Cablegate: Embassy Dhaka Observes International Women's Day

VZCZCXYZ0009
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHKA #0428 0732359
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 142359Z MAR 07
FM AMEMBASSY DHAKA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3518
INFO RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 9726
RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU 8979
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 1541
RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO 7821

UNCLAS DHAKA 000428

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM BG KWMN
SUBJECT: EMBASSY DHAKA OBSERVES INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY

REF: STATE 019118

1. Summary: In commemoration of International Women's Day, Embassy
Dhaka released an Op-Ed by the Chief of Mission, held a Gender and
Development Fair, and will co-host a "Women Working Together"
program with six other missions. End Summary.

2. Embassy drafted an Op-Ed in the Ambassador's name for
International Women's Day based on the building blocks distributed
in reftel. This editorial was carried in eight Bengali language
newspapers and one local English language daily with a combined
circulation of over one million readers.

3. Also on March 8, State and USAID co-hosted a Gender and
Development Fair in the Chancery for Embassy employees. The CDA and
the USAID Director made opening remarks. A local performance group,
Rupantar, performed a traditional song and dance with a modern
theme: family life and the consequences of domestic violence. USAID
partners working on Gender and Development projects, including
projects on education, agriculture, health, and social issues,
manned booths with information on their projects. A Bengali film
about domestic violence, "Kranti," was shown and followed by an
interactive panel discussion on "Ending Impunity for Violence
Against Women."

4. On March 21, Embassy will co-host a "Women Working Together"
program with the Asia Development Bank, UNDP, and the diplomatic
missions of Canada, Norway, Sweden, and Switzerland, all of which
have women heads of mission. Over 250 women are expected to attend.
Attendees will come from a cross-section of society including
garment factory workers, Bangladesh government employees, and NGO
workers as well as representatives from local diplomatic missions.

5. Women journalists will be invited to cover the event. The
program will include an exhibition of art from women artists,
entertainment, and booths displaying projects that support women and
girls. A USAID booth will offer information on the related NGO
projects it supports in Bangladesh.

PASI

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