDINATION tFFORTS AND
ABILIT TO SPEAK UT IN FAVOR OF DOMESTIC EM~LOYEES
THROUGHO
IA, THE "LEY DE 'l:RABJ>.JADOI<ES DE liOGAR,"
(DOMESTIC WORKERS' LAW) IS CURRENTLY AWAITING ENACTMEifJT
I~ CONGRESS.
THIS LAW WILL PROVIDE SASIC RIGRTS TO ~L
DOMESTIC EMPLOYEES, MANY OF WHOM ARS CURRENTLY SUBJECT TO
HARSH LIVING AND WO~NG CONDITIONS.
A.
ONION
N
BOLIVI~.
e.
ELIZABETH INIGUEZ, A LAwyER AND ACTIV!ST WHO WILL BE
ATTENDING THE CONF~ENCE, HEADED THE COMMISSION IN CHARGE
OF WRITING THE: REC!N~Y .PASSED (JULY 1!1, 1998) t.AW
AGAINST DOMESTIC AND FAMILY VIOLENCE. THIS LAW
IDENTIFIES PREVENTION METHODS AND l>.FE'ORDS PROTECTION FOR
VICTIMS. MOST IMPORTANTLY, IT CALLS roR THE DEVELOPMENT.
OF A NATIONAL STRATEGY TO ERRADlCATE VJ;O~CE AGAINST
WOMEN.
C. MERCEDES ORTIZ OE GASSER, BUSINESS WOMAN AND CONFERENCE
PARTICIPANT, ESTABLISHED THE BO~IVIA FOUNOATIO~ FOR
WOMEN'S DEVELOPMENr. ~IlS FOUNDATION IS AFFILJ;ATED WITH
WOMEN'S WO~D BAifJKING, WHICH CAME OUT OF THE ~979 MEXICO
CONFERENCE CELEBRATING THl!: YEAR OF THE: WOMAN. THIS
PROGRAM IS NOW A SUCCESS AlfJO ONE OF'TME LEADING CREDIT
PROVIDE~S IN SOLIVIA. ·SHE HAS OVER 1346 ACTIVE BORROW~
TOTALLING AN OUTSTANDING LOAN ~ORTFO~IO OF US01,636,B17,
2.
~IL~
IF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IS NEEDEO, PLEASE CONTACT
RHODES. 591 278 5759; JRHOD~S®USAID.GOV, HRINAk
UNCLASSIFIED
1
UIA--
)
�lB.! vvo
09/23/98
WED 10:09 FAX
Printed By: Eva A.' Weigc:>ld fliilllson
~~
ACTION ARA·Ol
AMAD-O~
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L-01
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0
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SAS-00
SS·OD
DRL-04
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-·---·- -·---·•--•6BOE74 ~6l244Z /48
SE? 98
FM AMEMBAS$Y BRASILIA
TO SECSTAT~ WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2957
lNFO ~CONSUL SAO PAULO
~CONSUL RIO PE JANEIRO
AMCONS\:Jr.. RECIFE
ONCLAS
B~ILIA
003523
PEPT FOR ARA/PCP EVA WEIGOLD
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS; OVIP (CLINTON I HI!J\RY) I KWMN
SvBJECT: VlTAL VOICES: REQUEST FOR INFORMATION RESPON
REP: SECSTATE
E
168~92
1. PER REFTEL, POST SUBMITS TH£ FOLLOWlNG INFORMATION
REGARDING WOMEN IN BRAZIL.
2.
PROMlNENT WOMEN IN BRAZILIAN LtFE BEGIN WITH BRAZIL'S
l"IRST LA!>Y, DR: RUTH CARDOSO .. 11 tlONA RUTH," AS SHE IS
POPI.TLl\RLY KNOWN, IS A R.EJ:IlOWNEO tl'tu!AN ANTHMPOLOGIS'l' AND -.
SOClOLOGIST AND WAS A SENIOR RESEARCHER AT THE BRAZILIAN
CENTER OF ANALYSIS AND PLANNING WHERE SHE COORDINATED
STUDIES ON SOCIAL MOVEMSNTS, YOUTH, ANP CIVIC
PARTICIPATION. SINCE HER HUSBAND'S EL2CT!ON IN 1994, SHS
HAS SERVED AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE ADVISO~Y COUNCIL OF
.
THE Sl'.:CRE:TAAIJ:\T FOR COMMiJNITY SOLIDARITY C"COMMUNIDADE
SOLIDAAIA"), IN THIS ROLE S!oi;E HAS WORKED TO IN'rEGM".t'E
POORSR CLASSES INTO BRAZILIAN SOCIETY, ADl:lRESSlNG !SSUES
OF HEALTH: ANl:l NUTRITION, MONICIPA!J SERVICES, AND ·Rt:JRAL , ,
DEV~LOPMCJNT ..
3. SEN~TOR BENEDITA OA SILVA IS T!il:: GRANDDA!.TGHTER OF A
SLAVE AND GREW OP IN A RIO DE JANEIRO SI;OM.: MAAAIED l\T
lB, SHE BECAME l\ COMMUNITY ACTIVIST WITHIN THE CATHOLIC
CHURCH AND IN THE LATE l910S ~S A ~OONDING MEMBER OF THE
WORKE:RS' PAATY:;l NOW THE PRIMARY OPPOSITION PARTY IN
BRAZIL. SH.El LATER t>ECAME BRAZIL'S FIRST BLAc:t\ PEMALE
FEDERAL DEPUTY AND FIRST BLACK FEMALE S~TOR. SHE Is
NOW A CJ\NDlDATE FOR TilE VlCE·GOVERNOP.SH!I? OF RIO Dio
jANl:JIRO STAT6.
4.
SENl\.TOR MARlN.A. DA SILV~ IS ONE OF ELEVEN CHILDREN OF
AN IMJ?OVERISHED RUBEl~ TAPPER FROM 'l"HE l>.MAZONIAN STATE OF
ACRE. WORKING AS A MAID TO PUT HERSELF Tf!R.OVGH
TJNIVER.SITY. SHE .BECAME A TEACHER AND LATEn. AN
ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVIST AND o~GANIZER OF RUBBER TAPP£RS
SHS WAS ELECTED A CITY COUNCILOR IN ACRE IN 1998 AND
SENATOR FROM THE STATE OP ACRE, AT AGE 36, IN 1994,
S • bENI.Sli: FROSSARD, THEN A F:EDERl!.L Jltt>GE AND NOW A
CANDIDATE iOR THE SENATE FROM RIO DE JANEIRO, Bli:~E
BRAZII..'S MOST FliMOUS JURIST IN 1995 AFTil;R SHS
SUCCESQLEl:l ~ PROSECUTION OE' THE CHIEFS
( "BICHlUROS '') OF TRE ILLEGAL LOTTERY IN RIO DE JAN!UP.O.
TaE EIICHEIROS USED THEIR ASTRONOMICAL PROFITS TO 2ECOME
L~W ON'J."O THEMSELVES IN NIO. CONTROLLING VAST CRIME
NETWORKS IN THE POORER,AREAS QDE JANEIRO.
UNCLASSIFIEP
l
A
/O~lW
�09/23/98
WED 10:10 FAX
Printed By: Eva A._ Weigold Hanson
.....,
CLAUDIA COSTIN HAS RISEN THROUGH THE :RAm;S OF
GOVERNMENT SE&VIC~ TO BECOME, AT ~GE 42, MI~ISTS~ OF
FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION ~D STATE REFORM AND THE ONLY
WOMAN CABINET MSMBER IN PRESlDENT CARDOSO'S
ADMINISTRATION. TWO WEEKS ll,GO Sl!E OaDERI3D B'X' MINISTERIAL
DIRECTIVE THAT ~LL ~UBLIC SERV!Ci TRAINING COURSES
INCLUDE MAT~RIAL ON SEXU~ ~SMENT IN THE WORKPLACE.
6.
"1,
ZELIA GAT'l'Jl.I IS A RENOWNED i\UT1iOR AND MEMOIRIST PROM
THE STATE OF BAHIA AND THE WIFE OF AUTHOR JORGE AMADO.
IN THE FORWAAP TO HE'R MEMOIRS "SENHORA DONA DO BAIL!!:"
(MRS. BELLE OF THE BALL), ~ZILlAN AuTHOR CARLOS SCLIJl.R
CALLS ZELIA, "A HOMAN P.liENOMSNON., .M.MVELOUS AND ALIVE,
FRIEND AND SUPPORTER. HONEST AND PURE, A RASCAL AND A
SCAMP, A WHOLE PERSON. MRS. CLINTON MET MRS. GATTAI
DURING~ V!$IT TO BAHIA IN 1995.
MRS. CLINTON ALSO MI!:T
SENATORS DA SILVA AND SI~VA DURIN~ HER VISXT TO SRAZI4 lN
1997 AND MRS .. CARDOSO ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS.
8. TWO IMPORTANT GOVERNMENT CONTACTS WHO ~VE INFO~ATIO~
ON RECENT GO~RNM£NT INITIATIVES, THE DEPARTMENT ~S
FOR WOMEN'S ISSU~S IN THE FOREIGN AND JUSTICE MINISTRIES,
HAVE BEE:N t:lNAVAIL.I\.BLE THE li'.l<.ST TWO DAYS.
POST WILL
FOLLOW UP ON THIS INFORMATION IF THE DEPARTMENT WISHES.
9. ~INALLY, PRINCESS ISAB~LLA, DAUGHTER OF EM~EROR DON
PEDRO II, CARRIED OUT ONE OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT ACTS OF
BRAZILIAN HISTORY IN 1888 BY SIGNING THB LAW FRSEING THE
LAST SLAVES IN BRA~IL AND THEREBY COMPLETELY Aao~ISMING
SLAVERY IN T~E COCNTRY.
DE!UIAM.
'ONCLASST.FIE:D
2
�,-------------
---
----------------
-----
- - - - -•.
IMMEDIATE
· UNCLASSIFIED
WHITE HOUSE SITUATION ROOM
PAGE
PRT:
SIT:
SIT:
01 OF 02
FLOTUS
ARMSTRONG DOBBINS GALLUCCI ORFINI PICCONE
NSC
----------------------------------~-----------------~-------------------------------
<PREC> IMMEDIATE <CLAS> UNCLASSIFIED
<DTG> 161236Z SEP 98
FM AMEMBASSY BRASILIA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2957
'INFO RUEHSO/AMCONSUL SAO PAULO 2472
RUEHRI/AMCONSUL RIO DE JANEIRO 2057
RUEHRG/AMCONSUL RECIFE 0419
UNCLAS BRASILIA 003523
DEPT FOR ARA/PCP EVA WEIGOLD
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OVIP (CLINTON, HILARY), KWMN
SUBJECT: VITAL VOICES: REQUEST FOR INFORMATION RESPONSE
REF: SECSTATE 168192
1.
PER REFTEL, POST SUBMITS THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION
REGARDING WOMEN IN BRAZIL.
2.
PROMINENT WOMEN IN BRAZILIAN LIFE BEGIN WI'l~H BRAZIL'S
FIRST LADY, DR. RUTH CARDOSO.
"DONA RUTH," AS SHE IS
POPULARLY KNOWN, IS A RENOWNED URBAN ANTHROPOLOGIST AND
SOCIOLOGIST AND WAS A SENIOR RESEARCHER AT THE BRAZILIAN
CENTER OF ANALYSIS AND PLANNING WHERE SHE COORDINATED
STUDIES ON SOCIAL MOVEMENTS, YOUTH, AND CIVIC
PARTICIPATION.
SINCE HER HUSBAND'S _ELECTIONhiN 1994, SHE
HAS SERVED AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE ADVISORY COlrnCIL OF
THE SECRETARIAT FOR COMMUNITY SOLIDARITY ("COMMUNIDADE
SOLIDARIA").
IN THIS ROLE SHE HAS WORKED TO INTEGRATE
POORER CLASSES INTO BRAZILIAN SOCIETY, ADDRESSING ISSUES
OF HEALTH AND NUTRITION, MUNICIPAL SERVICES, ~JD RURAL
DEVELOPMENT.
3.
SENATOR BENEDITA DASILVA IS THE GRANDDAUGHTER OF A
SLAVE AND GREW UP IN A RIO_ DE JANEIRO SLUM. W1.RRIED AT
18, SHE BECAME A COMMUNITY ACTIVIST WITHIN _HE CATHOLIC
CHURCH AND IN THE LATE 1970S WAS A FOUNDING MEMBER OF THE
WORKERS PARTY NOW THE PRIMARY -OPPOSITION PAR'l~Y IN
BRAZIL.
SHE LATER BECAME BRAZIL'S FIRST BLACK FEMALE
FEDERAL DEPUTY AND FIRST BLACK FEMALE SENATOR.
SHE IS
NOW A CANDIDATE FOR THE VICE-GOVERNORSHIP OF RIO DE
JANEIRO STATE.
I
I
4.
SENATOR MARINA DA SILVA IS ONE OF ELEVEN CHILDREN OF
~ IMPOVERISHED RUBB}] PER FROM THE AMAZONIAN S'l~ATE /cF
ACRE. WORKING AS A MAID TO PUT HERSELF THROUGH
UNCLASSIFIED
�----,-------------------------
.....
-·---
.. l
IMMEDIATE
UNCLASSIFIED .
WHITE HOUSE SITUATIOIN 'ROOM
PAGE 02 OF 02
UNIVERSITY.
SHE BECAME A TEACHER AND LATER AN
ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVIST AND ORGANIZER OF RUBBER TAPPERS.
SHE WAS ELECTED A CITY COUNCILOR IN ACRE IN 1988 AND
SENATOR FROM THE STATE OF ACRE, AT AGE 36, IN 1994.
5. DENISE FROSSARD, THEN A FEDERAL JUDGE AND NOW A
CANDIDATE FOR THE SENATE FROM RIO DE JANEIRO, BECAME
BRAZIL'S MOST FAMOUS JURIST IN 1995 AFTER SHE
SUCCESQLED THE PROSECUTION OF THE CHIEFS
("BICHEIROS") OF THE ILLEGAL LOTTERY IN RIO DE JANEIRO.
THE BICHEIROS USED THEIR ASTRONOMICAL PROFITS 'l~O BECOME A
LAW UNTO THEMSELVES IN RIO,· CONTROLLING VAST CF~IME
NETWORKS IN THE POORER AREAS QDE-JANEIRO.
6. CLAUDIA COSTIN HAS RISEN THROUGH THE RANKS OF
GOVERNMENT SERVICE TO BECOME, AT AGE 42, MINIS'I'ER OF
FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION AND STArE REFORM AND THE ONLY
WOMAN CABINET MEMBER IN PRESIDENT CARDOSO'S
ADMINISTRATION.
TWO WEEKS AGO SHE ORDERED BY ~!INISTERIAL
DIRECTIVE THAT ALL PUBLIC SERVICE TRAINING COURSES
INCLUDE MATERIAL ON SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN THE WORKPLACE.
7.
ZELIA GATTAI IS A RENOWNED AUTHOR AND MEMOIRIST FROM
THE STATE OF BAHIA AND THE WIFE OF AUTHOR JORGE AMADO.
IN THE FORWARD TO HER MEMOIRS "SENHORA DONA DO BAILE"
(MRS. BELLE OF THE BALL), BRAZILIAN AUTHOR CARLOS SCLIAR
CALLS ZELIA, "A HUMAN PHENOMENON ... MARVELOUS AND ALIVE,
FRIEND AND SUPPORTER, HONEST AND PURE, A RASCAL AND A
SCAMP, A WHOLE PERSON. MRS. CLINTON MET MRS. GATTAI
DURING A VISIT TO BAHIA IN 1995.· MRS. CLINTON ALSO MET
SENATORS DA SILVA AND SILVA DURING HER VISIT TO BRAZIL IN
1997 AND MRS. CARDOSO ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS.
8. TWO IMPORTANT GOVERNMENT CONTACTS WHO HAVE INFORMATION
ON RECENT GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES, THE DEPARTMENT HEADS
FOR WOMEN'S ISSUES IN THE FOREIGN AND JUSTICE MINISTRIES,
HAVE BEEN UNAVAILABLE THE PAST TWO DAYS.
POST WILL
FOLLOW UP ON THIS INFORMATION IF THE DEPARTMENT WISHES
9. FINALLY, PRINCESS ISABELLA, DAUGHTER OF EMPEROR DON
PEDRO II, CARRIED OUT ONE OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT ACTS OF
BRAZ-ILIAN HISTORY IN 1888 BY SIGNING THE LAW FREEING THE
LAST SLAVES IN BRAZIL AND THEREBY COMPLETELY ABOLISHING
SLAERY IN THE COUNTRY.
DERHAM.
<ASECT>SECTION: 01 OF 01
<ASSN>3523
<MSGID> M3467195
UNCLASSIFIED
�09/23/98
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WED 10:19 FAX
p,:;,
UNt.:.L.ASSIFIED
Eva A. Weigold Hanson
ACTION AAA-01
LOG-00 . IIMlW-01
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172033Z /38
P 172027Z, SEP 98
FM AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7039
UNCLAs SANTIAGO 003111
FO~
ARA/PPC EVA WET.GOLD
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGs: OVIP (CLINTON, HILLARY), !<W:MN, CI
SUBJECT: CHILE: SUCCESS STORIEs FOR FIRST LADY'S
T~IP AND VITAL VOICES CONFE~ENCE
REF;
STATE 168192
l.
lN RESPONSE TO REFTEL PARA 3 1 SOME POSSIBLS
QUOTATIONS THAT COULD BE USED IN TYE FIRST LADY'S
SPEECH FOLLOW. Til:~::¥ ARB TAKEN FROM FAMED CHI:I.EJ\N
AUTHOR ~RIELA MISTRAL {1889-1~57), NOBEL gRXzE
WINNER IN" rffi.
~H~~J MI~TIU\1.' S POETRY IS OF'r~ .
RE~RED FOR l'r'
ATMENT OF Tf-!E THEME OF
LONELINESS, SKE WAS ALSO A MOCH-LOVED SCHOOL
TEACHER, IN MEXICO AND IN NORTHERN RURAL CHILE.
HER PO!ilTRY AND HER LETTJ;:RS REVEAl:. HER INTENSE
INTEREST IN. EDUCATIN, HER PASSIONATE ADMIRATION
FOR EDUCATORS, AND ER BOUNDLESS LOVE FOR THE
INNOCSNCE AND HOPES OFCHILDREN.
FROM
.!I'HE RURAL SCHOOLMISTRESS"
11
" . . . THE SCHOOI.MISTRESS WAS POOR., FOR HER KINGDOM
WAS. NOT OF ~IS EARTH . . . .
THOUGH HER HAND WAS NOt ADOR~ED WITH GEMS,
HER ENTIRE SPIRIT.WAS ITSELF A GREAT JEWEL!
. " . . . YOU, PARENT, liHO A HfJNOREP TIMES LOOKED AT
.HER AND SAW HER NO~ ONCE,
YET IN THE LINEAGE OF YOUR CHILD, 80W MUCH MORE
THERE IS OF HER TID\N OF YOU!"
FROM "THE TEACHER'S PRAYER"
" ... LORD, GRANT ME $uCH DEVOTED LOVE FOR. MY
EVEN BEAO'I'Y' S FLAME
WILL DETRACT FROM MY FAITHFUL TENDERNESS.
MASTER, MAKE MY FERVOR. LONG•LASTING ANP MY
OlSILLUSION S~IEF ....
SCHOOL THAT NO'I'
LET NOT TH~ INCOMPREHENSION OF OTHERS TROUBLE ME,
NOR
THE FORGBTPULNESS OF THOSE ! HAVE TAUGHT
SADDEN ME .•.•
"GRANT THAT I Ml';.Y BE SUCCESSFUL IN MOLDING OKE OF.
MY PUPILS INTO A PERFECT POEM,
AND LET ME LEAVE WITHIN HER MY DEEPEST-FELT MELODY
THAT SHE MAY SI~G FOR YOU WHE~ MY ~IPS SHALL SING
NO MORE."
FROM "THE AA'tl:ST' S PECALOGUE"
UNCLASSIFIED
~
IO•OO
DRL·04
AOS·OO
G-oo
�09/23/98
Printe~
WED 10:19 FAX
141044
UNCLASSIFIED
,.
ey: Eva A. Weigold aanson
"EACH ACT OF CREATION SM.!U,X.. LEAVE YOU HUMBLE, FOR
IT IS NEVER. AS GREAT
AS YOUR DREAM AND ALWAYS INFERIOR TO THAT MOSr
MARVELOUS GOO THAT IS Nll.TURB. " .
FROM
"fNE WERE
ALL
'I'O BE QUEENS"
(THI.S ii'OBM IS ABOUl' THE CHILmlOOP FANTASU:S OF
FOUR SEVEN·'I!'EAR·OLID GIRLS.)
. "WE WERE ALL 1'0 .BE QUEENS
OF FOUR KINGDOMS ON THE SEA •...
"WE SAID IT, ENRAP'I'ORED,
AND BELI~SD IT PERFECTLY,
THAT WE WOULD ALL BE QUEENS
ANO WOut.D ONE DAY :R.EllCH THE SEA .... "
2. IN RESPONSE TO PARA 4 REQUEST FOR INFORMATION
ON GOC INITIATIVES TO REVISE OR AD9PT LEG!SLATION
AFFECTING WOMEN'S ISSUES, THE CHILEAN LEGISLATURE
RE!CEN'!'):..Y PASSED A LAW THAT WILL _EL!Ml:N.l).TE LEGAL
DISCRIMINATION AGAINST CHILDREN'S INHERITANCE
RIGHTS BASED ON .THE MARITAL STATUS OF PARENTS (TaE
SO-CALLED "LEGITIMACY LAW") . THIS WAS NOT A DlRillCT
RESULT OF THE SUMMIT 0~ THE BEIJING CONFERENCE.
THIS LAW WILL TAXB EFFECT ~XT YEAR.
O'L!ARY
UNCLASSIFIED
2
�PRIORITY
UNCLASSIFIED
WHITE HOUSE SITUATION ROOM
PAGE
PRT:
SIT:
SIT:
01 OF 02
FLOTUS
ARMSTRONG DOBBINS GALLUCCI ORFINI PICCONE
NSC
<PREC> PRIORITY
<CLAS> UNCLASSIFIED
<DTG> 161602Z SEP 98
FM AMEMBASSY LA PAZ
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7662
INFO RUEHDG/ALL AMERICAN REPUBLIC DIPLOMATIC POSTS PRIORITY
UNCLAS LA PAZ 004263
FOR ARA MICHELE MANATT; ARA/PPCP EVE WEIGOLD, S/PICW
THERESA LOAR AND DANI LETT; USAID/LAC JUDY GILMORE;
USIA/LA FOR KATHY DAVIS; MONTEVIDEO BOB GOLDBERG
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KWMN, PHUM, KSUM, PGOV, ECON, ETRD, XM, XS
SUBJECT: VITAL VOICES OF THE AMERICAS: WOMEN IN
DEMOCRACY CONFERENCE
1. SUMMARY.
ON SEPTEMBER 10, NINE OF THE ELEVEN
BOLIVIAN PARTICIPANTS TO THE VITAL VOICES OF THE
AMERICAS CONFERENCE ATTENDED A LUNCH AT THE AMBASSADOR'S
RESIDENCE TO HELP PREPARE FOR THE CONFERENCE. THE
PARTICIPANTS DISCUSSED MEDIA STRATEGY, THE BOLIVIA
PLATFORM AND POTENTIAL FOLLOW UP ACTIVITIES. END
SUMMARY.
