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Cablegate: Kenya Elections: Unifem Rolls Out Gender Rapid Response

VZCZCXRO2731
RR RUEHROV
DE RUEHNR #4248 3031011
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 301011Z OCT 07
FM AMEMBASSY NAIROBI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3167
RUCNIAD/IGAD COLLECTIVE
RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA 9633
RUEHDR/AMEMBASSY DAR ES SALAAM 5542
RUEHDJ/AMEMBASSY DJIBOUTI 4898
RUEHKM/AMEMBASSY KAMPALA 2348
RUEHKH/AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM 1606
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 2441
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 2368
RHMFIUU/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
RHMFIUU/CJTF HOA

UNCLAS NAIROBI 004248

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KDEM PGOV PREL KCOR KE
SUBJECT: KENYA ELECTIONS: UNIFEM ROLLS OUT GENDER RAPID RESPONSE
UNIT TO COUNTER VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN CANDIDATES

REF: A. NAIROBI 4234

B. NAIROBI 3675
C. NAIROBI 1669

(U) On 18 October, UNIFEM launched a Gender Rapid Response Unit
(GRRU) to assist
women who are subjected to physical violence or intimidation as a
result of
their political activities. The stand up of the GRRU is a response
to a spate
of physical attacks and intimidation aimed at women candidates for
party
nomination races and eventual parliamentary races for the upcoming
general
elections (reftels A and B). GRRU will provide referral services to
victims for
medical attention, psycho-social counseling, and provide legal
assistance to
institute legal proceedings against perpetrators of violence or
intimidation.
To the disappointment of some women candidates, GRRU will not offer
direct
candidate security services, but has offered to provide training to
candidates?
security personnel. Although the USG is not directly funding this
program, all
USG election activities take into account other donors? programs so
as to
achieve the desired outcome: free, transparent, and peaceful
elections (reftel
C).

RANNEBERGER

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