DEMARCHE DELIVERED ON THREE INSTRUMENTS RELATED TO

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 003202 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/16/2013 TAGS: PHUM TU SUBJECT: DEMARCHE DELIVERED ON THREE INSTRUMENTS RELATED TO THE PROTECTION OF CHILDREN REF: STATE 126276 Classified by A/Polcouns Philip Kaplan for reason 1.5 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) We delivered reftel demarche May 15 to Gokcen Kaya, MFA Department Head for the United Nations. Kaya noted the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict is on the Turkish Parliament's agenda for ratification during this session. MFA will advise when Parliament ratifies. Turkey has already ratified ILO Convention No. 182 and the Protocol on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography. ¶2. (C) In response to Kaya's query whether the U.S. would ratify the Convention on the Rights of the Child, we explained that, unlike in other countries, U.S. state and local jurisdictions have primary authority over this issue and that U.S. law and custom already afford children protection. PEARSON