BACKGROUND
2. AMBASSADOR INVITED ALL VITAL VOICES PARTICIPANTS TO A
LUNCH TO DISCUSS THE ROLE.OF THE BOLIVIAN DELEGATES AT
THE CONFERENCE. NINE OF ELEVEN PARTICIPANTS ATTENDED,·
INCLUDING THE WIFE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT OF BOLIVIA.
IN
ADDITION, US REPRESENTATIVES FROM USAID, USIS, AND PEACE
CORPS ATTENDED.
3. WE DISCUSSED THE BACKGROUND TO VITAL VOICES AND THE
GOALS OF THE LATIN AMERICA CONFERENCE WERE IDENTIFIED.
EACH DELEGATE WAS ASKED TO REFLECT ON HER PARTICIPATION
IN TWO WAYS: UPON WHAT CONTRIBUTIONS SHE WILL BRING TO
THE CONFERENCE AND WHAT NEW IDEAS AND INFORMATION SHE
WOULD LIKE TO GATHER AND TAKE HOME FROM THE EVENT.
4. THREE GROUPS WERE ESTABLISHED ALONG THE LINES OF THE
THREE THEMATIC AREAS: A) LAW AND LEADERSHIP, B) POLITICS
AND CIVIL SOCIETY AND C) ECONOMIC INTEGRATION 1\ND
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT. THESE SUB-GROUPS WILL MEET DURING
THE LAST WEEK OF SEPTEMBER TO ESTABLISH SPECIFIC AGENDA
ITEMS AND AGREE ON OBJECTIVES FOR THE CONFERENCE. THE
THREE SUBGROUPS WILL RECONVENE ON SEPTEMBER 25 TO SHARE
UNCLASSIFIED
J
�PRIORITY
UNCLASSIFIED
WHITE HOUSE SITUATIOIN ROOM
PAGE 02 OF 02
(
THESE AGENDA ITEMS AND ESTABLISH THE PLATFORM FOR THE
BOLIVIAN DELEGATION.
5.
IN ADDITION,PARTICIPANTS DESIGNED A MEDIA STRATEGY TO
ENSURE THEIR VITAL VOICES ARE HEARD THROUGH-OU'J~ BOLIVIA.
USIS WILL TAKE THE.LEAD IN ISSUING PRESS RELEASES.
SELECTED MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES WILL BE INVITED TO THE
SEPTEMBER 25TH SESSION, WHERE THEY WILL BE GIVEN
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
THE AMBASSADOR WILL ALSO BE
INTERVIEWED ON TELEVISION AND RADIO ABOUT THE
CONFERENCE.
6.
AS PART OF THE FOLLOW UP·TO VITAL VOICES CONFERENCE,
GINGER QUIROGA, WIFE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT, DISCUSSED
HER PLANNED "WOMEN'S ENCOUNTER." THIS NATIONAl,
CONFERENCE WILL TAKE PLACE IN MARCH, 1999.
IT WILL
FOLLOW A SERIES OF REGIONAL WORKSHOPS WHICH WII,L HELP
IDENTIFY THE NEEDS OF BOLIVIAN WOMEN IN LEGAL,
POLITICAL, AND DEMOCRATIC STRENGTHENING AREAS.
THE
NATIONAL CONFERENCE, WILL DEVELOP AN ACTION PLAN AND
ESTABLISH A NON-PARTISAN WOMEN'S COUNCIL TO OVERSEE ITS
IMPLEMENTATION.
7·.
THE DELEGATION FROM BOLIVIA IS DIVERSE AND ENTHUSIASTIC.
IF MORE INFORMATION IS NEEDED ABOUT MISSION
PREPARATIONS, PLEASE CONTACT JILL RHODES, 591 278 5758
PHONE; 591 278 6654 FAX; OR JRHODES#USAID.GOV.
HRINAK
<ASECT>SECTION: 01 OF 01
.<ASSN>4263
<MSGID> M3467648
UNCLASSIFIED
�09/17/98
THU 16:47 FAX
Pr1nted_.By: "Eva A.
INFO
(STR)
LOG-00
NSCE-00
/OOOW
W~igold
TEnE•OO
~M-OO
Hanson
AnS-00
STR-00
ONY-00
USlS-00
-----------•••••-·688798
0
~Gl~13Z
~008
UNCLASSIFIED
SSO•OO
SAS-00
l
l7l226Z /22
SEP 98
FM ~EMBASSY BRIDGETO~
TO SECST~TE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5094
INFO AMEMBASSY MONTEVIDEO
AMEMBASSY BELIZE
AMEMBASSY NASSAU
~EMBASSY KINGSTON
AMEMBASSY PORT AU PRINCE
AMEMBASSY PORT OF SPAIN
AMEMBASSY GEORGETOWN
AMBMBASSY PARAMARIBO
UNCLAS BRIPGETOWN 002351
~OR
ARA/PPC EVA WEIGOLD
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OVIP, KWMN, _XL
SUBJECT: SUCCESS STORIES FRO~~WOMEN_I~ ~~~ERN~,
·-~~-----,-- . ---~ -REF: STATE 168192
1. DAME EUGENIA CHARLES, FORMER ~RIME MI~ISTER OF THE
COMMONWEALTH OF DOMINICA, SPEAKING AT A PUBLIC LECTURE
ENTI'l'tED "CARIBBEAN WOMEN CATALYSTS FOR Cw..NGE: THE
EXPERIENCE OF THE FIRST FEMALE PRIME MINISTER IN Trm
COM~ONWEALTH CARIBBEAN" HOSTED BY THE CENTER FOR GENDER
AND DEVEJ..OPMENT STUDIES, UNIVERSITY OF THE WEST IND;J;Ji:S,
CAVE HI~L CAMPUS, NOVEMBER 3, ~995:
"l..ONG· BEFORE WOMEN GOT 'l'ltE VOTE IN· DOMINICA, AND CI::R.'rAINLY"'
AGES-BEFORE ADULT .SUFFRAGE, WOMEN .PLAYED A DYNAMIC ROJ..E IN ..
POLITICS, SOClAL SERVICES~ IN &CuCATION. THAT WOMEN
DID NOT l\Si?I!{E TO OFFICIAL LEADERSHIP AND IN FACT RATHER
SHRANK FRON SU~H A ROLE DOES NO'r IMPLY THAT THEY WERE
DORMAN':!', UNCARING ·AND UNKNOWLEDGJ::ABLE OF THE MATTERS OF
STATE. WOMEN St'OOD FAST BEHIND THEIR M~ WHO TOOK THOSE
ROLES AND WERE VOCIFEROUS IN THEIR ADVICE TO THEM AND
BANDED THEMSELV!S TOGETHER TO ENSURE THAT THEIR IDEAS,
THEI~ ~EELINGS, AND THEIR PRACTICAL DAY TO DAY EXPERIENCE
WAS NOTED AND THUS LAID OFTEN THE FOUNDATION FOR ACTION BY
THE MALE LEP.DEltS. II
"IN DOMINICA, 6ECAU'SE WE HAVE ALWAYS HAD VERY STRONG
WOMEN, NO ONE rtEFERRED TO 'I'HE FACT THAT I WAS A WOMAN, IF
THll:Y WERE FOLLOWING OUR IPEAL:;> . WH~ WE BECAN TO GET A
GRE~TER FOLLOWING, THE LEADERS ON THE OTHER SIDE, HOWEVER,
FE~T THAT THEY SHOULD POINT OPT THAT I WAS A WOMAN AND
THEREFORE SOMSONB NOT OF THE MATERIAL THAT LEADERSHIP
SHOULD COME FROM IN OUR ISLAND .... (ONCE) WHEN IN
PARLIAMEN~, THE MINISTER FINANCE AT THE TIME WHO APPEARED
'I'O WWE APPOIN'rED HIMSEJ..F THE "CHlii.RLES .!\BUSER" SAID OF ME
THAT 'BEING CHILDLESS SHE CANNOT HAVE TaE MILK OF KINDNESS
RONNING IN ~teR VEINS BECAUSE SHE HAS NEVER FELT THE PANGS
OF CHILDBIRTH.' I QUICKLY RESPONDED BY REQUESTING THE
SPEAKER TO POT ALL THE MEN ON THE FRONT BENCH IN THE zoo,
SECAUSE THEY HAD A~L FELT THE PANGS OF CHILDaiRTI~
ACCORDING TO TNEIR OWN 60AST. 11
2. PROFESSOR HENRY FRASER'S SPEECH AT THE UNIVERSITY OF
UNCLASSIFI£"0
1
(AS-OJ.
�THU 16:47 FAX
09117198
'.
Printe~
~009
By' Eva A- Weigold Hanson
THE WEST INDIES,
EUGENIA ~ES
LAWS '
CAVE HILL CAMPUS CEREMONY WHERE DAME
AN HONO~Y' DEGREE OF DOcTO~ OF
R~CE!VEO
"DOMINICA' S- DECADE OF. THE-sEVENT;I:ES WAS 'l'~ULEN'l',BYfANY
STl\.NDARDS·, ~I'rH~_qVIL \WREST •. 'fER.RO_~I$1'4 ,.:ATTEM:P~D .COUPS
AND coLLAPSE oF-GOVERNMBNT~·-scrGENiltCHARLEs-wAs-iLECTED
TO PAALIAMENT ;..::.iiND-WASc API?OINTED.:LEAilER-OF-THE··Ol?POSITION.
SHE WAS SECRETARY TO THE COMMITTEE OF NATJ;ONAL-SAI..VATION
'
!N XS!79AND LED THE FREEDOM PAATY TO •l'l'S-LJIND_SLID~ VICTORY
IN THS: GENE~~E:LECTIONS...E._F ;1.9$0.
SHE'tWAS":'R}i::r:tJRNED"Toj
PARLIAMll:NT .AS l?R.!I'IlE MINISTER 'J:N-1985-AND-1990.-FINALLY· - .>
,RS:T!IUNG'AFTER J.S YEARS ON JUNE 6,· 1995. SHE ·BROKE--NEW-- }
GROOND IN NOMEROOS RESPECTS, AS THE FIRST WOMEN !?RIME
MI~ISTER IN THE CARIBBEAN, AS PRESIDENT OF THE ACP cOUNCIL
OF MINISTERS IN 1987, AS CHAIRMAN OF THE OS:CS, AND· AS
PRESIDENT OF THE INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF WOMEN
LAWYE:RS . ANP, OF COURSE, SUE liAS SERVED ON THE COUNCIL OF
OUR l;JNIVERSlTY."
"SHB SOUGHT ]l.N1) RlllC:E::Z:VED GENEROUS INTERNATIONAL AID,
REBUILDING DOMINICA ~FTER HURRICANE DAVID'S OS:VASTATION IN
1979. SHE SURVIVED COUP ATTEMPTS AND CONTR.O~~ED_ --- ~- .•..
CORRUPTION. "SliE-•STRODE· LIK!l: ·J>.. COLOSSUS-ACROSS HER. OIYN /
COTJNTRY.. AND THE--CAAIIIBEAN;--WITH-A-COMBlNATION-oFW!T;--~
WISDOM AND~TISM-THAT-EARNEO"ACCLA!M.J BUT THE EVENT
THAT MADE HER AN INTERN~TIONAL'FIGURE·WAS/THE GR~ADA
IN'I'ERVEl\ITION.
HER CLEAR VIBI<l OF THE SITTJ~TION HELPED TO
ACHIEVE SWIFT ACTION, AND HER APPEARANCE ON TELSVISION IN
W~HINGTO~, BESIDE RONALD REAGAN,
'~N CONTROL' OF THE
SITUATION, CATAPULTED HER AND HER COUNTRY ONTO ~ WORLD
STAGE.
HER WORDS TO MILLION CAN NEVER JaE FORGOTTEN:
'WB,
AS PAAT OF THE OElCS, REALIZED TWI.T WE ARE, OF COORSE, ONE
REGION: WE BE:LONG TO :S:li.CH OTHER; WE ARE J<ITH AND K:Z:N.'"
"SHE DISAPPROVES OF FEMINISM, BECAUSE SHE SAYS WOMEN ARE
STRONGER.
AND SHE DISAPPROVES OF NAMES AND LABELS, YET
SHE HAS BEEN GIVEN SCORES OF NAMES. . . . . AND WE ALL KNOW,
HER MOST FAMOUS LABltL WAS ' IRON LADY OF THE CARIBBEAN. '
IRON AND STEEL ARE SYMBOLS OF STRENGTH AND RiSILIENCE.
'AS SOLID AS IRON' AND ·~s TRUE AS STEEL' ARE FITTING
PHRASES FOR ONE OF THE MOST FAIR-MINDED, FEARLESS, FBMALE
FREEDOM FXGHTER OF OUR TIME. TO MANY PEOPLE SHE IS
WSST Il'i!PI.l\.N WOMAN OF ~HE CENTOR'JI'. "
~HB
REF: STATE l&Bl92
2
~ ~OMENc IN~LITics;LA:w;--J\Ntnl!oSINEsS:J
,--_- ""' _____ .---~-- ~ .
---~*.:-_:.::::::-:.;:..:.;;;·.:=:-..=-.~~=-·-:..~-~
BARBADOS
DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER/MINISTER OF FOREIGN
AFFAlRS BILLIE ~ILL~; MJ;NIST~ OF SDOCATXON MI~ MOTTLEY;
MINl'STEliC:QF-HEAJ:,TH_ANILEN:v:IRONMENT LIZ THOMPSON; HIGH
COURT .:tOSTIC!n.uuuE-MACCORMACX 1 '·DEPU'l'Y
GOVERNOR OF TffE
CENTRAL BANK MAAION WILLIAM§...- ...
DC!ftiN~.;-~..:_-c)i
THE HOOSE OF ASSEM:SLY NEVA EDWAADS;
DEVELOPMENT AND WOME~'S AFFAIRS
ROBERTS; HIGH COORT MAGISTRATE GAIL RDYER
,MJNISTER-o~-COMMUNITY
GERTRUDE
-
------
GRENADA • MINISTER OF
LAURlNA WALDRON
--~,
HOUSING, SOClli.L SECURITY AND WELFARE
ST. lCIT'I'S·AND-NEVIS ·o.. EXEC).ITIVE DIRECTOR OE' THE CHAMBER OF
COMMERCE ·AND INDUSTRY.. WENDY PHIPPS
ST. LUCIA - GOVERNOR GENERAL P~ETTE LOUISY; MINISTER OF
HEAtTH, HOMAN SERVICES, FAMILY AND WOMEN SARAH FLOOD;
QNCLASSIFIED
z·
�09/17/98
'
141010
THU 16:48 FAX
Print:ed lily: Eva A. Weigold Hanson
3.
RECENT LEGISLA.TIV£ PROGRESS FOR WOMEN:
BARBADOS - DOMESTIC VIOLENCE LAW ESTABLISHED 1992
ST. LUCIA • DOMESTIC VIOLENCE LAW
COURT ESTABLISHED 1997
EST~LISHED
1994, FAMILY
ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES - DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE/MATRIMONIAL PROCEEDINGS ACT ESTABLISHED
199~;
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SUM~Y PROCEEOIN~$ Acr ESTABLISHED IN
l995; CHlLD SUP~ORT ~CT AM~P~D l995; FAMILY COURT
ESTABLISHED 1995
BULLEN
ONCLASSIFIED
3
�-----------------------------------~---·
·----------
--.09/17/98
~Prin·
09/17/98
Print·
�~013
16:48 FAX·
Eva A. Weigold
INFO
LOG·OO
AMA0-01
SAS•OO
~anaon
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TEDE·DO
ADS-DO
/Oo2W
-----·-- ---··----6AD08B
ONY-00
SSO•OO
lS2ll9Z /38
0 l52119Z SEP 9B
FM AMEMBASSY QUITO
TO SECSTATE WA$ijDC IMMEDIATE 0271
INFO AMCONSUL
GUAYAQU~w
UNCLAS QUITO 003951
STATE FOR ARA/PPC - EVA
WEIGO~P
FROM CDA - CURT STROt\LE FOR
~/PDAS
E,O. 1:2958; N/A
TAGS; OVIP I CLillTON, HILWIRY)
vr?l$!I~~O~FICIAL-INFORMAL:
VOICES
)
.
REF:
- JOHN HAMILTON
,rKWMN~·-
EC
.
--7
~~-g'f~ES!LOF~~CtJAD.'?.i' s~:VITAL
---........._:____
STATE loB192
l. OVE~ THE PAST TWO YEARS, ~ REPO~T ON WOMSN-IN-ECUADORIAN
PUBLl:c J;..lFB HAS H;lGHLIGHTSD A. ~--· liF,J:Fi.s;rs ti1 IN 1996,
1
ROSALIA ARTEAGA WJ!.S ELEC'l'ED'"'li'H
VICS~lPRESiiDJ1:~ ·oF l
ECUAoOR;-lN .l9l!7, ALEXANIDAA~'VELA BECAME
<
.
.
..1-ELi::~!~_yi_CE-l?RESIDittt '~.£9~\E],llli;.IN 19
THE')
FIRST. IN.OIG!mOUSc..W(:)li'!AN;·To" BE-EI:ECTED VICE-PR
AND IN 1999, ANA· LUCIA ARMIJ'OS t\ECAMB THE -FI
GOVER.NMEN'I', THE: MOST.IMPORTANT SEAT"!N l?RESI
J
CABINET·::.. ·-
-· -- -~--
2.
THE: ST!ilADY A.S~ENT_OF_WO!vU!:N_TO-k!OSITIONS OF l?OWll:R-IN-ECTJ.A.DOK---,
HAS BEEN Prui.AiiELED SY INCR.EJ.\.si:D ATTEN'TJ;ON ~OWOMEN' s- ISSUES.
,.
OVBR THi: PAST~'iiAA, ECUADOR :PASSED .liii.O-BEGiiNTOENFORcfiiW'I.;AW~;
; AGAINST ABUSE OF woMEN,"" .E:sTaBBISHING-AND-FUNDIN'G-A-NBTWORK-OP"WOMEN'S ADVOCAT2S"""WHO""COWSEL"'"WOMEN! INVEST·IGATE,~A~irr-.SPuR "'
PROSJi:CUTION OF,_ .1\.BUSE CASES • . WOMEI.>i"' . INCLuDING. VELA Arm. 'PACAAI ,
.PLAYED A CENTRAL ROLE IN THE 1998 NATIONAL CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY'S
REDRAFT OF THE ECUA.oORIAN CONSTITUTION THAT GREATLY ADVANCED SUCH
WOMEN'S ISSUES AS THE PROTECTION OF CHILDREN AND THE ELIMINATlON
TO ENSUIU: THOSE ~VANCES TAkE EFFECT 1 BOTH
~LECTION TO CONGRESS WITH AN UNPRECEDENT~
NOMBER OF OTHER WOMEN AND HAVE PLAYED AN IMPORTANT t.EADERSIUP
ROLE IN THE NEW CONGRESS.
OF DISCRIMINATION.
VELA AND PACAR! WON
--~~··-~-~--
3.
.
THESE SUCCESSES 0~· ECUADOR'S VITAL VOICES 'REFLECT ·BOTH -TH~--.:~.
-woi.
TALENT oF EcUAboa• s
iiD.n;E~UJER:s Am>-GR.owrNa-INTERNATroNAL:7
ATTEN'UON TO WOMEtvs-J:S-SUES~:T<IE BEIJ'ING CONFERENCi, SUMMIT
FOLLOW-UP, AND"RI!:GION.l\L MEETINGS-OF-PROMINENT-:-WOMEN~t..EADERS Ii11VE
CoMBINttl-TO _FOCUS PUBL.IC ATTENT~ON ON SUCH. ISSUES AND ·.TO~OVIPE
WOMEN ECUIWORIAN LEADERS WITH-ENCOURAGgMEJ:>3T-:AND-A-POSITIV.E.,
INTERNAT~ONAL __CL:tMJ:\iB-THAT· AA's-HELPED-ro riNoE:IiP.i:'N 'THEIR- soLID
DOMES'l'IC: .ADVANCES·.----_---~- )
S'I'Rt.JBLS
UNCLASSIFlli!D.
l
�09/17/98
~021
THU 16:50 FAX
UNCLASSIFIED ·
Printed By: Eva A. Weigold Hanson
ACTION AP.A-01
INFO
LOG-00
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ONY•OO
/D02W
- • • ~- • • • • •·• • • • --- -6B017D 161013Z /38
P l60953Z SEP 98
FM AME:MBASSY GEOil.GETOWN,
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY l4S4
sso-oo
UNCLAS GEORGETOWN 001160
FOR ARA/PPC EVA WEIGOLD FROM DCM
MEN'S VITAL VOICES
R8F:
STATE 168192
l •
FOR MORE THAN 4 0 YEAil.S 1 JANET JAGAl\1 1 GUYl\NJ\' S CURRENT
PRESIDENT, HAS PARTICIPATED IN HER ADOPTED COUNTR~'S
.TVRBOLENT POLITICS.
FIRST ELECTED TO GUYANA'S COLONIAL
PARLIAMENT IN 1953, MS. JAGAN SERVED IN MANY CAPACITIES,
FROM NEWSPAP8R EDITOR TO PRIME MINIST8R, BEFORE-HBR-ELEctlO~
AS INDEPENDENT;;;GUYANA' S FIRST. F~-~-HEAiio~..?' \- __ ..}
DECEMBEiihi.9:9t-M' ·AT ·PFI.ESENT,.,sHE"'I-s 'THEWoNI.lYiWFEW~LE ·HEAD- oF
STATE-:-l~ _OTJ'i1.. nE~.ISPHEitE ,, .. IT .. IS A -~-PUBL..!_~_APPEAR.ANCE UJ
WHICJoi :PRESIDENT. JAGAN .DOES \NOT URGE GUYANESE GIRiiS ·AND,- WOMEN
-r~ Pi.AYJ\G~Eli.TER''Ror.~.,}N;.T~~~~::coUNTRY' :s~so~J:AL AND
'
Y S SOCIAL AND------·---~-- .o..,;.._
·-~.....;.--...~~;,
J§G8NOM;I~R~~LOPMENT.' MER LIFE.r-:'?~~-~EDICI~;';\'J:ON~;r"p:;;:I~~_QYING
THE LOT· OF t;ESS PRIV·ILEGED."tGUY·ANESE·-SERVES· AS-,A"'MODE;L. TO
GUY};'INE.SE YOuTH.
. ... , .• ,., . , ·-· .~ ...
... ·-------IN RECENT YEARS GUYANESE WOMEN HAVE MADE GREAT STRIDES
IN THE LEGAL ARENA.
