Cablegate: Seeking Names of Influential Women

VZCZCXYZ0014
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHRB #0159/01 0300854
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 300854Z JAN 07
FM AMEMBASSY RABAT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5707
INFO RUEHAS/AMEMBASSY ALGIERS PRIORITY 4293
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 3208
RUEHNK/AMEMBASSY NOUAKCHOTT PRIORITY 3405
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 4516
RUEHTU/AMEMBASSY TUNIS PRIORITY 9187
RUEHCL/AMCONSUL CASABLANCA PRIORITY 2600

UNCLAS RABAT 000159

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/MAG, STATE FOR S/WE SMEHRA AND GLANE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KWMN PHUM PREL
SUBJECT: SEEKING NAMES OF INFLUENTIAL WOMEN

REF: A. 06 STATE 202341

B. STATE 00011245

1. This cable is sensitive but unclassified, please protect
accordingly.

2. In response to reftel, Mission Morocco submits the names
of the following five women.

Latifa Jbabdi

Jbabdi is a well-known Moroccan human rights advocate. She
is a founding member of the Moroccan Association for Human
Rights (AMDH) and the National Observatory of Children's
Rights (ONDE). In 1983, she founded the Feminine Action
Union, a nongovernmental organization specifically relating
to women and children. She was the coordinator for the
National Council for the reform of the personal status code
which was enacted as the Family Law of 2004. She has also
represented Morocco in United Nation's organizations. Jbabdi
served on the Equity and Reconciliation Committee (IER) which
investigated human rights abuses in Morocco from 1956 through
1999. She is now a member of the Consultative Council on
Human Rights (CCDH), which is implementing the
recommendations of the IER, and is a permanent consultant to
the Rabat Social Development Agency.

Contact Information:

Latifa Jbabdi
President
Union de l'Action Feminine
425, Avenue Hassan II
Apt 13, Diour Jemaa
Rabat, Morocco

--Nuzha Skalli

Skalli, a pharmacist by training and the former president of
the National Trade Union Federation of Moroccan Pharmacists,
is a member of the board of the socialist party (PPS), a
parliamentarian and the first female head of a parliamentary
caucus group. She is the founder and an executive member of
several associations focusing on women, e.g., the Democratic
Association of Moroccan Women, the Listening Center for Legal
Assistance to Women, Victims of Violence and the Center for
Female Leadership (CLEF). Skalli has actively fought for
women's rights since the 1970s.

Contact Information:

Nouzha Skalli
Chef de Groupe de l'Alliance Socialists
Chambre des Representants
30, Rue Sidi Belyout, 5eme Etage, Apt. 54
Casablanca, Morocco

--Yasmina Baddou

Baddou is the State Secretary to the Minister of Social
Development, Solidarity, Children, Family and Handicapped.
Prior to this position, she was an accredited lawyer to the
supreme court, a judicial advisor to the Wali of Casablanca
and a director of the judicial department of the Banque
Commerciale du Maroc. Baddou is a member of the Istiqlal
political party and a deputy elected from Casablanca; and, as
well, she is the vice-president of Alliance Pro, a
"think-tank" nongovernmental organization.

Contact Information:

Yasmina Baddou
Secretaire d'Etat aupres du Ministre du Developpment social,

SIPDIS
de la famille et de la solidarite
31 Avenue El Abtal, BP 8101, Agdal
Rabat, Morocco

--Asmaa Chaabi

Chaabi is the director of a private school, a business woman,
and the president of the Chaabi foundation. In 2003, she was
elected the president (mayor) of the municipal council of
Essaouira.

Contact Information:

Asmaa Chaabi
Maire d'Essaouira
4 Rue Lalla Meryem, Souissi
Rabat, Morocco

or:

Asmaa Chaabi
Vice Presidente
Ynna Holding
233, Blvd. Mohammed V
Casablanca, Morocco

--Rahma Bourquia

Bourquia is a well-known academic and women rights advocate.
Her career has focused on women's rights in Morocco and
throughout the Arab World. Bourquia played an active and
instrumental role in the formation and passage of the 2004
Family Law. As the president of Hassan II University in
Mohammedia since 2002, she is the only female holding such a
position.

Contact Information:

Rahma Bourquia
Presidente
Universite Hassan II
279 Lot Yasmina, BP 150
Mohammedia, Morocco

3. Mission officers following women's issues are:

Rabat -- Cherie Lenzen -- LenzenCJ@state.gov, X2064

Casablanca -- Amy Wilson -- WilsonAM@state.gov, X4151

******************************************
Visit Embassy Rabat's Classified Website;
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/rabat
******************************************

Riley

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