Cablegate: Lebanon: Nominee for 2009 International Women of Courage

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RR RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK RUEHROV
DE RUEHLB #1530 2990240
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 250240Z OCT 08
FM AMEMBASSY BEIRUT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3373
INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS BEIRUT 001530

SENSITIVE

SIPDIS

STATE FOR G/IWI
ALSO FOR NEA/FO, NEA/ELA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PHUM KWMN KPAO LE
SUBJECT: LEBANON: NOMINEE FOR 2009 INTERNATIONAL WOMEN OF COURAGE
AWARD

REF: STATE 99729

1. Embassy Beirut nominates Ms. Maya Mansour, an attorney and human
rights activist, for the 2009 International Women of Courage Award.

2. Ms. Mansour is a partner at the Public Interest Advocacy Center,
PINACLE, and is a member of the Institute of Human Rights at the
Beirut Bar Association. She serves as a pro-bono lawyer for human
rights cases that not only are important on their own merits, but
also push the Lebanese courts to implement the International Human
Rights Convention. Among her many accomplishments, Ms. Mansour
successfully worked on a case to legalize the status of refugees in
Lebanon, including Iraqi and Sudanese refugees; and in another case
provided legal guidance to battered women to educate them on ways to
use the legal system to defend themselves against further abuse.
She is also proud of her work to ensure the implementation of the
United Nations Children's Convention during a case in which she
obliged a divorced father to register his minor children in school.
Her passionate work on the rights of refugees, children, women, and
gender-related violence has earned her the respect of the legal and
human rights communities in Lebanon and brought needed attention to
issues that would otherwise be ignored in Lebanon's lively political
arena.

3. In addition, Ms. Mansour has provided training in human rights
issues, youth intercultural dialogue, and peace and democracy for
approximately 500 youth and young leaders in Lebanon and
internationally at schools, universities, and social clubs. In
October 2008, Ms. Mansour began teaching human rights courses at the
Beirut Arab University, continuing her focus on spreading the word
about human rights issues in Lebanon.

4. Ms. Mansour's professional background as an attorney and as an
advocate for human rights, as well as her efforts to educate and
train youth in these issues, contributes to strengthening the role
of women and underserved communities in Lebanon. Her activities
also strengthen the fabric of civil society by promoting human
rights awareness. Ms. Mansour's commitment to ensuring human rights
are discussed, respected, and implemented in Lebanon, a country of
intense religious, sectarian, and socio-economic conflicts, makes
her an ideal candidate for the International Women of Courage
Award.

5. Listed below are Ms. Maya Mansour's personal details, as
requested, per reftel.
A. Full Legal Name: Maya Mansour
B. Job Title/Association: Attorney at Law
C. Date of Birth: 04 October 1976
D. Citizenship: Lebanese
E.: Passport Number: RL 1023584
F. Address: Achrafieh- Bani Assaf Street- Beirut, Lebanon
G. Telephone: +961-3-306-276
H. Email: mansourmaya@hotmail.com
I. Notification: Ms. Mansour was notified and approved of her
selection as Embassy Beirut's candidate for International Woman of
Courage Award.

SISON

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