This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

C O N F I D E N T I A L KABUL 000443 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR SA/FO AMBASSADOR QUINN, S/CT, SA/A, G KATE 
FRIEDRICH, G/IWI CHARLOTTE PONTICELLI AND DIANNE GRAHAM 
NSC FOR AHARRIMAN, KAMEND 
CENTCOM FOR POLAD, CG CFC-A, CG CJTF-76 
TREASURY FOR LMCDONALD, WBALDRIDGE, APARAMESWARAN, ABAUKOL 
STATE PLEASE PASS USAID 
USAID FOR AID/ANE, AID/DCHA/DG 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/01/2016 
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR KWMN AF
SUBJECT: CABINET DOWNSIZING: WILL THE AFHAN MINISTRY OF 
WOMEN'S AFFAIRS SURVIVE? 
 
Classified By: A/DCM ANGUS SIMMONS FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D) 
 
¶1. (C) SUMMARY.  During a January 25 meeting with A/DCM and 
POLOFFs, Minister of Women's Affairs Massouda Jalal expressed 
concern that the Ministry of Women's Affairs might not 
survive a possible upcoming cabinet reorganization.  Karzai 
has indeed said that he would like to streamline his Cabinet 
to 19 ministries, although the details of this are yet 
unclear (SEPTEL).  His new Cabinet will have to be confirmed 
by the new Parliament.  Post does not believe that MOWA is in 
serious danger, or that we should be telling the GOA how to 
structure the Afghan government.  However, we will let the 
GOA know that, whatever decision they might make on Cabinet 
re-structuring, they will need to demonstrate to the 
international community and the Afghan population that they 
are committed to improving the lot of Afghanistan's women. 
END SUMMARY. 
 
¶2. (SBU) During her meeting, Jalal asked for the assistance 
of a technical expert from the US to assist MOWA in 
developing a project proposal for additional support for 
women's councils across Afghanistan.  She would also like 
support for project funding for these councils (after the 
expert develops a proposal and a donors conference is held). 
In response, A/DCM stated that support to the women of 
Afghanistan remains a high priority for the US.  POLOFF 
suggested Jalal might also seek private funding for the 
expert she seeks (for example, from Ambassador Swanee Hunt, 
who has expressed interest in this type of assistance). 
 
¶3. (C) Jalal mentioned that she has heard rumors that MOWA 
will be eliminated, and asked for support to counter this 
action.  Other agencies in Kabul (such as UNIFEM and the 
Dutch Embassy) have also begun to seek support for a demarche 
or other action in support of the existence of an independent 
MOWA.  Post has separately heard rumors that a proposal to 
combine MOWA with the Ministry of Youth Affairs, Ministry of 
Martyrs and the Disabled, and Ministry of Social and Labor 
Affairs into a single Ministry of Social Affairs is under 
discussion as part of a general reorganization of the Cabinet 
and reduction of the number of Ministries.  Other 
international and Afghan sources, including one Minister and 
one AIHRC Commissioner, say the merger is likely to only 
involve three Ministries, with MOWA remaining separate 
because of its symbolic importance to improving women's lives 
in Afghanistan. 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
¶4. (C) Jalal's requests for support for MOWA may be an 
attempt to demonstrate her importance as a Minister and her 
ability to bring in funds to Afghanistan when she is facing 
challenges on two fronts:  her position as Minister (which 
must now be confirmed by Parliament) and the independence of 
her Ministry.  Jalal has faced substantial criticism during 
her tenure, in part for spending extensive time overseas, and 
has expressed concern about the likelihood of her 
re-nomination by Karzai or confirmation by Parliament to 
EMBOFFs.  Post is not supporting the re-appointment or 
confirmation of any individual Minister. 
 
¶5. (C) Post does not believe it is our role to determine the 
structure of the Afghan government, but will work to ensure 
that women's issues do not get short shrift in whatever 
future structure the Afghan bureaucracy will take.  We will 
remind the GOA of the symbolic importance that the Ministry 
has to Afghans and the international community.  If a merger 
of Ministries were to take place, we would stress the 
importance of maintaining Women's Affairs in the name of the 
Ministry and of sustaining programs that empower women.  END 
COMMENT. 
NORLAND