UIE CURRENT~CI-IIEF:.JY§ITI.CE,~THE STJl,'I'E
SOLICITOR, . .zum_.THE·.REGISTR:i\RYB'iW'TH·E:¥suP~ME cOURT Ji.R:E:-AI.L- · ·
FEMALE ..:.:.-THILST!i:JWILY Rl SING NtJl'IIB:Ij;R, OF WOMEN ENTERING THE
LEGAL PROFESSION PROMISES MORE ATTENTION TO ISSUES OF
SPECIAL CONCERN TO WOMEN.
IN l996;~FOR 8XAMPLE, GUYANA'S
PARLIAMENT PASSED THE LAl\IDMARK "DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ACT" WHICH
PROVIDES FOR THE PROTECTION OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN SUBJECTED
TO ABUSE WITHIN THE HOME.
2.
:>
3.
VARIOUS NGO INITIATIVES COMPLEMENT.=GOVERNMJ;:NT ·AND-!.EGA!,
EFFORTS TO STRENGTHEN THE STATUS OF WOMEN AND,.CONSEQOENTLY,
TO IMPROVE THE ENTIRE--SOCIETY'S QUALITY OF LIFE. AMONG THE
1o1osT ACTIVE NGO' s ARE THE a:e:o;:THREAD woM'EN-;:-s"ORGANIZA'i:'I.oN-,-------~,
THE GOYANA CHAPTER oF THE cARIBBEAN ASsociATION'r'ort· FEMINIST ..-J
RESEARCH AND ACJ'ION (CAFRA), THE GUY~A.ASSOCIATI.ON....Q.11:_
.
PROFESSIONAL soclAI;':wmiKERS7=AN'iJ.THE liELP AND .SI•IELTER CR~_-:-·j
CEN'l'ER,
MACK
.
. ----~- - - --..
ONCLASSIFIED
l
�09/23/98
WED 10:20 FAX
Printed By, Eva A,
W~igolo
14]048
UNCLASSIFIED
Hanson
Z>.CTION JIIAA.-Ol
INFO
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----···----SA4948 l.41902Z /38
P 14l725Z SEI? 99
FM AMEMBASSY TEGUCIGALPA
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9541
UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 003739
FOR ARA/PI?CI? - EVA
WEr~GOLD
E.O. l29S8; N/A
TAGS : KJOS KWMN AO!l.C ECON PGOV I?HUM P!<EL SOCI XX. XM OY HO
St!flJECT: VITAL VOICES: SPEJ::CH INPUT PROM TEGUCIGALPA
REF:
A) TEGUCIGALPA 37l1: B) STATE 168192
l. REF B REQUESTED INFORMATION ON WOMEN'S PROGRESS AND
ACHIEVEM&"TS IN HONDUR..A.S FOR POSSIBLE INCLUS;t;ON IN TilE U, B.
SPEECH AT THE OCTOBER l-3 WOMEN'S CONFER£NCE IN MONTEVIDEO.
2 •
ONE LOCl\.L WOMAN WHO RECEN'l'LY EAANED A PI...li.CE IN HONDtmAN
HJ;S'l'ORY IS AL'I;!.l> NORA GUNERA DB MELGM-CASTF<.O, Tim PRESIDENT
OF THE LEADING OPPOSITION NATIONALIST PARTY .. IN NOVEMBER
1997, NORA DE MELGAR, AS SH!il COMMONLY IS KNOWN, BECAME THE
FIRST WOMAN TO COMPETE FOR THE PRE:$lDENCY OF aONDORAS,
COMING IN SECOND TO TWE CURREN~ PRESIDENT, CARLOS FLORES.
BOTH AS PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONALIST PARTY AND AS A DEPUTY
IN niE CENTRAL AMERICAN PARLIAMENT (PARUI.CEN), NOAA DE
MELGAR CONTINUES TO BE A POWERFUL ADVOCATE FOR WOMEN'S
RIGHTS IN HONDURAS Aml THE REGION AT LARGE. NORA DE MELGAR
PLANS TO ATTEND THE MONTEVIDEO CONFERENCE, SUBJECT TO~
PENDING USG DECISION ON PROVIOING FINANClAL ASSIS~~CE TO
U.S, INVITEES (REF A).
3. NATIONAL ~ECTIONS IN l997 SAW THE SEATING OF A RECORD
NOMSER OF WOM~ AS DEPUTIES IN HONOURAS' UNICAMERAL NATIONAL
CO~GRESS.
GLADYS CABALLE!l.O PE AREVALO, ANOTHER PO~ENTIAL
MONTEVIDEO CONFEREE. WAS ELECTED ONE OF HONDURAS' THREE VICE
PRESIDENTS I"DESIGNADOS") , IN FEBRT.JMY 1398, TilE NEW
CONGRBSS ELECTED IRMA VIOLEtA SUAZO DE ROSA BAUTISTA, YET
ANOtHER POTSNTIAL CONFE~EE, TO A FOUR-YEAR TERM ON THE
SUPREME COURT OF JUSTICE.
4 . PRESIDENT FLORES PERSONALLY IS COMMUTED TO THE
ADVANcEMENT OF WOMEN, APPOINTING MORE THAN .II, DOZEN AS
MINISTE!l.S, VICE MINISTERS, AGENCY HEADS, OR GOVERNORS.
ELl:ZAB~TH CHIUZ SIERRA IS THE FIRST PERSON TO HEAO THE NEW
MINISTRY OF PUBLIC SECURITY, WHILE GAB~IEL~ NUNEZ IS THE
COUNTRY'S FIRST FEMALE FINANCE MINISTER.
s . THE GOli IN RECENT YEARS HAS ENAC'I'ED SEVERAL IMI?ORT11NT
PIECES OF LEGIS~'l'ION ADVANCING WOMEN'S RIGHTS. THESE
INCLUDE THE CHl~DHOOD AND ADOLESCENCE CODE IN 1996, T~E LAW
AGAINST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN 1997, AND THE ELEVATION OF THE
GOVERNMENTAL OFFICE FOR WOMEN (OGM) TO MI~ISTERIAL STATUS
EARLIER THIS YBAR.
CREAGAN
UNCLASSIFIED
l.
CEA·Ol
DS-00
ll:HS-01
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OI?IC-01
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�09/23/98
WED 10:13 FAX
Printed By: Eva A. Weigold Hanson
ACTION ARA-01
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·----·---6B4AFB l.6223BZ /69
-·--~·--
R l61936Z SEP 98
FM AMEMBAsSY KINGSTON
TO SECSTATE WASHOe 02G3
UNCL~S
FOR
KINGSTON 003348
~/PPC
EVA WEIGOLD
E 0. 12li5B: N/A
TAGS, XWMN
SUBJECT: VITAL VOICES SUCCRSS STORIES
REF: STATE 168192
l. PER STATE 168192, POST OFFERS THE FOLLOWING JAMAICAN
SUCCESS STORIES.
WOM~
2.
THE~ ~E
CURRENTLY TWO FEMALE CABINET MINISTERS !N
'l'lofE GOVERNME!n : THE HONOAABLE MJ\.XINE: ANTOINETTE: . HENRX-
WILSON, MINISTER WITHOUT PORTFOLIO IN TkE OFFICE OF THE
PRIME MINISTER, ~D THE HONOAABLE PORTIA SIMPSON•
MILLER, M!NXSTER OF LABOUR, SOCIAL SECI.JR.UY ANP SPORT.
MRS. SIMPSON-MtLLeR tS ALSO THE VICE P~ESIDENT OF THE
PEOPLJO' S NATIONAL PARTY. TWO WOMEN ALSO SEI'iVE IN
LBAOERSHIP POSITIONS IN PARLIAMENT• SYRINGA MARSHALL
SURNETT, PRESIDENT OF THE S~TE AND VIOLST NEILSON,
SPEAKER OF THE ~OUSE.
3. RECENT GOVERNMENT tNITIATIVES ON WOMEN'S tSSUES
INCLUDE THE DOMESTIC
CE ACT WHI
WENT INTO
E~ECT IN 1996. .
IS ~EGISLATION PROVIDES ADDITION~
REMEDI~S FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, INCLUDING RESTRAINI~G
ORDER.S AND OTH1i:.l!. NONCfJSTODI~t. SENTENCING. A COMMISSION
ON GBNDE:R AND SOCI~ EQUITY WAS APPROVED BY PARL:tAMBNT
IN 1997. SEVERAL WOMENS GROOPS ARS MONITORING THE
IMPLEMENTATION PROCESS TO ENSt.IRE THAT Tb!E COMMISSION IS
ESTABLISHED.
4. ONE OP JAMAICA'S NATIONAL H~ lS ~E
MAAOONS.
SHE r;Eb :MR PEOPLE, THE MAROONS OF MOORE
TOWN ~--.rAM1UCA..,--;r-N-A-RE-e-Ertt:.1SN Ad.'UNST Tim
BRITISH DURING THE PIRST MAROON WAR FROM
1720~1739,_
SHE ~AS ..!SMOI'm IlY'"'SO'i'H ~~-IHE BRITISH..
AS ~ OUTSTANDING MILIT~Y LEADER WHO BEC;ME,
IN HER :t::!i'E:TTI'!Il! AND AFTER, A SYMElOI, Oli' UNIT':( AND
STRtN~~PEOPLE DURING TIMES OF CRtSIS.
S~TT~ERS
CASON
UNCUSBIFIED
1
/OOlW
�09/23/98
WED 10:14 FAX
Printed By: _¥va A. Weigold Hanson
~·'
ACTION AR.A.·Ol.
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TEDE-00. INR-00
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. /0251-l
---·----·---··--·6C4l83 192l.35Z /38
R lS2llSZ SEP 98
FM AMEMBASSY MEXICO
TO SECSTATE WASHoe 7021
INFO NSC I'Ul.SHDC
CIA WASHoe
oo.:r WMH.Oc
USI~ WASHOC 08~2
WHITE HOUSE WASHDC
1
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MEXICO 009195
PLEASE PASS ALL USCONS MEXICO
DEPARTMENT PL~ASE P~S TO AID/LAC
E.O. 12959: N/A
TAGS: PGOV, P~. KWMN, MX
SUBJECT: WOMSN IN MEXICAN POLITICS
MEXICO
1.
(0)
Dl OF 02
9195
SUMMARY: MEXICO'S THREE MAIN
I?OLI~ICAL
PARTIES ARE ATTEMPTING TO INCREASE THE NUMEIER. OF'
WOMEN RUNNING FO~ ~LECTED OFFICE THROUGH INFORMAL
AND FORMAL M~S. IN TUJ'm, FEMALE OFFICE·HOLD.!i:RS
ARE EX~ANDING THE NE'I'WORkS BETWEEN THEM IN ORDER TO
EXERCISE MORE POWER. WOM~N'S POLITICAL COALITIONS
HAVE.HAD MIXED ~SOLTS BUT HAVE eEEN SUCCEEDING IN
INTRODUCING PREVIOUSLY IGNORED ISSUES. END SUMMARY.
PROMOTING FEMALE POLITICIANS
2.
(U)
MEXICO'S THREE MAIN POLITICAL PARTIES ARE
ATTEMPTING TO INCR~ASS THE NUMBER OF ELECTED FEMALE
OFFICIALS.
TKE PAI<TIBS AAE USING TWO FORMAL
STRATEGIES TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF WOMEN ON Tf~
.PARTY BALLOTS:
QtrOTAS. AND "AFFIRMATIVE ACTION".
QUO'I'AS REQUIRE THAT A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE OF THE
CJ\NDIDATES ON 'I'I•!S PAATY CANIJIDATE LIS'I'S Al<E WOMEN.
"AF!i'IRMATIVE ACTION" MEANS THAT A !?ARTY WILt. SUPPORT
A FEMALE CANDIDATE AGAINST
~ EQU~LY QO~IFIED
MALE
CANDIDATE,
ALL Tl::tl<EE PARTIES PAACTICE INFORMAL
AFFI~ATIVE ACTION.
WOMEN IN ALL THREE PAP.TIES
'REPORTll:D TO POLOFP THAT Tl•fEY ACTlVELY ATTEMPT TO
MENTOR AND RECRUIT WOMEN IN THE PARTY IN Otu!SR TO
HELP THEM RISE MORE QUICKLY THROUGH THE RANKS.
3. (0) THE LEFT-OF• CENTER l?P.R.TY OF THE DEMOCRATIC
REVOLUTION (PRO) IS IN fAVOR OF FORMAL ME.l:lNS TO
PROMOTE ~EMALE CANDIDATES. ~m PRO H~S SET A 30
P.F:R.C.ENT OtrOTA f'OR li'EMALE CANDIDATES.
A WOI!!EN' S
LOEBY IN ~HE PRO IS ATTEMPTING TO INCREASE THe PRO
QUOTA TO So PERCENT OVER A TWO•YEAR PERIOD BUT
REPO~TS SIGNIFICANT OPPOSITION FROM MALE PROMEMBERS.
(U) THE RlGHT·OF CENT~R. NATIONAL ACTION PP.R.TY
(PAN) HOP~S TO PROVE T»AT IT DOES NOT NEED QUOTAS TO
4.
UNCLASSIFIED
l.
�09/23/98
WED 10:14 FAX
PrinteQ By: &va A. Weigola Hanson
INCR~S~ THE NUMBER OF WOM~ AMO~G ITS CANDIDATES.
T~E PAN OPPOSES WRITING FORMAL STRATEGIES FOR
PROMOTING FEMALE POLITICIANS INTO THEIR P~TY
STATUTES AND PREFERS MORE INFORMAL MEANS . ONE SUCli
STRATEGY, THE PRE~E~IAL OPTION FOR WOMEN PROGRAM,
STRIVES TO ~S~ THAT QUALIFIED FEMALE PAN
CANDIDATES ARE NOT OVE:RLOOKED. THE PAN POLITICAL
PROMqTIO~ OF WOMEN COMMITTEE ATTEMPTS TO ACT AS A
SUPPORT NETWORK FOR PROSPECTIV~ FEMALE PAN
CANDIDATES.
5.
(U) MEMBERS OP THE ROLING INSTITUTIONAL
REVOLUT;tONARY PARTY (PRl:) HAVE liAD MIXED ATTITODlllS
TOWARDS QUOTAS AND THERE IS NO REAL CONS~SUS ON THE
SUBJECT. PRI PAATY Rf.lLES CONTINUE TO MAmiATE Tll.AT A
CERTAIN NUMBER OF SPACES a! RESERVED Fen WOMEN ON
THE CANDIDATES LISTS. THE PRI COMMITTEE FOR THE
l:NTEGRATION OF. WOMEN ATTEMPTS TO ATTRACT FEMALE
MEMBERS TO TaE PARTY. (NOTE: THE iRI HAS
.TRADITIONALLY HAD STRONGER SUPPORT FROM WOMEN VOTERS
THAN OTHER PARTIES.
THEY MAY SEE THAT SUPPORT
DWINDLE I t THE OTHER P~riES ~ ATTRACT WOMEN
VOTERS
END NOTE.)
SUCCESS RATES
(U) TilE PRO AAS HAD THE GREATEST SUCCESS
PROMOTING FEMALE CANDIDATES, AT LEAST IN TERMS OF
NUMBERS, 2l PE.RC'Em' OF .E'RD' S LEADERSHIP IS COMPOSED
OF WOMEN. COMPARED TO 18 AND 12 PERCENT OF ~AN AND
PRI LEADERSHIP, RESPECTIVELY.
6.
7, {U) THE .PRO'S SUCCESS DERIVES tROM SEV~
FACTORS. IT WAS THE FIRST PARTY TO ALLOW NONMEMBERS TO RUN UNDER ITS SANNER.
(NOTE: FEMALE
CANDIDATES ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE POLITICALLY
INDEPENDENT TJiAN MEN. END NOTE. ) THE PARTY ALSO
HAS A HISTORY OF INVOLVING MEMBlllRS OF SOCIAL
MOVEMSNTS, IO.N'l OF WM:Of>l ARE WOMEN.
FURTHERMORE, THIS
l?R.O HAS A POST CALLED THE SECRET.1'.Il.Y OF WOMI£N AND ITS
FEMALE MEMBERS ARE TRYING TO ESTABLISH A ~TIO~
COORDtNATOR FOR WOMEN FOR THE PARTY. LASTL~, THE
PRO HAS ENtORCED QUOTAS MORE VIGO~OUSLY T~ THE
OT!i.ER PARTIES.
B
(0}
NONETHELESS, THE PRI AND THE PAN HAVE liA!;l
NOTABLE EXAMPLES OF WOMEN IN HIGH POSITIONS. PeR
EXAMPLE, THE PRI IS THE ONLY PARTY TO HAVE HAD A
FBMALE PAATY' P~ESID£NT. THl:S YEAR, THE PAN
MEXICO
02 OF 02
9195
NOMINATED TWO WOMEN FOR
ST~TE
GOVERNOR IN DURANGO
AND PUEl:!LA.
LEGISLATIVE EFFORT
(SBU) IN NOVEMBER 1996, A BILL WAS DEBATED IN
CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES THAT WOULD RAYS MANDATED
THAT ALL POLITl:CAL l?AaTIES LlMIT THE NUMBER OF
FEDERAL CANOIDATES OF ONE GENDER ro UNDER 70
PERCENT. THE BILL WAS INTRODOCIID BY THE PRP WITH
SUPPORT FROM THE PRI, THE PRI LATER WITHDREW ITS
SUPPORT AND THE RESOLUTION WAS PAsSED IN A WATE~ED
DO\m FORM. AS A R:ESOLT, THE FEDElUIL ELECTORAL CODE
(COPIFE) NOW RECOMMENDS BIJT DOES NOT MANDATE THE 70
9.
~HE
WCLASSIFIBD
2
�09/23/98
WED 10:14 FAX
Printed ay,
~a
A. Weigold Hanson
I?ERCBNT CAP.
FORGING WOMEN'S COALITIONS
10. IU) THERE ARE C'lJltRENTLY 87 WOMEN J:N THFl
. CHAMBER OF DE:Pt.JTIE.S· (17 PERCENT) .AND 19 WOMEN IN THE
SENATE [15 PERCENT) . WITH INCREASING NOMBERS,
FEMALE POLITICIANS HAVE FOSTERED WOMEN'S CO~ITIONS
IN ORDER TO INFLUENCE LEGISLATIO». ACCORDING TO OUR
FEMALE INTER~OCUTORS, THEIR MALE COUNTERPARTS RESIST
"FEMAI..E" INITIATIVES niAT CONPRO~T ISSUES SUCH AS
RAPE, QUOTAS, AND WOMEN IN THE WORKPLACE.
THEREFO~, ACCORDING TO CECIL!~ ROM~RO, PAN DEPUTY
Sli:CRE'rll.l<Y GENERJIL AND FORMER CONGRESSWOMAN, 'WOMEN
ME IN THE: "VANGU~" OF FORMING MULTIP.ll.R'l'ISA(Q"
POLITICAL COALITIONS, PARTICULARLY AMONG PAN nND PRP
SUPPORTERS. AS A RESULT, Tl.fi: MEXICAN CONGRESS HAS
BEEN INCREASINGLY ADDRESSING WOMEN'S ISSUES, SUCH AS
THE 1997 COFIPE RESOLUTION AND TaB 1997 FAMIL~
VIOLENCE ACT.
P~TY
ll.
LOYALTY OR GENDER LOYALTY?
(S2U)
WOMEN OFl'EN BR.EAK R.MKS WITH MAL!i:
IN THEI~ OWN PARTIES IN SUPPORT OF
WOMEN'S ISSQES, HOWEVSR.. PARTISAN LOYALTIES ARB
NEVER COMPLETELY CAST OFF. MANY FEMALE POLITICIANS
AR~ CRITICAL OF ~EMALE PRl MEMSE~S WHO VOTED ~GAINST
THJ;: QUOTA BILL IN LINE WITH THE PARTY STANCE. I~
THAT VOTE, SOME F2MALE POLITICI~S BELl2VED THAT
GENDER WAS MORE I~ORTANT THAN PARTY AFFILIATION
WHILB OTHERS PUT PARTY FigST. .
COUNTE~PARTS
12.
(Ul COMMENT: CONVENTIONAL WISDOM IN MEXICO
MAINTAINS ~T WOMEN ARE AN INSIGNIFI~ PRESENCE
IN NATIONAL POLITICS. ALT~OOGH WOMEN ~EPRESENT A
SMALL PERCENTAGE OF FEDERAL REPRESENTATIVES, THEY
HAV~ BEEN ABLE TO EXERT POWER B~YOND THEIR NUMBERS
BY FORMING COALIT!O~S. EMBASSY SOURCES SPOKE OF
FOSTERING A WOMEN'S COALITION TaAT IS CONTINUALLY
BECOMING STRONGE~, 20TH WITHIN AND BETWEEN THE
PARTIES. T~B PRESENCE OF WOMEN IN THE LEGISLATURE
HAS BROUGHT ISSUES SUCH AS RAPE, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE,
AND DASCaiMI~ATlON INTO THE SPOTLIGHT. HOWEVER,
WHETHER OR NOT GENDER LOYALTY SUPERSED~S PAR~Y
LOYALTY WILL ~ROBABLY BB DETERMINED ON AN ISSUE aY
ISSUE B~SIS. END COMMENT.
;{AMILTOl'1
UNCLASSIFIED
l
�09/17/98
141017
THU 16:49 FAX
Pr~nted
By: Eva A. Weigold Hanson,
ACTION AAA-01
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162228Z /3B
0 162227Z SEP ~a
~M AMEMBAS$Y LIMA
TO SECSTA~E WASHbc IMMEDIATE 4987
~IMA
UNCLAS
OOG2l4
DEPARTMENT FOR ARA/~PC EVA WEIGOLD·
E.O. 12356: N/~
TAGS' OVIP {CLINTON, HILLJI.:RY), KWMN,--·PE-:-~ -z.:;..";-:.:-c-~.----,-.,--- ---..
Sl(BJE~t;!_:_ SCrCCJ"SS · ST.OR.I~s. F,fR :THE FIRSTj:Ar>ES-TRIP-TO-!,JRUt:;UAY-·1\.NO --"
THE. "YI:V~'iJ.~:ES&I!!P~F.ER:EN'GE~
·
)...____,.---
REF:.
1.
ST~TE
_THE
169192
_FpLLOWI·~~~~~~~~IN, ·R..ES,PONSB-TO-j)M:g:-:p8pARTMll:N'1V~~i. REQUEST
FOR
J:NFORMAT.IONnRJ:;GAR;p~NG!l!rTJoii;:liiiR0~E"Glli' ~woMEN«<IN•·PEI<U
"'(REFTEL) . BY '
TRADIT;ION::Tl1E -CENTRAxrRO~E·OF-WOMEN- IN- PERU~ HAS· BEEN THAT OF MOT!iER
AND WIFE,
HOWEVER., Tmi:RE IS AN INCREASING NUMBER OF WOMI;:N ACTIVE
IN POLI~ICS, LAW, AND, TO A LESSER EXTENT, BUSINESS.
