UAEG CONSIDERING RATIFICATION OF OPTIONAL

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