VZCZCXRO2426
OO RUEHGR
DE RUEHPO #0649 3481956
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 141956Z DEC 07
FM AMEMBASSY PARAMARIBO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9869
INFO RUCNCOM/EC CARICOM COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RUEHAO/AMCONSUL CURACAO IMMEDIATE 1218

UNCLAS PARAMARIBO 000649 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR WHA/CAR: JROSHOLT; FOR G/IWI; FOR G/TIP KBRESNAHAN 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL KWMN KAPO PHUM NS
SUBJECT: EMBASSY PARAMARIBO ACTIVITIES -- TAKING ACTION ON 
VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN 
 
REF: A. SECSTATE 142614 
 
     ¶B. PARAMARIBO 625 
 
¶1. (U) Summary.  Post marked the International Day of 
Elimination of Violence against Women as well as World Day 
for the Prevention of Child Abuse by conducting a variety of 
events focused on violence against women and children. Events 
included a radio address, a reading to school children, a 
guest speaker at the public opening of a USG-furnished TIP 
office, a one-day workshop on domestic abuse, consultations 
with NGOs, and a stakeholders' lunch at the Ambassador's 
residence.  Bringing together different stakeholders who work 
every day on assisting victims provided a forum for them to 
discuss new strategies with each other.  End Summary. 
 
¶2. (U) In response to the Secretary's request that Posts mark 
the International Day of Elimination of Violence against 
Women, and also to honor World Day for the Prevention of 
Child Abuse, Post conducted a series of activities focused on 
violence against women and children.  The campaign was kicked 
off on November 14 when the Ambassador recorded a video 
statement on the prevention of domestic abuse for repeated 
re-broadcast by the local NGO, Foundation for Human 
Development. 
 
¶3. (U) On November 19, Post commemorated World Day for the 
Prevention of Child Abuse through a public reading by Poloff 
to school children at the American Corner of abuse-prevention 
children's literature.  Extensive portions of the lesson were 
carried on two local television stations.  The same evening, 
for Post's monthly American Movie Night, Post showed the 
movie "Mystic River," which highlighted prevention of child 
abuse, to an audience that included former First Lady of 
Suriname Patricia D'Leon, one parliamentarian, and the 
Director of the Cabinet of the President. 
 
¶4. (U) Strategic Speaker Initiative speaker Vivian Huelgo, 
the Director of the Community Liaison Project at the U.S. NGO 
Sanctuary for Families, was at Post for activities from 
November 28 through 30 (Ref B).  She spoke to a diverse 
audience on trafficking in persons, violence against women, 
child abuse, and the connection between them. In addition, 
she was keynote speaker on November 28 at the public opening 
of a USG-furnished office for the police unit dedicated to 
fighting trafficking in persons.  This speech received 
extensive media coverage, and several individuals 
subsequently contacted the Embassy to request permission to 
attend Huelgo's workshop the following day. 
 
¶5. (U) Twenty-two representatives of the police, government, 
and non-governmental organizations attended Huelgo's November 
29 workshop on domestic abuse.  The workshop brought together 
key stakeholders to discuss issues related to domestic abuse 
and to develop best practices on how to address them.  During 
her visit, Huelgo also conducted one-on-one expert exchanges 
with directors of three NGOs working on domestic violence 
issues. 
 
¶6. (U) On November 30 the Ambassador hosted at her residence 
a lunch for guests working in the field of violence against 
women and children.  The lunch brought together 
representatives from a number of prominent NGOs as well as 
government officials working in that sector. 
 
¶7. (U) Comment.  The variety of activities conducted to draw 
attention to violence against women and children reached a 
broad audience.  The concept of "not blaming the victim" was 
emphasized throughout the events, which some workshop 
participants told us was "eye-opening" to them.  The workshop 
and stakeholders' lunch provided an opportunity for 
stakeholders to discuss with each other new strategies to 
assist victims.  End Comment. 
SCHREIBER HUGHES