THROUGH NEW
LEGISLAAION, PE~U IS ALSO SOPPORriNG AN INCR~ASED ROLE FOR WOMEN IN
POLITICS.
__ ~~~-- ~2.
ALL OF THE t:!ANOIDATES_!ilMl'IASSY .RElCOMMENDED FOR PARTICIP.ii.TION; IN
THE vJ:TAL ·voicEs-coNFERENCE .wciEXCELLENT_EXAJ'.1PLe:s. O!;'-TI·n:::._succEss
WOMENliHAVE fl.l!ib -AND CAN HAVE<f:N- TRJwiTIONALLY-MALE. DOMINATED~
l?l'tOFESpiONS:":::·p,~''O~ THEM__ Il-f ~li.RUcULAR STANtl~T ~--WORTHY OF
SPECl:~L RBCOG~IT;j:Ot"-::·LUISA CUcr.n:i.~¥.\1-MAYQR-OF THE DISTRJ;CT .OF SAN 1
·BORJll:'lN LIMA.
MAYOR CUCULlZA IS FIFTY.,FIVE-YEARS-OLD, A MOTI'IER, _
A.NtlRSE-BY.PR.OFESSION. AND A StJCCESSFUL POLITICI-AN.
SRE BEGAN ~iEi)
POLITICAL CAREER.IN"l.9?5~-fN-:-TaE-:PRO:VIN'C:IJU.-TOWN:·o:F mr~co-;-;;n;iJi:Ri
'-+--. ---" · · ,._
..rr.•
- --:-·--- ·-,v-- ___ . _
··
,
SHE WAS ELECTED MAYOR AT A· TlMEAiHEN~VERY•I!IFEW' WOMEN HAD EVER. SERVED
IN STJCH. AOPAr;ITY.IN PERU~·-·· D~J,!f9-:J~:::_TEN~~~J!M_A¥.0[l,~~·:pr,',IS
BELIEVED, AS A RESULT .. OF -liER POSITION IN THE LOCAL GOVEi<.NMEN'r,-- CUCULIZA• s· HUSBAND WAS- BR.tl'l'ALLY'.'MURDER.EP-BY-SENOER.o:·t:UMI:Noiia)l
TERRORJ:STS WHO ALSO OESi-ROYED--:J:t'HElR:2PROPERTY,-:::::_--CT.,!_C_OJ;IZA"DI}.) NOT.
PERMI'l.' THIS TRAGEDY TO TORN HER AWAY, HOWEVER, FROM A LIFE 01"
PUBLIC SERVlCE: .. ·-:---./
~' r~
3.
ALTHOUGH CUCULIZA ~EFT THE TOWN OF HUANUCO FOR LIMA, SHE SOON
BEGAN WORKING IN A VARIETY OF SOCI~-SERVICE.S INSTITUTIONS __ BY
19!10 SHEWAS ONCE AQJ.\.Il\1 FULLY' INVOL'J"St) IN POLITICS AND WAS ELECTED
COUNCILWOMAN OF SAN BORJA, A MIDDLE .CLASS--DisTR,icT--OF -~HE CITY OFLIMA.
THREE YEARS l;A.TER, I.tifi9S3~- SHE W.IVnn;zcTED MAYoR OF sAN·:;.
BORJA, ONE oF·'fME tolORE UpSCALE SUBURBS Of'
·SHE--w~'i-RBELEC'I'i::o .,.
:nr 19.95 AND IS RUNNING FOR-HER THIRD TERM rii.rs;;.,YE:AR. ·SHE HAS
/
EARNED A REPUTATION AS A s~iLLED POLITICIAN.
TO
EFFicll:N"TLY. RUN HER<nisTRICT, --Birr- \<jHo ALso c:AR.e:s·r..sour THE PLIGHT
OF THE~LlfSS FORTUNATE.
DURING HER TENURE AS -Mi>.YOR SHE HAS INVOLVED
HERCONSTITU~CY IN PROJECTS DEALING WITH THE PROT~CTION OF
CHILDREN'S AND WOMEN'S -RIGHTS;-cTHE-PRBVENTION OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE,
THE~ PR:oivtoTioN of' R.l:ciwrs i?oii sENIOR ciTizENs; iWD--THE=c~EAT:tPN. oF
OCCUPA~:tONAL WORKSHOPS TO:·.PERMIT WOMEN TO' INCR~E THE Fl\MIJ,;Y ...
INCOME. WITHOUT HAVING TO'LEAVE THEIR HOME:
ST~EHAS--AciEPOTl\.TION AS
A PERSON OF .IN'I'EGR.I'fll' AND STRENGTH, AND HAS-'A~BRIGI;lT -POLITICAL~---- ---_,
FUTURE. WE BELIEVE SHE :EMBODIES THE QUALITIES TIIAT.. MAKE 'AN'iPERSON, BE THEY MALE OR FEMALE, A DEDICATED PUBI.IC SERVANT.
AT THE
S~ TIME, SHE IS AN EXCELLENT EXAMPLE OF A WOMAN WHO HAS OVERCOME
MANY OSSTACLES TO SHOW THAT SHE COULD DO A JOB AS WELL AS ANY MAN.
_X.IMA.
wilo'iNows·J.Iow
4.
IN OCTOBER OF 1997, THE PEROVIAN CONGRESS
PASS~
A NEW LAW
�09/17/98
THU 16:50 FAX
P~nted
By: Eva A. Weigold
141018
UNCL:l!.SSIFIED
Han~on
WHIC» ESTABLISHED THA~ THE LISTS OF CANDIDA~ES TO MUNICIPAL COONCIL
POSITIONS THROUGHOUT P~RU MUS~ INCLDDS AT L~ST 25 PERCENT WOMEN OR
MEN.
THIS:::~-.::-~~_! !CN0~~1\So; "TH!/~J;AW-OJi',c;:,QtrOT~EGtn<{J
TO Ofll.NGE -P2RU' s-POLITICJ\L_ SCENE.
~-
Ul?C
--EVIU?.Y
c:!ANDIDATE--FOR-MAYOR-I:ti~'T!iE
~ l:9~ sf _Mmn:cr!?AL . !;;LECTIONS HAS_::.Hrui..::To":::J?HESENT·~A-;
.. FOR _:C:O'ClNc:fr..:..~o~}'i'I9Jis,, tONsI ST!NG=oF.:::'JI.T:-LB17.s'L.2 5.
__
--:!~"J;!jQ,I:J.GH,'!i'tifEJ!~W·~~rJ!ilFA;~T,S~·~qr}{ _WO..M.!N:""AN~.:_ME_N;:.:_T_o_otnt
KNOWLEDGE, IT-MA.S''NOT-BE!l:N THE CJ\SB THAT)\. MAYORAL CJiNDlDATE:.MP.s- .,
PRESENl"ED A LIST OF CAN.OIDATES MADE UP ENTIRELY OF WOMEN.)
UNFORTUNATELY, IN TMS RACE TO COMPLY WITH THE LETTER OF THE LAW,
SOME ~IDATES USED THE NAMES OF THEIR SPOUSES, SISTERS ANP
MOTHERS TO FILL IN THE REQUIRED ~S PERCSNT QUOTJ\, WHEN THEIR LISTS
WERE REJECTBD, THE MEN TURNED IN DESP~TION TO FEMALE FRIENDS AND
COLL:EAI;;UES, ASKING TO USE THEIR NAMES. MANY OF TH:SSE WOMEN WF;RE
UNAWAR~ OF THE R~ASONS BEHXND THESE ~EQOESTS AND WERE SURPRISED TO
BE INFORMED OF THEIR CANDIDACY V!A OFFICIAL MAIL.
PERCENT-:::~
------------~ ---- ""'-- --'----------~ . -'
INCLODI,t.TG ONE :FUNJ;lED BY . .U'SAID, Q!J!CKtill" MOVED. ;tN_TO
EX!i'LAIN TII_E -_li'ROCEOURE TO T~~~ .~9,~~ -~""to. TRAI.N~THlllM IN .w.zd.oi.}~,!$!-r:.:,:,
COULD trSE :rRE.>·NEW LEGAL' REQ!JIREMENT"AS':liEVEAAGE-TO-DEMAND..;ATTENTION-- -'
BE GIVEN .TO ISSUES .. OF FUNDAMbTAL·-IMPORTANC:E TO WOMEN AND CHILDREN·
·ISSUES USUALLY RE~EGATED TO THE BACK B~BR BY THE MALE OOMINATED
COUNCILS. 'I'M:ll.lJICS TO THE NEW LEGISLAT;ION AND TO THE TRAINING
OFFERED ~y THE NGOS (SOME OF WHOSE MEMBERS WIL~ BE PARTICI~ATING I.tJ
THE VI~~ VOICES CONFERENCE) MANY MORE WOMEN NOW WILL HAVE ACCESS
TO li'OWER AND WI~L JOIN THE RANKS OF THE NSW POLITICIANS ELECTED ON
"'
S,
NClO GROUPS,
~~~:~ ~~T~~c:~~E~~~NAL!;'E~f~~s~=-~;~~~;N 'I'~E!!~!R pcii:{~~~
IM!i'ACT IN tki!;-ACCESS-THAT·WOMEN WILL -ilii.VE TO CONGRESSIONAL
'
POSITIONS IN THE YE~ 2000.
(HOWEVER, SINCE CANDIDATES ELECTED ARE
GEN.BRALLY TAKEN OFF EACH l?ARTY' S LIST lN RANK ORD:ER, IF hiE WOMEN
ARE CLUSTERBD NEAR THe BOTTOM THEY WIL~ NOT MAKE Ul? A QU~TER OF
THOSE WHO GAIN OFFICE:-r:· w.H.ll.TEVER Ol'JE'S PE!tSONAL:v~EWS ON-QUOTAS;
MAY 'BE,
I't IS CLEAFLTHAT-TME~N]iiij4::ifAW;;ts ,AL&EADY HA"IiiNG AN IMPACT ON
IN:
m. J?.ERru.s. .
H-ow woME"tf,-viiw·: im::MsE::DvE:s;;;AND-TI:IF.IR ·RoLE
~~Q!;>J.!IC...AL t-Jo:R,Lo ~
As. sucH;"'THE NEW 't.AWS' ALSI)_.$UPPORTED BY.
I?RESIDENT'OF~ PERlfwo
IS KEENLY AWARE-OF-THE-VOTING POWER Oli"MOl<.E-THAN HALF OF . THe
POPULATION, M~VE
DONE MOCK
TO PROMOTE. THE ROLB OF WOME~-
COUNTRY.
JETT
ONCLASSIFIED
2
IN-·THE
--..._. r
�09/17/98
THU 16:49 FAX
141015
UNCtJ>.SSIFIEP
l?rinted By: _Eva A. WeigolO. Hanson
:P..CTION ARA-01
INFO
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FM AMEMBASSY ASUNCION
TO SEC:STATE WASHDC
UNCLAS
AS~CION
ARA FOR PPC -
-
.-
IMMEDI~TE
A· DO
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C:IAE-00
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-----·6AD1JC 152l2GZ /39
1203
0019~1
E~
WEIGOLD
E.O. 1.2958: N/A
TAGS, OVIP (CLINTON, HILLARY), KWMN, PR~L, PA
SUBJECT: ANECOOTES ON WOMEN'S PROGRESS AND ACHIEVEMENTS
IN PARAGUAY FOR VITAL VOICES SPESCHES
1. IN RESPONSE TO DEPARTMENT'S REQUEST roR ANECDOTES AND
STATISTICS FROM WAGUAY;;;d~"WOf.iEN.tS~£(JRI!.SS.AND
ACHIEV:EME_NTS _AND THEIR-CON'l'!UBU';t'IONS-TO C!:'J·:li~>SO
EM~FORWAADS~THE:FoLt.'owiNG · SNIPI?t;:TSliiERii/t<ii'P
'--HISTORY: .
------·
.:____._--~-
·- ···---~ --~--- ..---~
·nu:·
PAI\AGUAY. ~s .THE iMT coONTRY IN
HEMISPJIERE To GRANT
WOME!Il'THE-RIGHT TO VOTli. SUFFRAGE WAS -NOT EXTENDED-TO-WOfllsN
UNTXL T.9fil, ---:ru.tfi THEN TliEY H~ TO WAIT JO YEARS {UNTIL 19~l)
mlirTHE -ciU.N'cE •.TO-VOTEIN ~A. TRULY- FRS:E. NATIOID\L-ELECTION
!otrR To-~nuL-sTRoEssNE:i o:tcritoRsHIP) .• . .
- -- - - - -
-- !N 1904, 22 WOME'l\1 HMO MADE tiP THE "COMMITTEE FOR PEACE"\.
TRIED TO PlJT AN END TO THE CIVIL WAR B;ETWEEN THE COLOAADO \\•\
nND LIBERAL PARTIES.
~HEY SET SAtL FROM THS PORT OF
ASUNCION IN A SMALL C'AAFT, THE "CARIOCA," AND SAII.ED
'
DOWNSTREAM UNTIL THEY MET UP WlTH GENERAL FERREIRA ON HIS
CRUISER, THE "SA.JONIA," IN VI:t.:t.ETA HARBOR. THEY SECIJRED A ,,
MEETING WITH THE REBEL GENERAL 11.ND SEGGElD HIM 'I'O PUT Nil END .,
'l'O Tl!E BLOODSHED THAT HAD DECIMATED THE COTJNTRY' S MALEl
POPULATION SINCE THE WA:R OF THE TRIPLE ALLIANCE {1964-l.B79). '
1
FER.'<.EIRA LISTENED TO Tf!E WOMEN .AND ACCEPTED THE LETTER TI-rEY i
Hru~PED HIM, Btrr CONTINUED TO PROSECtrrE THE WU. ~ERREIRA
LATER BECAME PRESIDENT OF PARAGUAY.
AGAINST THE WISHES OF
'
THE WOMEN OF ~ARAGOAY, THE COUNTRY'S MALE POPULATION KEPT
RESOLVING ITS POLITICAL DIFFERENCES THROUGH V~OLENCE IN~~IV
1908, 1912, 1922 AND 1947
l
IN 1918, TH!!l MAYOR_OE' ASUNCJ:ON ·DECREEJ) AN EN.O TO AJ"IJ
COOKING IN THE.;:;MUNICili?.AL--lliKET OF
nb;: MARKET WAS
TME CENTER FOR PRACTICALLY ALL. FOOD· tllS~ON IN THE
CAPITAL JWD:·l·IoNDREDS -OF -FAMILIES~DEPENDEID, FINANCIALLY ON
ASONCION. --
COOKING AT THE MARK~ FOR THEIR LIVELIHOOD. !N RESPONSE TO
THE PROHIBITION, THE SALESWOMEN, LED BY SULALIA ROSA SOTO,
WENT ON STRIKE AND CLOS!m DOWN THE MARKET.
THI;: FAMOUS
STRIKE Lll-STED -J;"oR""TB.REE"'DAY·S ~ '):'HE PRESS JOINED THE
REBELI,.IOUS 'll'l.l.l.Rl(ET ·WOMEN, AND WHIDrtiANTIN•·s-;:aiGAN7'l'O,-RIJN-DRY~
IN
ASuNCioN, THE
~-----
MAYOR . wl'I:S lpoRt:.Ell""To.,Rl:sci:ND·~R:i:.s.
-~---
---·-
-·
oE:cliEE. .
·
IN l5l3 6' . SHORTLY li.FTER 'l."HE CE.II.SEFIIUJ WAS SIGNED IN THE
PARA~OAY AND SOLIVIA (1932-1935), THE
MEMBERS OF THI!l "!J;NION. OF WOMEN- OJE..!?~11JUA1!,.!'. ONDER-THE --7
LEAOERSHI:I" OF MARIA'Cll.SATI, WROTE_A LETTER OF SOLIDARITY
WITH THI!: WOMEN .OR SOLIVI.~ SEEKING '!_0 .. CONSOLIDATE.'THE-PB.II.CE-7
CHACO WAR SETWEEN
TJNCLASSIFIED
1
�09/17/98, THlT 16:49 FAX
141016
f)NCLASSIFIED
Printed By> Eva A. Weigold
Han~on
BETWEEN THElRTWO-C::OUNTlUES""· · IN 'l'liJ> Lli:TTER THE:\' CALLED ON
THE: WOMEN OF.=aoLIVIA-·To JOIN THEM lN REMAINING VIGILANT TO .
ENSURE .THAT THE: p·Eiaf-iooK-riOLD. ONE-OF cTHEc:LINES-::FROM~~ THEI~ LETTER OFTEN QUOTIID<IN~P.MAGUAY-:ts:_"THA'LN.O_MORE ••SHOULO WAR FILL ocra HOMES, OUR FARMS AND OUR CITIES WITH
HORROR; THAT OVER THE IMMENS!i: SACRlFICi OF BOTH OF OUR
I?EOI?;t.ES 1 OVER UIE TOMB OF THOUSANDS 0~ Ot!Pt DEAD :t.OVED ONES ,
NEVER MORE AGAIN SHOULD !?ASS THE CHARIOT OF THE
OF WAA."
MCFAAX..li.ND
B~ITIES
�14!011
16:48 FAX
·~
Weigold Hanson
INFO
LOG-00
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-- ··----- ·~-----6ACe56
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DRL.-04
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1Si004Z /l8
R lSl.G4DZ SEP 98
FM AMEMBASSY PARAMARI20
TO .SECSTATE WASHDC 0533
AMEMBASS~ MONTEVIDEO
I~FO AMSMBASSY ~IDGETOWN
AMEMBA$SY CAR.ACA.S
AMEMBASSY GEORGETOWN
AMEMBASSY PORT OF SPAlN
AMEMBASSY BRASILIA
AMEMBASSY KINGSTON
AMEMBASSY BELIZE
UNCLAS PARAMARIBO OOOSGl
ARA/CAR FOR MICHE~E MANATT AND ARA/PPCP FOR
S/PICW DANI LETT
AMEMBASSY M~TEVIDEO FOR BOB GOLDBERG
E.O. :1.2958; DECL, N/A
TAGS: OVIP {CLINTD~·,-HILLAAYh-XWM:N,-NS,
SUBJECT! SURINAME: SUCCESS-sTORIES-FOR-FIRST-I.JS.DY ,-S-TRIP-~i:i:_VITAL _'@1S;ES
CONr'ERENCE
j·"
i
REF' SECSTATE 168192
1.
-Wl~IN::.THE:-SURINAMESEc:CON';J:'EXT-:WEJ~
POINT TO GOOD
E~PLES
OF
WOM~:s
-ACii>IEVEMENTS<IN-POLITICS;-- BUSINESS AND
·~ 'NGOS. ·-wE-WO!.tLD::-I.iii<E-.To:-PROVJ:tJE·_-THE~::/
FOLLOWING-~PLEs-oF-PROGRESS-MADE'IN
AitE:A,
·
riffs
2. WOM~N IN POLITICS:
THE NUMBER OP WOMEN ACTIVE IN POLITICS
IS INCREASING.
FOR THE FIRST T!ME A
WOMAN, MAAIJKE OJAWA:LAI?ERSAD, WAS
ELECTED AS CHAIRPERSON OF'THB NATIONAL
ASSli:MBI.i'i. THERE IS ONE WOMAN MINJ;STER,
YVONNE RAVALES, IN CHARGE OF 'rHE
MINISTRY OF REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND ONE
DBPIJ'l'Y-MINISTER., MAYA. MANCHA&.
'J:HE
NUMBER OF WOMEN IN PARLIAMENT ALMOST
FROM FOOP. PORING Tin; I..AST
ADMINlSTRATION TO AN ALL TlME HlGH Of
SEVEN OF THE Sl. PAALIAMENTARiliNS.
DOUBLli!O
3 _twoMEN--tN-BtrSINESS · AND-NGos;-j
I
c
TJ>fERE-.ARE MORE ll.lm MOIU: WOMEN-INVOLVED
IN BUSINESS 'AN'D NGOS lN--SURINAME.
A
GOOD EXAMPLE IS M.AALENE Cll.BENDA Wl>!O IS
CO-PIRECtOR OF SURINAME'S
~EADING
INSURANCE COMPANY,-ASSURIA. MARLENE ALSO
HAS BEcoooE~THE FIRst-woM~~cHAIRPER.soN
-~ED:-CROSS~ - ELL~
-·-'
NAARENDORE' HAS-A-fl.ii:CORD-OF-Stl'CCESS-IN__j
BOTH POLITICS AND NGOS. SHE WAS
MINISTER OF HEALTK IN THE SO'S ~IS
CURRENTLY THE DIRECTOR OF TfiE NATIONAL
INSTITU~E FOR ENVl~ONMENTAL DEVELOPMENTS
'"'--OF=-THE::SURl:NAMESE
IN SIJRINJ\ME, AND AJ:>VISOR TO THE
UNCLASSIFIED
1
EVA WEIGOLD
�Tffil 16:48 FAX
,.
JJNCL.\\SS I FIED
.'
By: Eva A. We1gold Hanson
ISSUES.
UNCLASSIFIED
2
~012
�~VVI
09/23/98
WED 10:17 FAX
Printed By: Eva A. Weigold Hanson
1\CTION AAA•Ol
INFO
LOG-00
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0 221203Z SEP 96
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------·---6D303E
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UNCLAS poaT or SPA!N 001666
~/PPC
-
E~
WEIGOLD
E:.0.12ll58: N/A
TAGS OVIP (CLINTON, HILLAR~l, KWMN, TD
SUBJECT: SUCCESS STORIES FROM WOMEN IN
liND TOBAGO
TRINID~
REr: STAT~ 1S8192
l.
PER REFTEL. FOLLOWING ARE QUOTATIONS FROM
TRINIDADIAN WOMEN THAT cOULD BE USED IN THE FIRST
LADY'S SPEECHES:
2.
BEGIN QUOTE. WE CANNOT S!T AND WJUT FOR
PEOPLE TO 00 IT FOR US. THE MEN FOUGHT FOR WHAT
THEY HAVE - I DON'T BLAME THEM - NOW WOMEN MUST DO
THE SAME TO TAAE TtmiR :RIGHTFUL PLl\CE. WOMEN MUST
TAKE RESPONSISILITY FO~ THEMSELVES TO FURTHER
THEIR INTERESTS, THEIR ISSUES. END QOOTE. FROM
KAM~ PERSAD-BISSESSAR, FIRST WoMAN TO BE
APPOINTE~ ATTORN~ GENERAL IN TRINIDAD AND TOSAGO
AND NOW THE FIRST FEMALE M!NIST~ OF LEGAL
AFFAIRS.
BEGIN QUOTE. NO LONGlm IS THE WOMAN' S PLACE
CONFINED TO TRE HOME AND THE HOME ALONE. WITH
E~CY DAY, WE ARE WITNESSING MORE AND MORE WOMEN
TARitlG ACTIVE ROLES AT ALL LEVELS IN OUR
SOCIETIES, AND TH~ WILL CONriNUE TO DO SO, IN ALL
SPRERES OF OUR LIVES, IN THE WORLD OF EOUCATION,
IN TM£ WORLD OF BUSINESS AND IN·TNE WORLD OF
P,OLITICS. INDEED, IT WAS COMMONPLACE TO HEAR IT
SAID THAT 2EHIND EVERY SUCCESSFUL MAN IS A GOOD
WOMAN. WE~L, NOWAOAYS IT IS NOT SURPRISING TO
H~~. MOR~ AND MORE, THAT BEHIND EVERY SUCCESSFUL
WO~ IS A GOOD MAN, AS WOME~ ASsUME THEil<.
