VZCZCXYZ0007
RR RUEHWEB
DE RUEHLI #2706 2951614
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 221614Z OCT 07
FM AMEMBASSY LISBON
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 6370
UNCLAS LISBON 002706
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
Department for G/IWI (Bottner)
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KWMN PHUM PREL PO
SUBJECT: PORTUGUESE NOMINEE FOR INTERNATIONAL WOMEN OF COURAGE
AWARD
REF: SECSTATE 126072
1. (U) Per reftel request, Embassy Lisbon nominates Ms. Ines
Fontinha for consideration in the Secretary's 2008 International
Women of Courage Award.
A. (U) Name and contact information:
Ines Fontinha
President of the Nest Association, Sociologist, Author
Address: Rua Luciano Cordeiro n. 59, 4th floor, 1150-212 Lisboa
Tel: +351-21-353 02 73
Email: geral@oninho.pt
Date of Birth: 1943
Country of Birth: Portugal
Citizenship: Portuguese
B. (U) Justification: Ines Fontinha was born in Madeira, Portugal
and trained as a sociologist. In 1975, Fontinha became director of
the NGO O Ninho ("The Nest"), a social institution that combats
prostitution and the sexual exploitation of women by promoting
access to social rights. By raising public awareness of the social
problems that marginalized women face, Fontinha hopes to eliminate
prostitution. Given that women are often victims and forced into
prostitution, O Ninho helps women leave prostitution through
counseling, protection, housing, and access to medical and legal
services. In addition, O Ninho provides vocational courses aimed
towards assisting women in social reintegration. Through these
programs, Fontinha has changed the lives of over 7,000 women
subjected to prostitution, violence, and social inequality.
O Ninho received the 2003 Assembly of the Republic Human Rights
Award. Fontinha is also the cofounder and member of the Secretariat
of the European Federation for the Eradication of Prostitution
(FEDIP). Along with O Ninho, FEDIP continues to be an important
institution working for women's rights and the elimination of
prostitution. FEDIP, as a multinational network against crime, also
works to combat sexual trafficking of women and children throughout
Europe.
Fontinha has authored several sociological articles on prostitution,
raising awareness of the causes and ways to eliminate prostitution
in Portugal, as well as other topics such as HIV/AIDS.
2. (U) Post contact for women's issues is Pol-Econ Officer Dana
Brown (browndml@state.gov, phone: ++351-21-770-2328).
Hoffman