C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 002370

SIPDIS

STATE FOR G/TIP, NEA/ARP AND NEA/RA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/17/08
TAGS: PHUM PREL PGOV TC
SUBJECT: UAEG CONSIDERING RATIFICATION OF OPTIONAL
PROTOCOLS TO RIGHTS OF CHILD CONVENTION

REF: STATE 126276


1. (U) Classified by Acting Deputy Chief of Mission
Thomas E. Williams for Reasons 1.5 (b) and (d).


2. (C) On 17 March, Poloff delivered reftel demarche
to MFA Legal Affairs Deputy Director Yacub Al-Hosani
and encouraged the UAEG to consider ratifying the two
Optional Protocols to the Rights of the Child
Convention -- one on the involvement of children in
armed conflict, the other on the sale of children,
child prostitution and child pornography. (Note: The
UAEG ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of the
Child on 3 January 1997. In addition, the UAEG
ratified ILO Convention 182 Concerning Worst Forms of
Child Labor on 28 June 2001. End note.)


3. (C) Poloff encouraged the UAEG to ratify both
Optional Protocols, noting that UAEG ratification of
the Optional Protocol on the Sale of Children, Child
Prostitution and Child Pornography would constitute
another effort of the UAEG to monitor and combat
trafficking in persons. Al-Hosani noted that the MFA
had recommended to the Ministry of Justice that these
two optional protocols be considered for ratification.
He continued that the UAEG was against the actions
condemned in the two Optional Protocols and indicated
that UAE law already criminalized the subject matter
of the Optional Protocol on the Sale of Children,
Child Prostitution and Child Pornography. Al-Hosani
undertook to follow-up on the status of the Ministry
of Justice's action on the MFA's recommendation. We
will forward the UAEG's response when received.

ALBRIGHT