RIG~TFUL PLACE S!DE BY SIDE WITH OUR MENFOLK.
~
QUOTE. ~ROM KAMLA PERSAO-SISSESSAR.
3.
4.
BE:G;tN Qt'10TE.
I BELIEVE THAT IN THB FIRS'r
DECADE OF THE THIRD MILLENNT.OM, WE WILL LOOK B~CK
AT THE LAT'r:ll:R HALF OF THE 20TH CENTUP.Y AND REMARK
ON HOW STRANGE WE~E THE DAYS WHEN WOMEN WERE STILL
EXCLODE:D FROM THE TOP LEVELS OF BUSIN£SS AND
POLITICAL LEADERSHIP, MUCH AS WE TOOAY RECALL WHEN
WOMEN COULD NOT VOTE. END QUO~E. FROM OMA
PANDA¥, WIFE OF THE PRIME MINISTER OF TRINIOAO AND
TOBAGO.
.
UNCI..I'LSSIFIED
l
AOS•OO
DRL•04
INR-00
DODE•OO
22l232Z /38
FM AMEMBJ.I.SSY PORT OF SPA!N
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMBD!ATE 3376
INFO AMEMBASSY BRIDGETOWN
AMSMQASSY GEORGETOWN
AMEMBASSY K!NGSTON
AMEMBASSY BELIZE
AMEMBASSY NASSAU
AMEMBASSY PlioRAMARIBO
AMEMBASSY MONTEVIDEO
DEPARTMENT FOR
ro-oo
PRM-01
�09/23/98
141 038
WED 10:17 FAX
·lJI:'lCLASSIFIEO
5.
ADOITIONAL INFORMATION WILL SE SENT SEPTEL.
SHUMru<:ER
'tJNCLA.SSIFIED
:il
�-39In addition to' being a writer she is
an edncator of no mean order. She received
her first teacher's Diploma at the age of
seventeen, after which she continued her
stndies in the Normal Institute for three
years, when she was given a position as
teacher, then principal of a grade school,
and later of a Teachers' Training School, a
position which she held for fourteen conseo~
ative years. She was also Professor of
Reading and Declamation in the Girls' Normal
Institute and of Spanish in the Women's
University, and in 1923 she was elected a
member of the National Board of Education,
where her work has been greatly appreciated.
.,.
.,
I
;
,\_
.. ,
A Spanish critic s~ys that no Spanish
speaking country has in this century produced
a group of poets to equal these three - Jnana
de Ibarbouroa who represents innocence,
Delmira Augustini, worldliness and Luisa
Luisi, ·intelligence and ·Sensibility. But
in addition to these three there are many
lesser lights in the femenine literary
world of Urugnay. Prominent among these are:
,.
Maria Eagenia Vaz Ferreira, perhaps the
most tragic poet of Latin America. She
writes of the desolation of love, of life
withont an object, and her poetry shows no
hope of an after life. Her "Isla de los
Oanticoa" is a desert Island where only loneliness exists. She died without publishing
any of her poems, but these were afterwards
published by her brother. Among her most
noted poems are: ~ Isla de loa Canticos",
"Heroica", wta Oda a la Belleza" and "Savia
Amon!a".
I .
~.
. .
'I
Mar!a Elena Munoz belongs to an old
Uruguayan family among whioh we find many
noted in literatare, art and politics. Her
first poems, "Horae Miaa" were pablished i~
�14]015
09/23/98
WED 10:11 FAX
Prin~ed By:~Eva A. Weigold Hanson
-
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FM AMEMBASSY CARACAS
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Pr:i.nt,e<:l ·By.: EVa A. Weigol<;'l Hanson
"FACTO.!!.¥". DE CARDONA IS A PRIME EXAMPt.E OF THE MOL'I'IPLIE~ EFFECT
.OF A LOAN BECAUSE SHE NOW EMPLOYS 12 WOMEN ~T MiR SEWING MACHIN8S
AS WELL .AS 40 WOMEN WHO SEW FOR HER IN THBI~ HOMES.
MAISTO
lJNCLASSIFIEO
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Gabriela Mistral, the Restless Soul
abriela Mistral's name evokes a constellation of contradictory images: a rural schoolteacher and recipient of the
Nobel Prize in Literature, a poet who sang to children
but never had any of her own, a provincialist and a universal·
traveler. ,All these references to her mythic image contain some
truth and form part of the legacy of Gabriela Mistral, the first
Latin American Nobel laureate, and the only Latin American
woman to date to receive this prize. Little of her prodigious body
of work has been translatedinto other languages. Most lies hidden, almost unexplored by the readers who are familiar. only
with her first book, Desolaci6n (1922), which \Yas published originally in· the United States~ and with poems disseminated in magazines and anthologies.
,
One cannot talk 'about·Gabriela Mistral without discussing
the landscape of her childhood. She was raised in Montegrande,
a small village in northern Chile's Elqui Valley, surrounded by
the pre-Andean winds of the cordillera, by the implacable .$un,
and by figs. The countryside of Montegrande, of the Elqui Valley,
was Biblical and magical. "I left behind a labyrinth. of hills, and .
· something of this knot which cannot be unravelled remains in
what I create, whether verse or prose:' she later confessed. This
"Jabyrihth of hills". was the space where she was initiated into
poetry and where her language was tapestried with exalted
Biblical references learned from her grandmother's lips. It was also
where she completely dedicated herself to the vocation and. avocation that would-form the basis of her life: teacher and traveler.
.
Mistral's biography might seem to be a kind of deep fiction,
lending itself to the mystification and invention of its ·very
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�essence. Born Lucila Godoy de Alcayaga into the heart of a humble fam.ily, she began her teaching career in 1905 at the age of fif. teen, Without benefit of a teaching certificate, in the village of La
Campania, located not far from her childhood home. After
obtaining her teaching certificate, she taught in secondary
scho~ls in ~arious places in Chile. In 1914, under the pseudonyn
Gabnela M1stral, a name derived from the Archangel Gabriel and
from the cold, dry wind that blows across the south of France,
·she entered a trio of sonnets, "Los Sonetos de Ia Muerte," in a
national poetry contest. Her "Sonnets of Death" won the Chilean
n.ational prize for. poetry. By 1917 her published poems and stones had made her an established national literary figure, and she
was noticed by the Chilean Ministry of Education, which waive.d
degree requirements and appointed her principal in public
schools, first in Punta Arenas, the planet's southern-most citv
a~~ later in Temuco. While serving in Temuco she was frequentl}:
VISited by the sixteen-year-old poet who would later be
renowned as Pablo Neruda and sparked his interest in reading
the Russian masters.
·
In 1922, having achieved a measure of fame in France, Spain,
and Latin America, she traveled to Mexico at the request of the
Mexican Minister of Education, Jose Vasconcelos, to assist in
organizing the'country's educational reforms. The Mexican people received her enthusiastically. While in Mexico she compiled
an interesting prose collection, Lecturas para mujeres, written ·
specifically to help educate female readers, and her-·first book of
poetry, Desolaci6n (Desolation), was published in New York City,
transcending the Latin American frontier. ·
In 1924 Mistral left Mexico and traveled extensively in the.
United States, France, Spain,, Italy, and back to the land of her
birth. Everywhere she went, the brown-skirted teacher with
~re~n ?es and an Indian face made an impact, charming an-d
mtngumg whomever she encountered. Her presence, according
to so many, was both aesthetic and primitive. She was a woman
of her country and of the world, a solitary and yet public
18
woman. Her love of country and the Americas was immortalized
in Poema de Chile, published posthumously in 1967.
She published three additional books d~ring her lifeti.me:
Temura (Tenderness), Madrid, 1924; Tala (Fellmg), Buenos A1res,
1938; and Lagar (Wine Press), Santiago, Chile, 1954, and taught
briefly as a visiting professor at Barnard, Mills, Middlebury,
Vassar, and the University of Puerto Rico. For twenty years,
beginning In 1933, she was Chilean consul, serv!~g in Madrid,
Lisbon, Naples, Los Angeles, and various other ClUes. She chose
to spend the last few years of her life in th~ U~ited States. She
di~d in New York in 1957 and was buned 1n her beloved
~lontegrande. The inscription on her tomb reads,
"What the soul does for the body so does the poet for her people."
This epitaph voices Mistral's essence and her intrinsic connc~tion with all marginalized people. In an interview given after
receiving the Nobel, Prize she' affirmed that perhaps she was
given this prize " ... because Iwas the candidate of the women
and children." Mistral's reality and personal mythology are clearlv stated in this sentence. She was perpetually aware of speaking
t:or the voiceless and the silenced. The source of this voice was a
nonauthoritariail power arising from Mistral's identification
with Christ's dolorous suffering and her recognition of its purifying nature. Yet at the same time, she spoke from a. politic~!
platform disguised as the brown-skirted teacher wearmg mens
·hoes th,e humble woman who somehow crossed the cordillera
~
,
b l .
and arrived in distant Stockholm to be awarded the No e Pnze.
She managed this dual persona by instilling soul a~d reso~an.ce
into a language as regional as it was universal. Cer~amly, th1s ~IS
guise a~d her perpetual humble gestures perm1tted Gabnela
~1istral to invent a persona uniquely her own.
_
tv1 istral's poetic text consisted mostly of Chilean geography,
the Elqui Valley, and the arid and fertile North. It was a text that
claimed cosmic and universal territory. The poet, therefore,
chose to make her voice psalmic and prophetic: "I dreamt about
·a fig tree of the· Elqui that yielded an abundance of milk in my
19
··•
�house. The countryside was dry, the stones, thirsty ... "
The Elqui Valley, Chilean women and children, created
Gabriela Mistral's voice; it sprang from her very depths, and was
destined for the exterior world. Her provincialism became universalized, but she established herself and clearly defined her
position as an "outsider" in the .capital's intellectual circles.
These groups often welcomed and helped her, although they
regarded her appearance with a certain suspicion. In harmony.
with the image of a rustic woman, Gabriela Mistral created a singular language in Latin American speech, which, according to
the noted Chilean poet Enrique Litin, was "without precedent,
without a previous school, and without heirs.:' Gabriela Mistral's
language, in poetry, in prose, or in newspaper articles, has no
equal. It possesses the intensity of the mystic Judeo-Christian
poetic tradition and invokes earthly things-nature, the Indian
world, female culture-in all their harmony and dissidence and
yet it exhibits a keen sense of modernity.
Gabriela Mistral remained a phenomenon who fascinated
her biographers as much as her readers. She was given the stigma
of the ugly, old, and masculine schoolteacher. She was also.
labelled a foreigner, which enabled her to obtain official power
and recognition. Certainly, Mistral created her own public image
in those places where she was regarded suspiciously. More than
her biography, we should understand the personality that helped
her to forge a poetic identity, what we call "the woman on the
outside:· the stranger capable of assuming the identity created in
the poem.
Mistral knew how to· manipulate her own image, concealing
rebellion under the mask of the rural schoolteacher to create
through her poetry a strong identity as a teacher, the traditional
image of one who shares knowledge with others. But behind that
image was the daring poet: the innovator was the teacher who
refused to be authoritarian and the one who chose her own identity and voice, bonding herself with children, with women, with·
the humble, and with social action. She relinquished the tradi-
20
·tiona! to invent a language distant from the flowery language of
the epoch.
In her writing and in her being, Mistral rebelled against her
role of submissive teacher. When she held important public
posts, Mistral was always the stranger who appeared overwhelmed, but whom, upon speaking, removed her· mask and
produced an open, ample, and unrestricted text which she characterized as "Saudade;· using the Portugese word meaning "nostalgia." Gabriela Mistral stated, "I have written as I speak-in
solitude;' hut at the same time that she assumed the role of a
solitary rural woman in her poetry and writing process, she
declared, "I write on my knees in a little tablet with which I
always travel, and the desk-table has never been of any use to
me-not in Chile, Paris or Lisbon:'
Gabriela Mistral wa~ a kind of visionary sibyl, a wise woman
whose wisdom implies an inner search, a sojourn on Earth, and
also the possibility of self-empowerment through words. She
achieved this by leaving the Elqui Valley and traveling through
the immense Indian American countryside. But she did not only
amplify the landscape of her birth; rather, she began to expand
the landscape of Judeo-Christian traditio~ where words interlaced: images of corn, like those of the Bible, joined with the God
of the Judeo-Christian tradition and with the beliefs. of the
Jewish mystics and Christians.
Gabriela Mistral was very Chilean and provincial, and yet
she was universal. She represents one of the most original voices
in Latin American poetry. Her work will always walk the edge
between the ordinary place where she created her own myth as
· rural sch'oolteacher and· the place where she allowed herself the
luxury of being the delirious woman of free fantasy, especially in
the group of poems titled "Mujeres locas" (Mad Women) from
the hook Lagar. Delirium became a posture, a mask demonstrating the limitations of thought. Mistral gives us texts where
women posess an equalled, magical wisdom, an ancient knowledge, and it is a knowledge that is initiated in a unique, pleasant
21
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.,
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language, unattached to earthly things. At times in her poems,
she interchanges the words of the crazy woman and the normal
woman and in this way frees herself from all possible stereotypes;
she becomes a prophetess who sings and travels. Her subject matter is spoken in the voice of a free woman with her own identity.
Gabriela Mistral wrote poems, prose, vignettes, stories to be
read aloud, cradle songs, political texts, and literary criticism.
Nevertheless, the most daring critics have never tried to discover
what was behind the myth of the teacher who commented that
her words were "unschooled" and "unrestrained." To date;her
complete works are not edited. Her prose is hardly known outside of Chile, and few books are dedicated to her work. Her onehundreth birthday was commemorated in 1989 by only a small
celebration in Santiago, Chile. The male-dominated press has
tended to regard her work as that of an eccentric feminist.
Despite the fact that Gabriela M istrallived many years in the
United States, the fact that Desolaci6n was published in the
states, a!ld many of her unedited documents, letters, and personal papers belong to fhe Barnard College library, her work is practically unknown here. To date, there exists a collection of her
poetry translated by Langston Hughes and a selection translated
by Doris Dana. There is so much left to discover. The life of
Gabriela Mistral, the footprints of her restless soul, her comings
and goings, her absence from Chile for more than thirty years,
have made her a mysterious and hermetic figure, known and
unknown at the same time. There still remains much to decipher, to extract the myth of a myth, the mystery of the mother
without children. One must begin to read Mistral, look for her,
to get closer to ·her austere language, her American and cosmic
nature, her landscape of words which exalts the elements of
Earth with a modality and articulation unequalled in American
language.
.
This anthology, translated by Maria Giachetti, represents, in
my view, an important contribution to recognition of Mistral's
genius. It is the first attempt to translate the broad spectrum of
r-.tistral's work. The selection comes together in varied form,
gathered from Mistral's collected poems, cradle songs, and selec~·ions from other special works. A selection from the "Mujeres
locas" section of Lagar is also included, as well as an important
selection of her prose, which is difficult to find, even in Chile,
since limited .editions went out of print and have never been
reprinted.
The purpose of this anthology is to make known her vast
work by choosing those texts that exemplify the variety and originality of her intense literary production. A selection of her most
representative prose is included; emphasis is given to her political
writings a·nd visions of important Latin American personalities.
such as her contemporary, Pablo Neruda, and some of her
· favorite writers.
·
The selection demonstrates Gabriela Mistral's extensive legacy from her beginnings in Northern Chile to her journeys across
the American continent. Mistral, herself, is a vast landscape. But
her fatherland is more than Chilean territory; rather, it implies a
. feeling, a way of communicating and inhabiting a world that is
Indian, mestizo and genuinely American. She also imbues the
concept of the fatherland with a feminine and the anti-hierarchial vision. The countryside is the center of Gabriela's identity;
'
therefore, the Elqui Valley is her face and tongue.
Through Maria Giachetti's beautiful and skillfully realized
translations; the reader will perceive the glimmering words of an
:\ndean and Indian American woman, a defender of the poor,
the perpetual stranger, the restless soul who begins with
Dcsolclciorz to speak and sing about the pain of an aban~oned
woman whose identity was forged by postponement, perpetual
. solitude and rejection.
More than gathering together Mistral's. poetic texts and
prose, this collection ultimately allows one to know her lyric uni\ crse, her zones of pain and shadow, her spaces of love and delirium, with all the transparency and joy that exists in poetry which
mirrors life. She said, "Writing tends to cheer me. It always
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�CHILEAN EARTH
ROUND OF COLORS
We dance on Chilean earth
more beautiful than Lia and Raquel:
the earth that kneads men,
their lips and hearts without bitterness.
Wild blue and wild green,
from the branching, flowering tlax,
seasick with the waves,
the comely blue one dances.
The land most green with orchards,
the land most blond with grain,
the land most red with grapevines,
how sweetly it brushes our feet!
When blue sheds its leaves,
the green dancer follows:
clover green, olive green
and festive lemon green.
Its dust molded our cheeks,
its rivers, our laughter,
and it kisses our feet with a melody
that makes any mother sigh.
What beauty!
What color!
For the sake of its beauty,
we want to light up fields with song.
It is free,
and for freedom we want
to bathe its face in music.
Tomorrow we will open its rocks;
we will create vineyards and orchards; .
tomorrow we will exalt its people.
Today we need only to dance!
Gentle red and blood red
of rose and carnationwhen green grows weary,
it leaps into play like a champion.
They dance,
pitted against each other,
and who-knows which is better.
The reds dance with so much fire.
They consume themselves with passion.
What caprice!
What color!
Yellow arrives .
huge and full of fevers;
everyone makes way for it
as though beari~g witness to Agamemnon.
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�CHILE
\
·It is a territory so small that on' the map it ends up seeming like a beach between cordillera and sea, a parenthesis of space·.
whimsically situated between two centaur-like powers. To the
south, ·the tragic caprice of southern archipelagos, shattered and·
in shards, creates great gashes in the velvet sea.
·
The zones are natural, clear, and definite, just like the
character of the people. Northward, in the direction of the
desert, the_ home of saltpeter, inflamed a second tim'e by the sun,
man's pain and strength are tested. Immediateiy, the zone
changes to a place of mining and agriculture; it has instilled in us·
the most vigorous characteristics of our race: .an austere, pastoral
.
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society, similar to the passionate asceticism of the Earth. Next,
there is the agricultural zone, the affable countryside: festive·
fields of fruit trees, dense fields filled with regional workers
where the peaceful shadow o(the farmer passes by and breaks
apart in transit through the valleys. Atthe same time, masses of
agile workers labor like ants in the cities. In the extreme cold
tropics, there exist forests which exhale breath like Brazilian
air--but this tropical zone is black, deprived of the luxury of
color. And there are. islands with rich fishing waters, wrapped in
violet mist, and finally the Patagonian tablelands, our unique
land of wide skies, desolate, horizontal perfection, and snowblanketed pastures for innumerable herds of cattle. It is a small
territory, but not a small nation. The land is reduced, inferior to
the spirit of its people. But that does nqt matter: we have the sea
... the sea ... the sea!
We are a new people _and have not experienced Golden
173
�Luck as a fairy godmother. Ours is the hard, Spartan mother of
necessity. During the Indian period, the kingdom's influence
was not extensive: wild tribes wandered through the sierras,
seemingly blind to their destinies, which would provide the
cement for the stupendous vigor of our race. Immediately, the
Conquest began, cruel as everywhere else; the harquebus fired,
until falling, empty, over the Araucanian's crocodilian back.
Later, the Colony did not develop, as in the rest of America,
clemency and refinement, a result of the silence of the defeated
Indian; rather it was illuminated by the kind of awesome blinking lightning that the Mexican night possesses. Because of their
struggle against the Indians, the conquistadors could not put
down their arms and paint a pavan over their salons ... Finally,
the Republic came into being; slow and serene institutions were
created ... Some lackluster presidents only forewarned the
-necessity of heroic and passionate presidencies. Occasionally,
some excelled, the zealous innovators: O'Higgins, Portales,
Bilbao and Balmaceda.
Chile has experienced the minimum number of revolu. tions possible in our turbulent America: two wars in which the
people exhibited the qualities of David, the shepherd who
became a warrior and saved his people.
Now, within the deep pocket of mountains that was
believed to be isolated from universal life, the world's rocky time,
nevertheless, reverberates. The nation guards ardent palpitations
within its neck, and it is like a resting lion. Its journey through
republican life will probably always have leonine characteristics:
a certain well-known severity of force, which when it hccmw ·
known, will not be exaggerated.
The race exists in a state of potent differentiation. w'
originality is a form of nobility. The Indian will come I<' h
regarded as somewhat more exotic because of his scar( it··
Mestizos blanket the territory and do not exhibit the wcakn:"~'
some note in races which are not pure.
We do not hate or even feel jealous of Europeans: t::'
white race will always be the civilizer, the one that has made
order out of energy and forged collective organisms. The
German has constructed and continues to construct the southern cities, working elbow-to-elbow with the Chilean, with whom
he continues to comm~nicate his sure sense of organization.
The Yugoslav and the Englishman are involved in similar efforts
in Magallanes and Antofagasta. Praised be the national spirit
that allows cooperation in our sacred task of forming the eternal
vertebrae of a nation, without hate, but with a noble understanding of what Europe sends to us.
We are not a refined race: the old and the rich are. We
embody something of a primitive Switzerland; our austerity
presses down forcefully' upon the people from the hard mountains, but our ears ring, and the Greek invitation to the sea
begins to kindle our spirits.
Poverty should sober us, without ever suggesting to us
that we surrender to powerful countries that corrupt with insinuations of generosity. Sea-voyages opened Caupolidn's heart;
this same need to travel is tattooed on our souls.
Mexico, August 1923
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�MY MOTHER
Why was she taken so far away
so that I cannot reach her?
And if she always helped me,
why doesn't she respond, descend?
My mother was very small
like mint or grass;
she hardly cast a shadow
over things, hardly,
and the Earth loved her
when it felt her lightness
and because she smiled upon it
in happiness and in pain.
Who carries away her body now?
I will go out to find her.
·
She walks so far away
that her sharp voice doesn't reach me.
I rush through my days
like someone who hears a call.
Children loved her,
and the old ones, and the grass,
and the light that loves graceit searched for her and wooed her.
Because of her, perhaps this love
doesn't rise up: that which without
a whisper walks and silently speaks:·
the grassy horizon
and the spirit of water.
To whom 'am I telling this
from a foreign land?
In the mornings I speak this way of her
so that they will resemble her,
and along my interminable route,
I march on speaking to the Earth.
And when a far off voice
comes singing and arrives;
I follow it like a lost soul
and wander without finding it.
128
This night that is full ofy~u,
given over only to you,
take it, although you are timeless,
feel it, hear it, reach it.
