CHILD PROTECTION COVENANTS: ITALY

C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 002176 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/15/2004 TAGS: PHUM ELAB IT HUMAN RIGHTS SUBJECT: CHILD PROTECTION COVENANTS: ITALY REF: REF: STATE 126276 CLASSIFIED BY: LABOR COUNSELOR JOHN BASS, REASONS 1.5 (B) AND (D) ¶1. (C) ITALY HAS RATIFIED ALL THREE COVENANTS; THE COVENANTS ON CHILDREN IN ARMED CONFLICT AND SALE OF CHILDREN/PROSTITUTION WERE RATIFIED AND IMPLEMENTED IN MARCH 2002 AND ILO 182 TWO YEARS EARLIER IN MAY 2000. WE PERIODICALLY DISCUSS CHILDREN'S RIGHTS ISSUES WITH GOI INTERLOCUTORS, MOST RECENTLY IN THE RUN-UP TO THE ANNUAL SESSION OF THE UN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION. ITALIAN OFFICIALS EVINCE A STRONG COMMITMENT TO PROTECTING AND UPHOLDING CHILDREN'S RIGHTS, A POSITION THAT REFLECTS BROAD SOCIETAL SUPPORT AND CONSENSUS. THESE DISCUSSIONS INVARIABLY INCLUDE POLITE BUT POINTED INQUIRIES FROM OUR ITALIAN COLLEAGUES SEEKING CLARIFICATION OF WHETHER THE U.S. INTENDS TO RATIFY THE UMBRELLA CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD. ¶2. (U) ITALIAN AUTHORITIES STRONGLY ENFORCE ITALIAN LAW AND INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS COVERING CHILDREN'S RIGHTS. IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS, NATIONAL POLICE ROLLED UP AN ORGANIZED CRIME GROUP AUCTIONING OFF BABIES OF PROSTITUTES AND ARRESTED 400 IN A NATIONWIDE CRACKDOWN ON CHILD PORNOGRAPHY ON THE INTERNET, TO CITE BUT TWO RECENT EXAMPLES. SEMBLER NNNN 2003ROME02176 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL