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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 USUN NEW YORK 000086 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR IO, AF, S/GWI 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/09/2010 
TAGS: PREL PHUM SOCI KPKO KWMN UNSC CG
SUBJECT: NEWLY APPOINTED SRSG ON SEXUAL VIOLENCE WALLSTROM 
CONVEYS BROAD VISION OF ROLE 
 
Classified By: AMBASSADOR SUSAN E. RICE FOR REASONS 1.4(B) AND (D) 
 
1.(SBU) SUMMARY. During a February 8 meeting with Ambassador 
Rice, newly appointed Special Representative on Sexual 
Violence in Conflict Margot Wallstrom outlined her 
priorities, emphasizing the importance of ending impunity for 
perpetrators, empowering women and using media to change 
negative attitudes on violence against women and sexual 
violence.  In reference to the Team of Experts mandated by 
UNSCR 1888, Wallstrom noted her desire to begin its work in a 
"welcoming" country headed by a woman, such as Liberia, 
before tackling the more challenging DRC.  Wallstrom 
emphasized the importance of giving "teeth" to UNSCR 1888 and 
hopes to leverage the authorities contained within UNSCR 1325 
on children and armed conflict to target sexual violence 
against young girls.  Wallstrom also outlined plans to 
establish an advisory panel comprised of high level military 
officials to further the debate on sexual violence. END 
SUMMARY. 
 
Wallstrom Outlines Priorities 
------------------------------ 
 
¶2. (SBU) In a February 8 meeting with Ambassador Rice, newly 
appointed Special Representative on Sexual Violence in 
Conflict Margot Wallstrom congratulated the U.S. for its 
leadership on countering sexual violence, and noted that the 
short length of her mandate will make it difficult to 
instigate substantial change.  She plans to have a staff in 
place by March 1 and begin work in New York one month later. 
Recognizing her lack of UN experience, Wallstrom emphasized 
that she will hire a strong chief of staff, as well as 
individuals with military and communications experience. 
Wallstrom expects a staff of ten individuals, with possible 
reinforcements coming from UN Action.  Wallstrom outlined 
three "tracks" that she hopes to pursue simultaneously.  Her 
first initiative is to end impunity for perpetrators of 
sexual violence, including those within the UN system itself. 
 Wallstrom noted her desire to create a code of conduct for 
peacekeeping troops to demonstrate that UN operations are 
"impeccable."  Second, Wallstrom will focus on women's 
empowerment, to ensure they are involved in the sexual 
violence debate.  Third, Wallstrom plans to use 
communications tools and media outreach to "create a debate 
and mobilize society on these issues." 
 
¶3.  (SBU) Ambassador Rice underscored the U.S.'s focus on 
impunity for perpetrators of sexual violence and cautioned 
Wallstrom on pursuing three broad tracks simultaneously, 
noting that empowerment is a longer-term goal.  She said that 
the U.S.'s perspective stems from security and protection 
concerns, and advised Wallstrom that it will be important to 
demonstrate a lower number of both victims and perpetrators. 
Rice welcomed Wallstrom's interest in employing team members 
with complementary skills, stating that a "strong and senior 
military advisor" will be key. 
 
Team of Expert Deployment 
---------------------------- 
 
¶4.  (SBU) On the Team of Experts called for by UNSCR 1888, 
Wallstrom noted her desire to begin its work in a "welcoming" 
country headed by a woman, naming Liberia as a starting 
point.  She stated her preference for testing various 
methodologies before tackling larger challenges in other 
countries, stating that "we need success stories." 
Ambassador Rice gave an account of Liberia's dysfunctional 
legal system and widespread rape, and noted that it may be a 
more challenging environment than expected.  In response, 
Wallstrom underscored that President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf's 
leadership would be useful, and that the Team of Experts 
could help improve Liberia's troubled legal system.  Rice 
replied that while the United States would have no objection 
to Wallstrom's focus on Liberia, we would prefer that this 
not be done at the exclusion of the Democratic Republic of 
Congo (DRC).  Ambassador Rice cautioned that Wallstrom's 
proposed work in Liberia may not be complete until she is 
half way through her mandate, and recommended that Wallstrom 
show "early attention" to the DRC, as the world will judge 
her success on improvements in that country.  Wallstrom 
 
USUN NEW Y 00000086  002 OF 002 
 
 
agreed that setting up the Team of Experts quickly will be 
critical and promised not to sideline work on the DRC. 
 
¶5. (C) Wallstrom emphasized the importance of "giving teeth" 
to her work, and described plans to leverage UNSCR 1882 on 
Children and Armed conflict, which includes language on rape 
on sexual violence against children.  Wallstrom also hopes to 
pursue high profile cases of sexual violence, particularly in 
countries such as the DRC.  In response, Ambassador Rice 
noted the importance of keeping the political leadership of 
the UN Mission in the DRC (MONUC) "hammering away" at the 
country's political leadership.  Special Representative Alan 
Doss is "running into a brick wall" with DRC President Joseph 
Kabila on holding military officers to account, which is 
intolerable.  Wallstrom agreed, while underscoring that the 
United Nation's own peacekeeping forces must also be "above 
reproach." 
 
Media Outreach 
---------------- 
 
¶6. (SBU) Wallstrom described plans to use media outreach and 
communications tools to change negative public perceptions 
about sexual violence.  She suggested that member states 
could fund special projects within conflict and post-conflict 
societies to spread a positive message, including by using 
educational television soap operas or radio programs.  As an 
example, Wallstrom described her work in Sri Lanka with a 
Dutch production company to create an educational program on 
the important role of women in society.  Wallstrom also plans 
to establish an advisory panel to raise awareness of sexual 
violence in conflict, comprised of high-level military 
officers.  Ambassador Rice suggested that Wallstrom include 
representatives on the panel from the regions concerned to 
boost its effectiveness, suggesting General Mamadou Seck of 
Senegal.  Wallstrom was open to this idea and promised to 
follow up. 
 
Wallstrom Raises Afghanistan 
---------------------------- 
 
¶7. (C) Wallstrom lamented the absence of women from 
Afghanistan's Jirga Process, noting that there "was not a 
woman in sight."  Ambassador Rice assured Wallstrom that the 
U.S. believes that women's voices should be heard and has 
been disappointed that few are included in the Afghan 
cabinet.  At the same time, Ambassador Rice emphasized that 
the Jirga Process is Afghan-led. 
 
¶8. (SBU) Wallstrom also gave an account of the joint European 
Union and NATO conference on Women, Peace and Security that 
took place in Brussels on January 27.  The conference, meant 
as an awareness-raising event in view of the tenth 
anniversary of UNSCR 1325, included more than 400 
participants.  Wallstrom added that several helpful 
recommendations came out of the conference, including a call 
for additional national action plans on women, peace and 
security, as welQas for NATO to further integrate a gender 
perspective into its work. 
RICE