Nothing remains of this day's end
but hope and anxiety.
u
Something comes from far away,
·
something is present,
something comes forward;
without a body or a whisper it comes,
hut the arrival never ends.
Although it truly comes,
why does it walk on and not reach me?
It is you who walks lightly;
with steps of caution.
·
Arrive, arrive, arrive at last,
most faithful and most beloved.
What do you need where you dwell?
129
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Is it your river, your mo1,1ntain? · ·
.
Or am 1 the one, who without understandmg
creates the delay?
The Earth and sea don't hold me
like your song;
the dawn and dying sunsets
do not conquer me.
The earth does not hold me;
nor the sea rhat sings like you;
1 am not enthralled by the dawn
or dying sunsets.
. I am alone with the night,
the Great Bear, the Balance,
believing that through this peace
your word can travel,
. my breath breaking it,
my cry, driving it away.
Come, mother, come, arrive,
without knocking.
Accept the vision and sound
of this forgotten night
_
in which we remain orphans withoutadestination, without a watchful eye.
It is a suffering like jagged stones,
frost and the rough surf.
For the love of your daughter,
agree to listen to the owl an~ the waves,
but don't go back without
taking me home with you.
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So arrive, give me your face,
a word in the wind.
And ifyou don't take me away,
stay tonight. Don't go.
Although you will not answer me,
everything tonight is a word:
a face, the wind, the silence,
. and the boiling Milky Way.
So ... so ... more still ...
Stay, morning has not come,
and night has not closed .
Time grows thin,
the two to be equalled,
and quiet returns,
a slow passage to the homeland .
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IV
It must be this, Mother, speak,
eternity has arrived,
days are ending,
and it is a century of nothingness,
. between life and death,
without desire, the darkness.
·what is there then if not
delays, changes?
What was this? How did ithappen?
How does it incessantly endure?
I don't want to demand;
I proceed understanding, frightened,·
tearful and babbling
131
�- - - - · - - - · · - - - · - - · - - - - · · - - - - · - · ·········-·-·····DAWN
MORNING
I expand my heart so that
like a cascade of fire
the Universe may enter.
The new day arrives and its coming
leaves me breathless.
J sing like a high-crowned grotto.
J sing my new day.
She has returned, she has returned.
Each morning the same yet new.
t\nticipated yesterday
and forever,
she must arrive this morning.
Because of.the los_<; of grace
I have lost and found,
I am humble;
without offering,
without receiving,
until night's Gorg<;m
turns away, defeated,
on the run.
Empty -lw nded morning
that r)romised ami cheated.
Behold another morning unfurl,
leap like the deer of the East,
awake, jubilant and new,
alive, brisk, and rich with work.
Brother, raise your he;ul
from your chest
and receive her.
Make yourself worthy
of the one that leaps skyward,
and like a halcyon,
pushes off.and rises,
a gold~n halcyon,
swooping down to us with songs.
Hallelujali, Hallelujah. Hallelujah!
�DUSK
NIGHT
I feel my heart melt
like candles in the sweetness:
an oil of langour,
not wine,
fills my veins.
Mountains vanish,
cattle wander
and are lost;
the sun returns to its forge:
everyone has fled.
And I feel my days fleeing.
silent and gentle as a gazelle.
Fields arc being erased,
the granary has sunk,
and my cordillera depresses
its summit and live lamentation.
·Animals stray, slanting
toward forgetfulness.
And the two of us also spin our way
into the night, my child.
··---.--124
125
�L
TENTATIVE SCHEDULE FOR THE FIRST LADY'S TRIP TO
CHILE, AND URUGUAY
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29 - FRIDAY, OCTOBER, 2, 1998
Tuesday, September 29, 1998
7:30am
Wheels Up Andrews AFB
[flight time: 4 hours, 25 minutes]
11 :55 am
Wheels Down Caracas, Venezuela
Refuel [1 hour, 30 minutes]
12:25 pm
Wheels Up Caracas, Venezuela
[flight time: 6 hours, 30 minutes, + 1 hour]
7:55 pm
Wheels Down Santiago Chile
8:05 pm
Depart Airport
En route Castillo Hidalgo
8:30 pm
The First Ladies Dinner.- Castillo Hidalgo
Wednesday, September 30
9:30am-
FLOTUS Speech
11:15 am
USAID signing ceremony
12:00 pm
Depart Sheraton en route Casas de Lo Matta Museum
12:20 pm
Declaration signing and artwork unveiling
2:00 pm [T] Wheels Up Santiago, Chile
[Flight time: 1 hour, 50 minutes, + 1 hour]
4:50pm
Wheels Down Montevideo, Uruguay
7:30 pm
Reception for Participants, Vital Voices Conference- U.S.
Ambassador's
Residence
�=
"'=
Thursday, October 1
1 0:45 am11:45 am
Visit Codicen Pilot School
12:15 pm12:45 pm
Courtesy Call with President Sanguinetti
1 :00 pm2:00pm
Lunch with President Sanguinetti and other government leaders
2:30pm3:30pm
Meeting with Women's Political Network
4:00 pmCenter for the Assistance of Victims of Domestic Violence Church/Police
5:00 pm
Station/Community Center
5:30pm-
Embassy Meet & Greet
Friday, October 2
11 :00 am12:00 pm
Vital Voices Speech
12:30 pm1:00pm
Vital Voices Reception (Sponsored by President Sanguinetti)
1:45pm
Wheels Up Montevideo ·
[Flight time: 6 hours, and 50 minutes, -1 hour]
7:35pm
Wheels Down Caracas, Venezuela
[Refuel, 1 hour, 30 minutes]
8:55pm
Wheels Up Caracas, Venezuela
[Flight time: 4 hours, 30 minutes]
1:25am
Wheels Down Andrews AFB
�09/24/98
~
...
l'"
14:49
..
FDR LIBRARY
'6'9142290872
-+-+-+
OFC OF THE FIRST
___ 001
141
National Archives and RccordsAdministration
Franldin D. Roosevelt Library
5 I I Albany Post Road
HycJ c Pari<, NY 1253 ll
Telephone: (91 "1) 22 9·0 I 14
F;~.x/J:
(914) 129-0072
IFACSIMILE COVER SHEET I
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'•
�09/24/98
14:50
'6'9142290872
FDR LIBRARY
~~~
OFC OF THE FIRST
141 00 2
··- Mrs. Roosevelt's Schedule.
Fridaz 1 October 31
2:00
p.tn~
4:00 plm.
on Panagra'a Interamericano, which changes
itinerary to land in Santiago
~rival
. Interview with pre s4a.t Embassy residence
5:00 p.m.
Visit to Santiago College
5:30 p.m.
Tea by Am.erican Womon r s Association at Santia.g·o
College
8:00 p. rn.
Dinner for Special Mtasion at Embassy (by invitation)
Saturday, November l
10:00 a.m.
Visit to Quinta Normal Health Center and Trudeau
Hospital
12:30 p.m.
Luncheon at Insti tutc) Chileno-Norteameri cano de
Cultura (by invitation)
3:00 p.m.
Call ,or· the Ambassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary on Special Mission, with their re~ective delegations, on the Minister for Foreign Affairs
7:00 p.m.
Reception at American Embassy (by invitation)
Sunday, November 2
11:00 a.m.
Homage by Women:·. of Chile to Mrs. Roo~·evel t at Municipal Theatre (by invitation)
12:45 p.m.
Luncheon at British :Embassy (by invitation)
3:00 p.m.
Presentation of Credentials of the Foreign Mini!3ters
and ,Ambassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary on
Special Mission, accompanied by their respective.Delegations, on His EXcellency the President of the
Republic, don Gabriel Gonzalez Videla
4:00 p.m.
Visit to Villa Maria
5:00 p.m.
Reception fOX'. Mrs. R.oosevel t by sefior Arturo Cousliio
and sefiora Rosa Sube~caseaux de Cousino,at Macul (by
in vita ti on)
9:00 p.m.
Dinner for Mrs •. Roosevelt at Moneda (formerly at
home of Mrs. Santa Cruz) (by invit~tion)
Acad~my
�09/24/98
14:50
FDR LIBRARY
"5'9142290872
•
~~~
OFC OF THE FIRST
141003
\
-2Monday, November 3
10:30 a.m.
Inauguration of President-elect Carlos Ibanez del
Campo at Capitol.
11:30 a.ln.
Call of the Special Missions on Hi.s Excellency the
President of the )Republic at t~e Moneda Palace.
4:30 p.m.
Military Review in the Cousifio Park
9:30p.m.
Official banquet in the Moneda~· Palace offered by
His Excellency the President of' the Republic and
sefiora Letelier de I'bAiiez in honor of the Chiefs
of Special Missions.
11:30 p.m.
Reception by His Excellency the President of the
Republic and s efiora :Letelier de Ibanez in the Mone da
Palace to the members of the Special Missions,
members of Congress, the Judiciary~ the Armed
Forces and Political and Administrative Officials.
Tuesday, November 4
10:30 a.m.
Visit to Santi ago housing projects
1:15 p.m.
Luncheon o.ffered by ·t;he Minister of Foreign Relations in honor of the Special Missions at the'Polo az
.Riding Club 11 San Cristobal".
Afternoon
Visits ·to Insti tutci.on Sweet de Obra Social and the
Maternidad Madre e Hijo
7;00 p.m..
Reception by Mrs. Roosevelt at Hotel Cr1llon by
Zonta Club (by 1nvitati~n)
9:30p.m.
Banquet offered by the Special Missions in P,onor of
His Excellency the President of the Republic and sefiora Letelier de Iba·ii.ez at the Hotel Carrera
Wednesday, November 5
Denarts for New York on Interamericano
r--~· ,..J-·;(_ .
/
~~:
-:f't. . ..
l
I
'· ,
��In 1933 I was as•ked to write the
Urttgaayan ohapter for a book on nThe
Women of So nth A.merioa" which was to be
nsed for Missionary s\tndy in the united
States. later the plans for this book
were changed and a more concise and very
mach abridged work waB pnblished in 1934
under the title nwomen Under the Soathern
Cross".
I obtained a very large part of the
information for this 'i1ork by personal
interviews with the women themselves.
I was also greatly assisted by Srta.
T..eonor Hoarticon and Itra. llylia Molinari
Calleros. who not only took great interest
in helping me gather the material and
obtain interviews. bnt also in looking it
over afterwards. so I feel I oan safely
, say that the data is a:nthentio.
t·
.
-
:.~
As very li tt la ha.s been written
.aboat urngnayan Women I feel that this
~ wo~k may be of some help to Americans
')who are interested in lJrngnay and in
-~ understanding something of what her
. :women have aooomplished.
II·J
E. O. de B.
18303
�It has been said that the test of the
civilization of a ooantr.v is its estimate of
women. and Uragaay, all down throagh her
history has held women. in the highest esteem
as Mothers and Edaoators; and while it is
only within oomparativ.ely reaent years that
she is beginning to consider them as having
ant definite position in the professional and
politiaal life of the ooantry. still their
inf l aenoe has a lwa.ys been felt in great
maasare in the moral, sooia.l and intelleotaal
life of the Repablio.
It woald be impossible in these few
pages to give mora than a brief resam6, with
a few oatstanding names of women who figare
in the history of the oonntry, showing that
all throagh her national life Uragaay has had
noble and patriotic wo~an.
At the time of the Spanish dominion we
find Dona Maria Clara Zabala de Vidal, the
granddaaghter of the fottnder of Montevideo.
She was the first woman patriot, the
initiator of instraoti()n for women, and the
first defender of woman's rights in Uragaay.
~he Zabala's were always a patriotic and
progressive family, and Dona Clara as she was
oalled - who is dasori~ed as being a disoreet,
intelligent. distingaishad and agreeable woman,
appeared before a Nota.~y Pablio in November
1794 to arrange for the establishing of a
sohool, the wrirst Sohool for Girls in
Uragaayw. This .sohool was held in her own
.home and she financed 1.t for many years,
paying the two teachers the sam of $300e00
eaoh per year• It was an absolately free
sohool and the girls were taaght reading•
writing, sewing and the elements of
Christian Dootrina.
�-2-
· Daring the first movement for freedom 1811-1814 - The outstanding woman was Dofia
Rafaala Villagr!n de Artigaa, wife of~·
Uragaayan liberator. a woman of var.y aaparior
mental ability.
In 1825 we have 'the oal tared and
patriotio Dona Josafa Oriba de Contaooi,
who baoama involved i:a several politioal
oonspiraoiaa, risking her life by pretending
friendship with a troop of Portuguese at the
time in Montevideo. and using her oharm.
beauty and olavarnasa in trying to parsaada
them to revolt in fav~r of the patriots.
Another importan·t woman of the time was
Dona Ana Monterroao da tavallaja.. wife of
the Uruguayan hero. l brave, raaolata and :
brilliant woman. it i:s said that she saved
her hasband'a life mo.ra than onoa, and also
that many of his aapp.osad wri tinge are due
to her talent and pan•
Dona Barnardina :Fragoso de Rivera, wife
of the first Oonst!ta·t!ona.I President of Urugaay. is also worthy of mention. Differing
greatly in oharaotar from the wife of Sr.
TAvallaja. she was qalat, refined. tolerant
and charitable. She 'IIIBB the organizer and
first president of the Philanthropic Sooiaty
of Uruguayan Woman, a:nd maoh important work
for the oaasa of hamanity was dona andar her
administration. ·
With the ohanging times woman's sphere
has a lao oht.mged. He'r importance baa
increased steadily da:ring the last half
oentary - her work has intensified. and ·
amplified, antil toda·:v she invades all the
sooial activities of the Repablio• Day by
day she .has baoome le.ss absorbed by· the home
�-3-
life and has branched out into a broader
intellectual and soie.ntifio life. New
horizons have opened to her view - horizons
far beyond the factor.;y life, domestic
servioe and olerking of thirty years ago.
Today all the liberal and soientifio professions are open to her; there are women
Dootors and Dentists, Druggists. lawyers,
Notary 'Publics, Publi.o Aooounta.nts,
Arohitaots, Engineers, eto.
SOCIAL SERVICE
In sooial Servioe and Philanthropic
work the Uruguayan women have long been
doing their part. although organized
oharity is of comparatively recent date.
Among the more import~t of these
organizations we find:
ta Liga de Damas Oat6lioas (Catholic
Women's League). This Sooiety was organized in August 1906 w~en the Government
decreed that the Ohuroh should have no
authority over sohools and publio charitable institutions. .lll suoh institutions
were previously under' the supervision of
the Roman Oatholio Ohn1roh, and the hospitals,
orphan asylums and day nurseries had been
attended by Sisters of Charity.· These were
now de posed and the d:.L voroe law was
·
sanctioned. This action threatened to
destroy their most oharished ideals, and
the women felt that for the sake of their
own children and the iratare generations
they mast defend their faith and the
Christian welfare of the country by banding
together in an effort to uphoLd them.
Different departments of this Sooiety have
in.oharge the oare of the Churches, the
�"~tronato de la Agaja" for developing an
interest in needlework and providing work ot
this class for needy gi.rls who are anable to
leave their homes, and 1.:1 Home for the
Protection of Working G:trls. In this Home girls
may room for a minimam sam; others who live
at a distanoe and oome :tnto the City daring
the day may obtain thei;r meals at a very low
rate, and there is a rest room where they can
have sooial interooarse withoat the neaessity
of groaping together on street oorners. This
Home was established in 1868, bat for over
twenty years it has been ander the protection
of the Damas Cat6lioas.
.
The Sooiety of the ~dies of San Vicente
de Paal was organized in 1882. The aim of
this Sooiety is to rais~ the s·piritttal
standard of ita own members and to help the
needy, especially widows with families. It
is a very complete organization. having a
central oommittee, with sab-oommittees for
eaoh sabarb and the principal towns of the
Repablio. It is sappo~ted entirely by free
will sabsoriptions and donations, _it being
ttnderstood that a tenth of one's inoome is
the oorreot amount to give. This is qaite
generoasly responded to many giving a maoh
larger proportion. The Society has a Sanitoriam for the treatment of nervous diseases
and does a great deal o:e honea to house
visitation.
,
1
:Montevideo is fortamate in nnmbering
among its philanthropic institutions an
Asylnm for the Blind, w~ioh originated in
the heart of sra. santo1l3 de Bosoh; danghter
of President M4ximo San1~os and wife of one
of Uragnay's most noted physicians. Sra. de
Bosoh established this t.nstitution, famished
it with all modern eduon.tional· appliances for
the blind, and gave anstintingly of her time
and money for its development. When she was
�-5-
obliged to give np the work it was taken np
by the ·dattghter of anot;her· of onr Presidents,
sra. Carmen Cnestas de Nary, also wife of a
prominent physician. Srs.• de Nary has devoted
muoh time and personal attention to.this
Insti tation. It has a ·.very oomplete ooarse of
stady, based on that of other countries bat
modified to snit the si·taation here, and the .
inmates of this Insti tu·.tion are being prepared
to earn a living and fo.rm homes - to live as
far as possible a normal, happy life. Mnoh
attention is given to m~sio. Eaoh student
mast learn to .play some mas ioal instrament
in order to be able to play in the Band; of
whioh the Institution ia jnstly prond. There
is also a ohoral olass nnd all are trained
in some degree to sing, speoial attention
being given to those who show any great talent
for either playing or singing• The girls
learn to sew, kn1 t, oroohet ,. ase a sewing
maohine, eto., and the l1oys have mannel
training. There is a b~sket factory in
oonneotion with the Sohool where they are
taught to make all olasses of baskets. brooms,
brnshes and ohair seats •.
This Institution has a committee of
t\'Venty three women, among them being Sra. de
Terra, wife of the President of Uruguay •. Sra.
Regalia de Roosen, Sra. de Nary who is the
president, and Jnana de Ibarbonron •
. The Deaf Mnte Asyla.m is also the
initiative of women.
One of the greatest monnments to women's
efforts in this ooa.ntry is the Children's
Hospital, whioh is in large measure dna to
the efforts of Sra. Pilar Herrera de .Arteaga,
who was chairman of the ·women's oommi ttee.
and her speeoh made at the laying of the
Oor.ner Stone on December 4, 1901 was the first
pnblio speeoh made by a ·woman in the histor,v
�-6-
of the Repub lie. Up to this time spontaneons
donations to charity had been .rare• b.at these
women were fortunate i~ .receiving some
beaatifa 1 b looks of g.roand from S.r.t Rossell
y Rias. $10,000 in oasb from Sr. Alejandro
Beisso. and numerous smaller gifts from
societies and private i:ndividuals. lfo work
ever undertaken here ha,d been carried forward
so rapidly nor had public opinion in its favor
to such a marked extent: and today, on our
principal Boulevard, we have this beautiful
group of buildings. fnlly eqaipped with the
moat modern installations. where children of
all ages and conditions may receive free
treatment from the 6litj3 of oar medical corps.
The Maternity Hospital has since been added to
this group of buildings and bas been a
· . b leasing to thousands o:,f mothers tmab le to
pay for any kind of medical treatment.
'
.
~he Sanitorium for Wo.rki~ Girls was
founded in 1§22 by sra. ihitile Regalia de
Roosen. ~his was atartEtd by so liai ting
subscriptions of sixtee~ cents per month•
Other donations were ob~;ained, and in one year
from the time the subscriptions were began
she was able to open thet Sanitorium with a
large number of beds. a pharmacy, operating
.room with %-Rays and surgical instruments,
sterilizing room and everything necessary
for an ap-to-date Hoapi~al. Here working
girls. by paying the sma·ll fee of $4.00 per
year have the benefit of the clinics. dental
wo..rk, X-Raya and operati:ons with hospital
care.;
~his Sanitorium wa.s first installed in
a rented building. but in recent years the
women .received a large g:ift from Sra.
Oatalina Parma de Beisso which enabled them
to bay a fine property m.o.d furnish it with
the most modern equipmen;t • This building
which stands on the prin~ipal street. Avda.
�-7-
18 de Julio, was onoe the property of the
Foreign lUss1 ona.ry Si:>ciety of the Methodist
Church ~ The :North Nt1arican Aoadamy for Boys.
The Sanitorium is attended by volantar,v nurses
with the exception of the head nurse and an
assistant• the p~sioians also giving their
servioas free.
Another fine work whioh is being done
by the women of uruguay is the establishing
of Children's Homes. These are veritable
"Homes" where children from the State Orphan
Asylum are being given the benefits of a home
life. Eaoh of these Homes have from thirty to
forty girls ~dar their care, with a competent
matron and a committee of women, who in
addition to having charge of the, fillB.ncial side ·
look after the moral, physical and intelleataal
life of the girls. A snm of money is paid for
each ohi ld from the s~tate Asylum funds, bat
this, of ooarse, does not begin to pay the
expanses of rent, food and olothing, so the
women raise the neoes.sary amoant to oarry on
the work by subscript-ions, donations, bazars
and entertainments. The ohildran from these
Homes are in most cas~s a happy, healt~
group. Their physioal well-baing is most oarefully' looked after, g.~eat improvement being
noticed in a few months in oases of under
nourished children. They attend the publio
sohools, and in addition to the regular school
work are trained in housework• sewing, oooking
eta. Their oaltural Elide is also being
developed so that they may go oat into the
world prepared to earn their living without
being exploited.
QHILD WELFARE .:MOV:EMEDT
Although the Child Welfare Movement has
had an existenoe of less than 10 years its
work has grown beyond comprehension until
today it oooapies a very important position
in the Republio. This work was organized in
�-aMay 1924 by Sra• Pilar Herrera de Arteaga,
· together with one of our 1ead ing Children's phy~ ..
sioians. It would oooupy too muoh space to
endeavor to give anything like a oomplete
aooount of the work, whiqh is well organized
and oounts among its leaders the most prominent
women of the Republic - Educators, Physicians,
Society leaders, eta. Tftis is not a charitable
institution, its aim beir.lg to look after the
health, hygiene and morals of the children of
Uruguay in saoh manner that the children of
the poor may have a ohanoe to become efficient
citizens.
·
The women give them~elves to the study
·and solution of the many different problems
in relation to the children of the destitute,
beginning with pre-natal oare and oontinaing
this oare for thirty days after the child is
born. In eaoh case they investigate the
economic conditions, arrange for the care of
small children daring the mother's confinement,
eta. They provide complete layettes when
necessary, as well as or~dles aiLd beds with
bedding. In oases of an~mployment and dire
need they supply food until suoh time as the
father oan find lfOrk. Dttring the last year
(1933) they have oared for 632 mothers and
provided 269 layettes.
The "Primer Infanci~" committee care for
children up to three yea;r:s of age. In
addition to providing food, clothing and beds
when needed, they endeavor to help the mothers
·by teaching them the e le~nents of hygiene and
the correct feeding of children. They make
monthly distributions and in the past year
haVe given out some 200 beds and cradles with
corresponding bedding, l.L67 garments for the
children, and over VOO pounds of food.
The ~atrition Clinics" for children
from three to six years of age are under jhe
�-9-
soientifio oare of specialists, ande.rnoarished
children being broaght to the clinics by the
mothers, where they are weighed, fed~ and in
many oases clothed. Here also the mothers
are shown how to oare for the children and
prepare their food.
