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