VZCZCXYZ0004
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHLI #2379 2570912
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 140912Z SEP 07
FM AMEMBASSY LISBON
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6249
INFO RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY

UNCLAS LISBON 002379 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR G, DRL/SEA, AND NSC/DEMOC 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PHUM PREL
SUBJECT: PORTUGAL: INPUT FOR THE PRESIDENT'S HUMAN RIGHTS 
ROUNDTABLE AT 2007 UNGA 
 
REF: A. SECSTATE 125456 
 
     ¶B. LISBON 2301 
 
 ¶1. (U) Embassy Lisbon works closely with the Portuguese 
government to strengthen its already well-developed democracy 
and human rights infrastructure.  Per ref A request, this 
cable details Post's efforts to promote the Freedom agenda in 
Portugal. 
 
Promoting Democracy 
------------------- 
 
¶2. (U) Since Portugal's peaceful 1974 revolution, Portugal 
has established a strong, transparent democracy, and sought 
ways to promote more stable democratic institutions in former 
colonies in Africa and Asia.  As a Mission, we look for 
avenues to engage through multilateral organizations such as 
the Community of Portuguese-language Speaking Countries 
(CPLP) and the Community of Democracies.  Post has encouraged 
CPLP outreach to Guinea Bissau and East Timor for election 
observers as well as Portugal's participation in the UN 
mission to stabilize the fragile government in East Timor. 
In Angola, the Department of Commerce is working with the 
Portuguese to computerize and advance Angola's judicial 
system.  Embassy Lisbon supports Portugal's outreach efforts 
to both nations and meets frequently with MFA interlocutors 
to encourage a robust Community of Democracies chairmanship 
beginning in November. 
 
¶3. (U) Emboffs have stressed with MFA officials the 
importance of promoting freedom of the press and freedom of 
speech, especially beyond Portugal's borders.  Although 
Portuguese press is free, we urge the Portuguese to dialogue 
with other nations in Europe and Africa where that is not the 
case. 
 
Defending Human Rights 
---------------------- 
 
¶4. (U) Embassy Lisbon is active in promoting human rights 
awareness, most notably on the issues of trafficking and 
religious tolerance.  We support ongoing Portuguese efforts 
to combat human trafficking by coordinating Embassy visits to 
NGOs, participating in anti-trafficking conferences, writing 
op-eds to raise awareness, and sponsoring human rights 
activists for International Visitor programs.  To further 
religious freedom and tolerance, Post hosts an annual Iftar 
during Ramadan and has coordinated outreach events with a 
local Muslim school.  Our Office of Public Affairs organizes 
separate press roll-outs for the annual TIP and Human Rights 
reports, and provides electronic distribution of these 
materials in both English and Portuguese. 
 
¶5. (U) During Portugal's EU Presidency, DRL DAS Barks-Ruggles 
and IO DAS Manisha Singh met with Portuguese MFA counterparts 
to consult on our human rights agenda at the UN (ref B). 
Portugal intends to present several human rights initiatives, 
both country-specific and thematic, to the Human Rights 
Council and the UN's Third Committee. 
Hoffman