The "Refectories" for andernoarished children of sohool age are open daring the entire
sohool year. These refectories, nine in namber, are onder the care of a committee of
women who see to the p.r!epa.rajion and serving
of lancheons, weighing the children, keeping
the proper charts for each child, eta.; they
also see to the clothi~ for these children.
They have served over 160,000 lanaheons
daring the past year. The aost of maintaining
these refectories, ina l:ading food, rent,
service, etc., is estimated at nine cents per
day for eaoh child, the. physicians as well as
the women giving their services free.
The "Sooial Visitors" are prepared in
speoial ooarses given by leading physicians
and do a most efficient work. They have oharge
of inattendanae both at the refectories and
at school, are responsible for getting information, visiting the homes, oaring for the
siok, and in oases of severe illness see that
they are either taken to the Hospital or
receive the proper med~.oal attention in the
home; in faot, everyth~!ng ooming ander the
head of Sooial Settlement work.
The Society has organized two "Maritime
Sohools" where children who have not
increased in weight after having been for
some time in the refectories are taken to
the beach from eight o •· o look in the morning
antil ai::r: in the afte.n:loon daring the sammer vacations - December to Maroh. ~hese
children are given thrEie specially prepared
�-10meals per day and
bathing, physioal
siestas. In most
is noticed before
havet simple lessons, seae:z::el'Oises and afternoon
oases a. marked improvement
the end of the summer.
The "Sohool for Minors" receives boys
sent by the Board of ~elinqaents and Minors,
where in addition to the regular sohool work
they are taught some ~rade and then pla.oed
in workshops where they oan earn a. living.
These boys remain under the oare of the
Board until they are of age.
..
The Child Welfare work has been extended
to nine Departments o:f the Repablio, each
separate town having its own Committee. The
work is sa pported by stabsori ptions and
donations. It also re;oeives a. munioipa.l
subvention and one from the Board of Delinquents and Minors. Dairi_ng the last year a
Day Nursery has been Otpened where children
from three to six years of age are oared for
while the mothers go oat to work. They are
given three meals and are ander the speoia.l
oare of a. tea.oher and :a woman physician. Great
efforts are being made by this Sooiety to
prevent ohildren beggi:ng in the streets.
RED;' CROSS SOCtiETY
A}-t-ioagh sever~.l-.l~·tte~npts bad been made
to O_fganize a. R~d--Cros:.s So~iety in Uragaa.y .
nothing defi:g.i-te had b·,aen ,done farther than
to/form a. .. Committee of women to oa.re for the
·
s-1ok and· wounded in ti~es of war o%e-pi~emios,
antil..-1897 when ander /:the title~of "The )Red
Cross Society of Ohrts·tian Women" a.n orga.n/ :,~zation was formed )_lhi~Jh, ~.tth some o¥Dges
· 1 /'in the Sta. tates, existl3 t..oda.y under the name
1/ of "The Uragaa.EIRed(;.ross" • This tE::boiety~
is well organize in «loordanoe with the
·
Congress of Gen
d Paris. bat a.s
e
oa.se of the Child Welfo.re Movement, it is
~
·
~
�·.. .-
..
-19...
.
.
.
WHITE S'LAVE TRAFFIC:
'
One of the aims of the National ·
Federation of. Women was to fight the White
Slave Traffic and establish one oode of
morals for both sexes, and many prominent .
Uragaayan Women have giVEJn unlimited time
and stady to the question. An Argentina~ura
gaayan Committee was formed, aonferenqes
were held in both Repab l~Las and the teaching
of sex hygiene was began.
The oatoome of all this was the organization in April 1931 of the "Uragaayan
Anti-White Slave Traffic ~agae". an
association of persons wishing to cooperate
1n general for the well-being of women,
and in partiottlar for the suppression 1n
Uragaay of this traffic in girls and woman.
The prime instigato:r of th1s movement
was Dra. Nylia Molinari Calleros, who
although one of oar yoanger Doctors has
· already beoome noted not· only as· a physioion
bat as a sooial serv1oe worker. A foroefal
wom8ll of strong christian ,oharaoter and a
decidedly pleasing personality, she has been
able to accomplish work almost beyond belief.
She. is the president of the teagae and her
t1me and money are devoted to the oaase.
It 1s dna to her sastain:ad efforts, ably c .. :.
assisted by a band of s1noere women, that
the Leagae already has• in the two years of ·
1ts existence obtained a moat merited
·saooess, althoagh it 1s still far from
:., .. satisfying the alms and desires of the work..;.
· era who, when they reaU~~ze the magn1 tude .
. of the work feel that they have .done nothing.
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t1on
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While the 1n1t1at1ve of this organiaa..;.
has been ent1r.e ly the work of women• they
from the first had the hearty oooperaof· IDili11' important Doctors and-Lawyers,
�. -2oas well as· that of the EVangelical oharches
and the Women's EVarige~icat:·Laligae~ ·We· find
.· on the :Soard of this Society the leading
women of· the day .- Dra .• ltolinari ·calleros 1
D.ra. Isabel Pintos· de 17idal. one of the ·first
women lawyers, n.ra., Sam Ray Alvarez, s.ra.
Cyra de De Vicente and many others. The
Le!!gae is affiliated with the International
Bareaa for the suppression of the traffic
of women and children and also cooperates
with the Committee formed to study the
question of anemplo~etlt for woman.
The chief object of the League is the
defence of women. raising their moral and
intellectual standard ~nd helping abandoned
women. whether prostitutes or not, by every
possible means, legally. morally·ana
materially. It has organized an energetic
campaign against this oar greatest national
shame. and for the salvation of its victims•
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These women have ll.sade a most carefal
sto.dy of the laws governing white s laveey
an.d prostitution, endeavoring to institute
reforms in those already existing, as well
as presenting others for the improvement
of conditions, with the final aim of
totally abolishing this evil. Th£WhaVe
also worked for the creation of a women's
police force and for tlte improvement of the
p~isons and hoo.ses of correction for women,
and while ap to the present they have made
veey little progress i~ the matter of legislation, they have still done mach to help
these Qnfortnnate women. They investigate
the question of women ~.mmigrants, making
recommendations to the different ~gations
and Consalates as to t~is problem. They
have made ase of the Pl.~ess, both national
and foreign, for propaganda. thas enlarging
their field of action; they also place
notices .in steamers .plying between Earope
and Borth.and Soath America. offering help.
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protection and legal
and exploited women•
d~afense
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to abandoned
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. . · Their work is both prophylactic and
.onrative .in that it endeavors to avoid the
fall of women and to h~lp in their regene,r.;.
ation. In many cases ·they have been able
to- persaade women to abandon this life~. and
. in others have kept them from beginning it.
They have established a Legal Department
attended by women lawyers in the Maternity
Hospital for the parpo:3e of legitimatizing
children born oat of W19d lock - free of
cost - also for taking steps for the modificati-on of the existing laws and the
creation of others for the benefit of
women• A groap of the13e women work in the
Prostitation Sanitary :~ervice in order to
come into·closer toach with the women and
thas be able to better appreciate the moral
and sociological ohara1lter of the prob lam
and be in ~ condition to render more
efficient service.
In addit.ion to th•;~ Central Society in
Montevideo there are b;!:'anches of this Leagne
carrying on the work throaghoat the entire
Repablio.
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EDUCATION
uruguay has probably given more
attention to education than any other
South American Repabli<,. It is the only
one where an absolatebf free education may
be· obtained from the k, ndergarten on through
the grades, the University, the Normal and
Professional Schools; and it is in this
educational work where the Uruguayan woman
bas most largely shown her ability, her
resourcefulness and her capacity for leadership. To her enthasiaS~m, intellectual force
and constant and untiring labor, we are
indebted in a very large measure for the
reforms in public school education and for
oar present system of good schools.
The first school for girls was
established in 1'194 anot lasted until 1835.
In 1846 there were nine Girls' Sohools
with 352 girls in atte~danoe. In 1933
there are some 60.000 in the grade schools
alone. 1500 in the Women's University and
several hundred more in the National University. 2his in addition to the Private
Schools of whioh there are many. In 18'16
there were 161 male teachers and 146 female
teachers. In 1924 there were 2'15 male
teachers and 2552 female, and this number
has greatly increased in the last nine
years. This will give some idea of the
obange of opinion in regard to the
education of women and girls in the last
century.
The :National University is coeducational as well as the grade sohools. bat
the grade schools were not coeducational
above the seoond grade for many years. and
as women beoame more and more interested
in Higher Education. and as many parents
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woald not permit· their. daughters t.o attend
the llationa.l. University, a demand aros·e:: tor ·
a ~igher institlition o~ learning for· girls•
'lif·:~meet this demand the first Womeil!s · · · ·
University in Soilth A.marioa was estab1ished
in Montevideo in 1912. From a few ha.ndred
girls daring the first few years the en~oll.;.;
ment has grown to over 1500 and an annex has
been aoqaired for.l934 as the present build~
ing is too small to hold them.
·
It is imposs~ble to even begin to give
the names of all the Wl)men who have been, and
still are, prominent in educational work, .
Among the leaders, or .r:ather we might say
the leader, is Sra. Maria Stagnaro de Manar,
founder of the Girls' Normal Institute• the
person who, after Joe~ Pedro Varela, has
had moat inflaence in ·the progress· of edaoation, especially womenrs edaoation, in
Uruguay. She began te~ohing at the age of
seventeen, and in. 1877 when only twenty-one
was made principal of a aohool. She worked
ander Varela, Uruguay's great school reformer•
and on his death took '"prge of a class
whioh· he had organized for the purpose of
giving some normal tra:1ning to teachers,
there being no normal school at the. time.
Prall this class she de:veloped and. carried to
completion the idea of a Statellormal Scltool,
and as a resalt we hav·a today two a.p-to.;;.date
ll'ormal Inati tates where teachers-are trained
in a most efficient ma;nner to oarry on the
great wort of edacation. ~0 enter the
Normal Institute it is necessary tobave
passed the four years' preparatory work of
the University (Uceo )~ the llormal program ·
a lao covering foa.r yea,rs •
Sra. de MlUlar was principal of the
· lformal Institute from· 1882 ·to 1912. She
.·bad a great love for h,er papils and for her
. work and dedicated herself to it with
energy end enthusiasm. molding the ~pirit
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of several generations c)f teachers• among
them her own daughter, ara. Margarita Manar
de Sanguinetti; also a leading educationalist. It is said that she never tired, bat
worked disinterestedly day after day and
night after night, neve.r even taking a
vacation. When she resigned as Principal
of the Normal School in 1912 she was named
Honorary ?rinci pal in h·onor of the great
service which she had r~ndered to the cause
of women's education. She was a member of
the first latin American Scientific
Congress and the honorary president of the
first Anti-Alcoholic Co:ngress. ·
After her death in 1922 a mass meeting was held with de leg;e. te~ from a 11 the
cultural societies of the City. as wall as
the leading educators, in honor of this
great woaian who had devoted almost half a
century to the intelleo:taal and educational
redemption of Uruguay. At this meeting it
was voted that her name be given to the
Normal Institute which she had founded and
whioh is now called "The Maria Stagnaro de
Manar Normal Institute for Girls". Up to
this time only fo~r other persons had been
honored by having a school named for them,
and these were all men - Artigas our Liberator; Jos6 Pedro Vare~a. Educational Reformer; Enrique Rod6 oar greatest ARthor
and Rector Miranda, noted Statesman and
Educator• A collection was started to be
devoted to some work in her memory, and today
we have in one of the principal Parks of the
City (~a Prado) a beautiful statue of this
wonderful woman, with 1ihe inscription: "l!a.ria
Stagnaro de Manar, Maestra de Maestras".
Enriqaeta aompte y Rique, a pupil of
Sra. de Manar, estab1i4hed the first
kindergarten work in U~agaay. Born in
Spain, she came to thia country as a small
child and received her education in the
�-30pablic schools of Montevideo. She was a
brilliant sta.dent, recei·ving high scholastic
distinction throughout h,er entire sohoo L ·
oareer and at the age of seventeen was given
her first teacher's diploma• She oontinned
her studies, however, and two years Later
received the Blgh Sohool !eaoher•s Diploma
and was soon after made assistant principal
of the Normal Institute. In 1889 aha was
given a scholarship to s.tudy kindergarten
methods in EUrope• She studied in Belgiam,
Holland, France, Switzerland and Germany,
returning in 1890 to start the first sohool
for teaching ]tindergarten methods under the
Froebel System. The first kindergarten was
opened in 1892.
While most of her time and attention
has been given to kindergarten work, she has
also been lrofassor of s'panish Grammar and
Composition in the Girls' Normal School and
of Psychology in the Boy;s' ]formal Sohool.
She was a delegate to the first Pan American
Oonferenoe in 1901 and h.as been a delegate
to practically all the e.daoational Confe,r..;
enoes in Amerioa since t'l:a.at time. She
organized the Pedagogical Society and the
Teachers• Association and has been active
as an Examiner: in preparing text books,
addressing Teachers' Institutes, etc. She
is also active in the Anti-Alcoholic and
.Anti-Ta.bercalosis Leagues and president of
the eda.cational section of the National
Federation of Women.
Her experience and intellectual ability
together with her broa~a of view gives
her a most original personality, energetic
and forceful, but at the same time femenine.
On December a. 1935• on her retirement
after forty-one years of teaching there was
a great manifestation in her honor; a
bronze tablet giving her name ~o the aohool
�-31-.
which she ha.d foanded und to which she had
dedicated so many yearn. was placed in the
hall of the Kindergart(Jn bailding, .and she
was presented with two printed volames "Estadio y Trabajo" anc,l "T.ecciones de mi
Escaela" - containing the different edaoationa l artio lea whioh .:she has written from
time to time, as a tes1;imony of the love
and esteem of the peoplLe of Montevideo, the
oost of the preparatio:~:l of these volames
as well as the tablet l1eing covered by gifts
from the Pablic.
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"Laonor Hoarticoa, also a papil of sra •.
M11na.r, is wall dasarvii,Lg of a place in the
front ranks of Urllgaay 1·a most noted woman
edacators. She began ~ar career as a
teacher in 188'1, teachi.ng in the grade
schools for three years. She then stadiad
Kindergarten Methods with Srta. Compte y
Riqae and became assistant teacher in the
kindergarten where aha remained for five
years, leaving to baco~a principal of a
grade school. She was afterwards made Principal of one of the high schools where she
remained antil the and of 1911, when she
was elected principal of the Girls' Normal
School in place of Sra. de Manar who was
resigning. This posit:l!on aha held antil
her retirement on pension in 1931 after
over forty years of aninterrapted and
efficient labor.
In addition to ha.r· forty-two years of
teaching aha has worked on variollS school
committees, helped plan. the present pablio
school Coarse of Stady, and is entirely
responsible with the exception of a very
few modifications, for the·xormal School
Clou.rsa of Stady. In 1914 she was e lao ted
a member of the Board of Primary Education,
being the first woman tro hold that position.
She is an active member of the ~eachers' Association, the Pedagogical Society, the
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Child Welfare society. the society for the
Esthetic Education of t;he Child and the
Sooiet;v for .the Protection of the National
D:ldastries.
She has written a nttmber of articles
along educational linee1• one on ~The '!each.;.
ing of Domestio Science in the ~nblic
Schools" being presented at the.Latin American Scientific Congre~s in 1901. and another
on· "llormal and High Sc~ool Work" at the
American "Child's CongJ~ess" in Rio de Janeiro•
Another interesting article from her pen is
'"!!!he Psychological Signification of Disobedience in Children".
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Isabel Abilde de De la Fuente. the
present Dean of the Wo~en 1 s University. is
a woman of very forcefnl personality. After
completing her oonrse in the Normal School
she continned her studies in the University
where she was highly. eflteemed by both
Professors and students. She obtained the
position of Professor of the Spanish Langaage
in the Women's. university. and that of
Professor of Cosmography. which is her
spec.ialty• in the Normal Institute. where
her ability as a teaohar was shown to suoh
an extent that she was unanimonsly elected
Dean of the Women's university in 1928• in
which position she has given the same consecrated efforts as in her teaching. and
has won the cooperation and respect of the
entire student body as'well as that of her
oorps of teachers. Her election to this
position was a great ttibute to the esteem
in which she was held as an educator. as
she was the only one applying for the
position who did not hQld a University
Degree. !rhe rapid grollth and flourishing
condition of this Inst~tution demone~trates
the wisdom of ·the choine and her fitness
for the position.
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Margarita :Manar d.a S~ttinetti, · ·
dattghter Of S.ra. Stagneroe Manar~ began
her career as a teacher in the Elbio
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Fernandez School for Boys. and after a short
experience in this school was made assistant
principal of the Giri'•~ lforma.l Institnte
where she made a name for herself as a
teacher of pttericaltttre, a sttb~ect for which
she had not only the soientific preparation
bat also the practical experience of motherhood. She also taaght Domestic Science and
Oonstitntional TB.w in this same Institttte
for many years.
She bas written a nnmber of educational
articles, three of which have been presented
at Ohild Congresses - "What have we dons for
the Edncation of the Abnormal Ohild", "The
Teacher and the Book", and "The Teaching
of Pnericnltttre in the Pnblic Schools";
also a chatJer on "The Edncation of the Ohild"
for pablication in a text book on Ptterical•
tare. · Since her retire.ment on pension she
has devoted herself to ·the Ohild Welfare
movement, especially the Jltttrition Clinics
and the Children's Homes.
Mercedes San Martin de Garcia was one
of the edttcators who WOJl"ked·with Varela for
the reform of primaey e<.iacation in Urttgaa;y.
After some years• experience as a teacher
she was principal of a ~~rade school and was
so popttlar that this school is still known
as "1'he Schoo 1 of Kis·ia J!ercedes ". A firm
be lieve.r in c o-edttcati OI,t, she asked for and
was granted permission 1io form a mixed
school as an annex to the sahool of which
she was principal, and whioh she olfered to
direot withottt remaneration. Here she was
able to demonstrate the advantages of coedttcational schools, whioh ap to this time
had been ottt of favor, to sa;v the least.
She was retired on pension after twent;v-five
;years of service. bttt she continued in her
work of preparing teaoh~rs, mttch of the
time withottt pay. Sha also dedicated
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herself to the improvement of the economic
condition of the teachers• has been most ao.;.
tive in the reforms in the Teachers' Pension
raw. and is still an active member of the
Directing Board•
Maria Espinola Espinola. dattghter of
the Philanthropist. Dr. :Alfonso Espinola,
was born in las Piedras. She received her
first edttcation in the home• then in.the
public schools of San Jos~ and afterwards
entered the Normal Schoo.l in Montevideo.
She was a brilliant and enthttsiastic student.
After receiving the Teachers' Diploma she
taught in San Jos~ where her parents resided.
was assistant and then P:rincipa.l of a rural
school and was afte.rward:s principal of one
of the schools in san Jo:s~. She was chosen,.
together with three other teachers, to study
in the united States the-Organization of
Rural Schools •. In spite of the difficalties
due to the langaage she 1.asade a great success
of her work and won second prize in a Domestic Science ·Contest in Cornell university.
After studying two years in the united
States she returned to U:raguay and w·as given
charge of a Normal oours .e in A.grica.lture and
Industry. Because of her aptitude for this
work she was chosen on a committee to prepare
a_ program for the Rural Schools. In 1916
she was named Inspector of Schools in San
JosA, a very difficult pQsition as she had
ander her many of her fellow students and
even some of her childhol()d teachers; but
in spite of the fact that no one is a .
prophet in his own conntr,v, she·was a marvelous success in this position. da.e to her
pleasing personality and the wisdom and
justice with which she s·timalated and gttided
those under her. She wa1:1 alwa78 mach
interested in the .ra.ral schools and b;y
obtaining donations of land was able·to foand
new schools in the ooant:t'J'•
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In her·work as Inspector she carried oat the
tessone''''o:t helpfnlness' whioh she had learned
in her ..own home. not as _ohari ty b·at by ·
endeaToring to awaken in the poor a desire
to get ahead and to orea·te habits of wotk.
and towards this end she conceiTed the idea
of an Iridastrial Sohool. There was at this
time only'· one Indastrial School in Uragaay
whioh had been fotmded in :Montevideo by
President Santos fort:y-fiTe years earlier.
and Srta.''Espinola had the honor of establishing~· without an;y official assistance.
the first Indastrial School in the interior
of the Repablio. thns ·opening a new horizon
to the ootmtr:y people. for which. if for no
other reason. they will never forget her •
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· This'"schoo 1 began T.ery modestly. bat
grew rapidly- and soon had coarses in Drawing. Bookkeeping. sewing and all classes of
needlework, Basket weavi~g. Oarpentr.;v.
Oarpet Making. Dyeing, :Silacksmithing. Oonstraction work. etc •. and the 300 papils
enrolled woald have been 1000 had there
be.en room· and resoarces. The progress of
this school and its fine organization soon
oame to the attention of the Government and
·it was ~taken over by them with srta• ESpinola
as honorary principal - ·this in addition to
her work as Inspector in which she made
many initiatives - the first Papils' Excarsions, ·the first Departmental School Oensas,
the school Savings' Bank whioh was afterwards
extended to all the schools of the Repablic
ander the· intervention of the Postal savings'
Bank. ·:.:.she· was also mach interested in the
edacation of abnormal children and made
. a most ~heroagh e::mminat:L on in the Department of ·san .JosA along this line. Daring
··her t'eral"'as Inspector the edacat1onal
. s'tiltistt'ca··of the Department were greatly
.. ': oh&nged ·-~~'·tnsoription and_ attendance being
. .: ra~sed ·
1111 teraoy diminished.
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In 1921 she was m~de a member of the
B·oard of Educationi the first woman to be
appointed from the int~riori and was unanimous!~ reelected in 1922 and 1925•
She has
worked very hard to consolidate the Rural
Schools, so far without much success, ·and
hns published a book entitled "The School
and its Progress" deaUng with this and
other educational problems, which has
received merited praisE:» from critics. In.
1927 she was chosen a [Dember of the National
Peysical Edllaation Oomrdttee, also the first
woman to occupy this p<,st. In this line
she has been espe.cially interested in physical education in the public schools and in
school camps.
Other names promi~lent among our leading
educators are Aurelia Yiera, also a pupil
of Sra.. de Mmar ,- who has had under her
tuition a large number of the present day
pol1t1a1ansi the Luisj~ sisters, two of
whom have been Dean of the Women's Universit~i
and one on the National Board of Educationi
Dona Viotoria Stagnaro de Zerbino. sister
of Sra. de Munar, who vras a teacher in the
true sense of the word and gave ~ears to
the oause of education.. She was also President of the Anti-A.looholic Leag11e and an
active member of many ctther social service
activities; Ana B. de Soaronei Deborah
Vitale d'Amioo and many others.
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Uruguay also has ~!oman writers of merit,
wri tars who have aequi1•ed fame not only in
their own oountry but i.n other south American
Co an tries alid in Europe' as we 11. .Among these
the most noted are:
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Jaans. de Ibarbonro,a ( Jnana de America)
whose works htive '6een pii'bl:l.shed in praoti..;.
oally all Sollth Amerioa, Dexio() and France•
Her first book of poems "las tengnas de
Diamanta" was pnblished in 1918• this was
followed by "El Cantaro Fresoo".~iz Salvaje",
"18 Rosa de los Vientoa", ~as de Nnestra
Senora" and a book of "Qontemporaneons
·
Litera.tllre" for ase in ·the pnblio sohools.
She· is at present writUtg a novel "Franta
a Franta" whioh will so1on be pnblished.
Her poems show a g.r.-eat love of life so great that she hates to think of dying.
They have grace and ind:lvidnality and are
fall of joy and happinef)S a.nd the simple
beallty of natllre. Her 1"Lengllas de Diamanta"
is a book of love poems in every sense love of persons, of lltlture, birds and trees "The kiss of my love 1s as the taste of
frait,
As the freshness of v.water, as the
sweetness of sleep".
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Her verse is qnite origj~nal, somewhat irregnlar and not entirely ol.~assio. Her free
verse is more mnsioal atLd shows more her
lyrio motif thari her ~~es.
Opposed to her we :f~ind De lmira Angnstini,
whoa e poems, while not so de I loa te are more
profonnd and tragio. To pass from "las
T.engaas de Diamanta" to "Los Calices Vaoios"
of Attgnstini is like pae1sing from a beaatifnl
sanshinJ morning bright with flowers• the
songs of birds and soft winds, to a dark and
stormy night. Her poet~ is strong, heroio
and passionate bat somewhat oomplioated and
obaoare and laoka the ba:rmony and grace of
that of Jaana de Ibarboa.roa. Its beaaty
lies in the :l.nspirat:l.on and thoaght and in
the energy of exprassio~ rather than in its
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1~24, followed by -zejoa", "Pafiado de Agua"
and "Refaooionea", the latter a poetio prose;·
She has also pablished a na.mber of oritioisma•
Adela Barbitta Colombo, a teaoher in
the Normal Institute, writes ttnder the nom
de plume of Elizabeth Durand• Rer specialty
is journalism and she has written many
artio las for the :Magaf:ines and daily papers
on "!lhe Home", "The l!'~mily". "Women", eto.
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Sara Bollo, a Or~.:LD.don Graduate, published her first book of poems in 192~ under the
title of "Dialogos de las woes Perdidas"
with a prologue by Joana de Ibarboarou, and
. in 1931 a seoond book of poems - "Los
Nootarnos del Fuego" which won the prize as
the best work of the year in a literary
contest organized by the Minister of Publio
Instruction. Many of her poems· have been
translated into Portuguese.
In the field of Music and Art we find
ver,v few outstanding names. While a large
proportion of the women are both musical
and artistic it has b.een largely in an
amateur sense, bat ev'en here beginnings are
being made, espeoiallf among the yottnger
generation •
. I
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As a oomposer oa·rmen Barradas is the·
most original. Rer-work is quite aniqae rh,ythmio bat dynamic, impetuous and o lamorous, representing movement, sound, light,
rebellion. She has done her best work. as
a oomposer of "Vidalftas" {Folksongs) for
whioh she writes both words and musio.
Among these her best are: "18 Carita
Japonesa"i ~ Oarretera", "El Molinaro",
-Bl Aoordi6n del Abaelo and "BL Jinete".
Rer compositions for the piano follow the
Raasian style. some of these are: "The
Jlasio Box", "The GJ'PEiies",. "The Village
Wedding", "The.Pintns"- with the noise
�·~1I ,• '.·
.,
. I
.
of waves and the b iowing of horns, "The
showing the softness and the.
tempestuousness of prayer.
'
Novice"~
Maria Galli has also done some very
creditable work as a composer.
•
As pianists we ha:ve Sara Bourdillon,
who after finishing her studies in Uruguay
stadied for some time in Europe and is now
beginning her career a.s a concertist.
I
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Soledad Herrera Reissig, daughter of
the poet, Julio Herrera y Reissig, though
still young, has an e:x:oellent technique
and seems to have inhe:rited the delicate
and fine artistic sens,1bili ty of her father.
N~bia Marino Be ll:1ni, Uruguay' a "Child
Wonder , although only"'lliirteen -years of
v age is already winning fame as a concertist,
not in Uruguay only bu·t in Argentina as well.
She has a fine techni q tile, e:x:c e llent inter5 pretation. and shows p;t"omise of a very brilliant future. Rubenst1dn after giving her
an audience said that Bhe was not a "child
prodigy" but an artist who had already
arrived.
t0
There are a nllmbe:L" of fine singers who
are just making a begi~ing at concert
singing. Daring the ll,l.st few years an Opera.
Company has been organ~.Lzed which has shown
some ex:ce llent talent ~Ln the making.
Pet rona Vi.era is prob11b ly the best
known painter. Her work iS noted for its
originality and clea.rnoss of line as well
.- for its color.
Sm. de
Say-agu~u
T.aso is also well
known as an amateur pa~Lnter. Painting purely for pleasure, she hue made several trips
to Rarope where she hat:l made a study of the
�\: ,·
Old Masters as well as modern paintings.
She shows a great preference for flowers and
her WWistaria Chalet" shown in a recent
exposition is a marvel of beauty and color.
Her paintings show nothing of the modernist.
bnt she paints places .a.nd persons as: she
sees them. and her wor·ks reveal an interest...;.
ing personality •
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Sof'!a Salterain Herrera. a gradnate of'
Crandon Institute. whose early death oat
off what promised to be a brilliant career
as a scnlptor, had already done some excellent work. One very beautiful pieoe in
bas-relief designed and modeled by her has
been reprodnced in cement to decorate the
home of one of oar Uruguayan artists.
' .
Delia Demioheri had some interesting
pieces of sculptnre in the recent National
Indnstrial Exposition. work worthy of praise
in every sense.
..
In the School of ~ellas Artes $hay are
definitely beginning to take up both painting and sculpture and ·the near future will
undoubtedly show a marked advance along these
lines.
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FEMENIST l!OV~I!lMEH
.I
In some respects. it is true. the
Uruguayan woman has been a li t.t le late in
coming into her own. !lhe organized femenist
mqvement in Uruguay as an efficient force in
society counts less t~ twenty years. althongh
woman's inflnence and ilfork along ednoational
·and social linea had b:een· gradna lly leading
ap to this as a culmination.
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In 1916 when the National Federation
of Women was organized""""i;here was a !ready a
large nWDber of intelleqtaal women in the.
educational field. In 1908 the first woman
graduated from the Medical School. This was
Paulina Luisi, the inaugurator of the ·
Movement. She was closely followed by other
women Doctors, and a few years later her
sister Olotilde gradaated from the School
of Law, also a pioneer.
The National Feders.tion of Women was
the first decided step a. long this line. and
while for some time the movement progressed
very slowly, in the last few years it has
grown rapidly until today it is an acknowledged and efficient force in the Republic.
In 1917 when the question of a ahange in the
Consti tati on was agitated the women, who up
to that time had not been especially interested in the vote, thought it time to get
busy, realizing that th~n if ever was the
time to strike for their· rights, as the
Constitution of 1830 denied to women any
and all intervention in public affairs. A
petition signed by only fifty-four women,
most of them leaders in the different
societies forming the Federation, was
presented to the General Assembly, declaring
their desire for eqaal civil and political
rights, with the result that the Constitu~
tion was modified so that the right of
Suffrage mifht be grante:d b7 a two-thirds
ma;jority vo e of both Ho a.ses. This was in
November 1917, and in De.cember of the same
year the first public · meeting in favor of
· Woman's Suffrage in Soat:h America was held
in the Assembly Hall of ·the Women' a O'ni varsity. In February 1918 on the anniversar.v
of the death of Dr. Hector Miranda, noted
Statesman and Educator. lll great pub l1c
ceremony was held• a civic funeral attended
officially by the President with the Cabinet
meig~113and other high g~ve.rnment officials,
1
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and also by the women, who placed on his
tomb a bronze tablet w.ith. this inscription:
"In honor of the first Uraguayan Legislator
to present a Bill for the ~ecognition of the
Political Rights of Women".
In 1923 Bra. carrie Chapman catt gave
an address in the University of Montevideo
in whioh she insinuated that the women of
Uruguay were "Tres pasos atr~s". but considering the great strides they have made
sinoe that time and a l1:10 the faot that it
took them only 17 year~ to gain what the
women in the United states worked 70 years
to acquire we oan say ·that they have more
than made up their "Three Steps". and the
men of Uruguay must look well to their
laurels if they do not wish to be surpassed.
Uruguayan women. in addition to being
the first in south America to initiate the
suffragist movement, WEJre also the first
to give pab1io voioe to their opinions, and
an UrugtJ.S.yan woman gaVEt the first public
oonferenoe on the subject in the Argentine.
They were also ahead in the faot that they
had ver,v little public opinion to overcome.
The preparation of the women themselves
a long. different lines ~Lad proven that they
were capable of realizi,ng a definite social
service work and public sentiment among the
men had been rapidly on the increase.
In 1918 President Viera presented a
Bill asking for equal rights for both sexes
and in 1923 President Bram presented another.
neither of whioh were passed, but a Leading
man of the day, commenting on this BilL by
President Brum in the Press said: "If there
has ever been a flagrant injustice in
History it is that whioh man has been committing against women ever since her first
a ppearanoe on the earth.". and went on to says
"When this Bill becomes a Law. as it soon
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will, Urugaay will have nobly res ponded to
one Of the most pressi.ng qaestions of the
day.". Sr. Joe& :Batlle y Ordonez, Uragaay's
"Grand Old Man" • was a feminist by principle,
and daring his presidency, and in fac1
·
throaghoat his entire political life, he gave
his vote and inflaenoe to all matters pertaining to the elevation of women and the
improvement of their conditions.
The object of the National Federation
was: "To establis~ bonds of ~ity between
the different Women's Associations which
were working for the moral, social, intelleotaal and humanitarian advancement of the
women of Uruguay". It was independent of
all political and religions parties. and .
from the first, althoagh its beginnings were
small, its inflaenoe w~1s greatly felt. It
adopted and endeavored to carry oat the
Program of the Interna1:;1onal Federation in
its fandamental principles -. "!o aid and
sustain International llrbitration, to combat
the White Slave Traffic, to seoare an apprec~ation of women's wor~ - eqaal pay for
eqaal work - the equalization of the sexes
in the Civil taw, and the right of women
to follow all the professions, arts and
indastries, eqaalization of edaoation, and
if possible oo-edacation• By 1923 all the
careers were open to women excepting that
of Notary Pablic, as th.e TB.w says that a
Notary Pablic mast be a citizen, bat with
the granting of saffrage this has automat~oally been granted.
In 1919 the llational Alliance for
Women's Saffrage was organized. This was
also an initiative of Dr. Paaliaa Laisi.
11h11e the two organizations were entirely
independent, both were working for the
social, eoonomio and in·tellectaal advance.;.
ment of the Uragaayan women, and their·
efforts have revolation;S.zed and changed the
�-46·en~ire aspect of both sexes towards woman
and her work, and have brought about
changes in·aonditions and oiroumstanoes
whioh have been felt not in Uragaay only
bat in the entire femenine world. It was
onder the aaspioes Oj~ the National Allianoe
and by motion of Drao Luisi that the PanAmerican Women's League was organized at
the Congress held in Baltimore in 1923•
The Uruguayan delega1;e to this Congress
was Sra. de Vitale, l:l~ prominent femenist
and social servioe worker. They also
formed an Uruguayan Committee anxiliar.y to
the Pan-Amerioan Saientifio Conference
held in Lima. Per6 in 1924.
The work of the National Federation
has been more conservative, and while it
has been a long and in most oases a silent
process, its influence has been felt in many
different ways, its work recognized and many
important results obt~ined. It has presented
to the Government many petitions for the
improvement of conditlons for women and
children. Many of th,gse have not been
granted per se, but t:b.ey have brought aboat
reforms which are being felt throughout
the entire Republic.
One important measure tor which they
are responsible was the passing of the
""Ley de la Sills" whioh compels storekeepers
to provide chairs for the girls in their
employ and permit them to be ased. They are
also responsible for the improvement of
conditions in domesticl service and women's
work in genera 1 - higher wages, shorter
hours, eta.; also for laws for the protection of mothers. Their HYgiene Committee
indaaed owners of houses for rent to install
baths, and insisted that stores and public
offices should inata 11. toilets for women.
It has since become a Law that houses ereoted
after this baW went into effect. and all
�-4'1·-.
hottses for rent mast have proper sanitary
installations. ·The kioscos for the protection of children on the beaches are dtte
to their intervention. These are dependent ,
on the First Aid Department of the Board ot
Hea 1th, bat the narse1:. in charge are named
by the committee of women.
·
The Edaoational Gommittee investigates
school attendance, a.n<l where non-attendance
is due to lack of proper clothing see that
it is provided. They have organized a corps
of "School Mothers" wj~th duties similar to
those of this organization in the United
States. In fact, mos1; of the present r..aws
for the protection of women and children,
working girls, eta., are due to the ind~fat
igable efforts of these women, who have kept
working away until lit;tle by little public
opinion has been aroused. Bat now that the
laws are passed it is largely forgotten
that the women had anything to do in the
matter.
Woman's legal status in Urugaay is still
far from being what it should be, althoagh
there is a project and.er consideration at
· the present time to im·prove their oi vil
rights. A married wo~n cannot hold property
in her own name - it ma.st be administered
by her ha.sband; neith.er oan she have a
private bank acooant, 'bttt she may have a
joint acooant with him in which case. she oan
draw oat all the money. as it shows that she
hils her ha.sband's approval. She oan have a
Postal Savings' Aocoant a.p to the limit $25oo.oo. She oan make a will ba.t she cannot
make contracts nor carr, on a lawsttit withoa.t
the permission of her hasband, excepting in
a criminal case or in a suit against him,
in which case he is obliged to pay the costs.
On the other hand the l)ivorce t.e.ws are all
in favor of the woman, who needs only to
apply for a divorce w11;hoa.t giving any oaa.sa
whatever, while a man may apply for a
�-..48-
divorce only in the case of inconstancy,
which mast be proven. A foreigner married
to an Uragaayan has the same civil rights
as the Uragaayan woman.
Fifty-foar.women signed the petition
in 1917. In 1923 a pe1tition asking that
Parliament give first preference to the Bill
presented by President Bram was signed by
thousands of women, an.d today • if such a
petition were necessax·y it would be signed
by practic~lly every woman in the Republic.
In August 1933 there was a woman's Peace
Manifestation initiated by the Women's
Student Association. which occupied several
blocks of the principal street of Montevideo.
As they marched down the street they were
greeted by acclamations of sympathy and
flowers were thrown at their feet. Speeches
were made by the principal women leaders of
the City - sta. Isabel Pazos Abelendo, president of the committee, Dra. Mercedes Pintos
de Vidal, Sta. Leonor :a:ourtiooa, Sra. Berta
De Maria de Santiago, Sta. Inez Navarro, Sra.
de Fragoni, Sra. Luisa Guarnesqaeli de
Margia and Sra. Oyra de De Vicente. So has
public opinion changed in seventeen years.
The ideals of the National Federation "Not for herself bat for Humanity" - have
been well carried oat by the Uruguayan women
and they are beginning to reap their reward.
Dra. Paulina LUisi in tln address made to the
women of the ooantry ill 1923 said that they
were doing a work of p~eparation for future
generations, and quoted:
"We shall not reaoh the radiant Moant
Towards which oar eyes·are fixed today,
Bat on the ground which we are breaking
Oar daughters shall march to Victory."
and while some of the women who were in the
fight at that time haVEt passed away • a large
�nttmber of these women, among them Dra. Lttisi
herself, have seen their work crowned with
sttocess when in Deoemb1:tr 1932 the right of
sttffrage was extended to the women of
Urttguay-.
·
These rights beini~ obtained the Societychanged to an independi:~nt political partyttnder the name of "The Women•s Independent
Democratic Party", entering the poli.ical
fight with the same hi4rh ideals for constituti ona 1 reform; the !C'eVindicati on of the
rights of women, social, economic and civil;
the rights of children; the Labor Law in all
its phases - soientifi«l organization of Labor,
laws to protect the working people~ child
labor, eta.; improvement of the social laws;
home and family interests, together with all
edttcational, indnstrial and 1 administrative
interests; to combat o;rioe in all forms and
to raise the standard c>f morals, both private
and public, .making a strong plea to all
Urttgttayan women to joi~ in their efforts for
the progress of the Repttb ltc.
Among the
most prominent women in this movement are:
Dra. Paulina Lttisi, the first woman to
gradttate from the Med15'al School, the organtzar of the National Federation and of the
Woman's Sttffrage Association. Dra. Lttisi
is a Professor of sociu.l H,ygiene, head of
the Gineological Olinill and the attthor of
several works relative to women and children;
on H,ygiene, Sociology and Taws. She bas
represented Urttgttay- in the Child's Congress
in Buenos Aires in 1916, in the Consttlting
Committee of the Child Welfare Movement and
the Treatment of Women in the league of
Nations since 1922, the National Labor Congress and the International Congress of
Social Rtgiene in iaris in 1923, the International Medical oongr$SS in Buenos Aires
in 1926, the Child Welfare Congress in :Milan
1
�-5othe Disarmament aonferanoe and the Second
Extraordinary Aa~emb ly of the Leagne of
Nations. in 1932.
'. J ..
. 'I,_
Dra. Inez Luisi is head of Clinios in
one of the principal Hospitals of Montevideo,
Professor of Natural History in the Woman's
University, and was Dean of the University
for one term. Both are prominent in the
femanist movement.
,.
..... ··;:
t
.t
.,
'
:::.
_, .·
The ~isi sisters have all been pioneers •
Dra. Clotilda ~uisi. Dr. in taw and Sooial
Soianoe, was the first woman to graduate
from the Jaw Sohool and the first Dean of the
Woman's University. In addition to her taw
work she is Professor of History in the
Women's University and in the Girls' Normal
Insti tuta.
I
""
.
Dra. Sara Ray Alvarez. another prominent
leader, studied for som'e years in Europe and
obtained the Academia Diploma in Psychology
_in the University of London. She has written
a number of works on sociology and Psychology and has two novels in preparation. She
published a study on "The Different Psycho logy of the Sexes" in Br:ussels in 1925, and
another on "The Antimony between Individuals
and society". She has also written articles
on "Soviet Russia"~"Woman Philosophers,"
"Women's Labor Problems", "Feminine ~teratnre
in Urugnay" and "The Pa·rticipa.tion of the
laborer in the Profits". She has given ooursas
in Psycho-Pedagogy and Psychology and is the
author of a text book on Psychology for use
in the Normal Schools. She has been a
member of the Board of Delinquents and Minors
since 1929 and has presented to the
Government a pro~eot for the oreation of a
•ational Board for the Protection of Minors.
In addition to th~s she has dedicated
herself to the Feminist cause in pro of
�.;.51Women's Rights and has been'the animator
and guider of this movement for the last few
years. She is at present President of the
Women's 'Party.
.
~.{ .·
--;
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. I
t.
"
Dra. Sofia Alvarez de Demiohelli is a
graduate of the r.aw Sohool of Montevideo.
She is the author of an interesting article
on the legal Status of Women, treating the
subject from the point of view of comparative taw. In 1928, at the request of the
Anti-Alooholio ~ague, she prepared a long
legal study on "Alcoholism and the Rights
of Parents" whioh was presented by the ~ague
to the World's Congress held in Lausanne,
being unanimously approved by the Congress
and translated, at their request; into four
languages. She was one of the members of
the committee formed to draft the "Child's
Code" which it is hoped will be incorporated
in our Laws in the near future. She wrote
the chapters on "Adoption" which changes
fundamentally our present law; "The Investigation of Paternity", "The legal Status
of Illegitimate Children", "Offenses against
Uorality", eto. In addition to this legal
work she is we 11 known ~:ts a journalist and
pabUo speaker, writing for practically all
the Montevideo and Buenos Aires papers, and
has gi van numerous addretsses on the various
social prob lams affectirtg women. She is a
member of the advisory oommittee of the
National Child Welfare Department, also of
a committee to study the law for Minors, is
legal advisor of the .Anti-Alcoholic teague
and of the "Chi ldrens' Homes" Association •
Because of her ability and her k+J.owledge of many of the sabj,ects which were to
be treated at the VII Pan American congress
held in Montevideo in De.oember 1933, she
was named delegate by the Uruguayan Government to this Conference.
�
Dublin Core
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Title
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First Lady's Work on Children’s Issues and Women’s Rights
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
White House Office of Records Management (WHORM)
Caligraphy Office
Chief of Staff
Domestic Policy Council
First Lady’s Office
Management & Administration
Millennium Council
Public Liaison
Special Envoy for the Americas
Women’s Initiative and Outreach
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1995-2000
Is Part Of
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<a href="http://clinton.presidentiallibraries.us/items/show/36054" target="_blank">Collection Finding Aid</a>
Identifier
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2006-0198-F Segment 4
Description
An account of the resource
<p>This collection contains records regarding conferences and events attended and hosted by the First Lady, Hillary Rodham Clinton. The key events in this collection consist of the United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women, Vital Voices, Beijing +5, and the Early Childhood Development Conference. The records include background materials in preparation for each of these conferences.</p>
<p>This collection contains records from the following offices: White House Office of Records Management, Calligraphy Office, Chief of Staff, Domestic Policy Council, First Lady's Office, Speechwriting, Management & Administration, Millennium Council, Public Liason, Special Envoy for the Americas, and Women’s Initiative and Outreach. The collection includes records created by: Ann Lewis, Harold Ickes, Cheryl Mills, Linda Cooper, Ann Bartley, Lisa Caputo, Lissa Muscatine, Marsha Berry, Eric Massey, Nicole Rabner, Shirley Sagawa, Christine Macy, June Shih, Laura Schiller, Melanne Verveer, Alexis Herman, Ruby Moy, and Doris Matsui.</p>
<p>This collection was was made available through a <a href="http://clinton.presidentiallibraries.us/freedom-of-information-act-requests">Freedom of Information Act</a> request.</p>
Provenance
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Clinton Presidential Records: White House Staff and Office Files
Clinton Presidential Records: White House Office of Records Managment
Publisher
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Clinton Presidential Library & Museum
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Adobe Acrobat Document
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11/14/2014
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301 folders in 30 boxes
Text
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Original Format
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Paper
Dublin Core
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Vital Voices - Stories
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Box 11
<a href="http://clintonlibrary.gov/assets/Documents/Finding-Aids/2006/2006-0198-F-4.pdf">Collection Finding Aid</a>
<a href="http://catalog.archives.gov/id/1766805">National Archives Catalog Description</a>
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First Lady’s Office
Speechwriting
Identifier
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2006-0198-F Segment 4
Provenance
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Clinton Presidential Records: White House Staff and Office Files
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Adobe Acrobat Document
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Clinton Presidential Library & Museum
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11/14/2014
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42-t-20060198f4-011-010
1766805