Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05STATE131486
2005-07-14 23:21:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Secretary of State
Cable title:  

LEAHY VETTING GUIDANCE/ACES UP AND RUNNING

Tags:  KSEP MASS PINR PREL AADP 
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R 142321Z JUL 05
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO ALL DIPLOMATIC AND CONSULAR POSTS COLLECTIVE
AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE 
AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM 
USLO TRIPOLI 
AMEMBASSY BELIZE 
REO MOSUL 0000
REO BASRAH 0000
REO KIRKUK 0000
UNCLAS STATE 131486 

SIPDIS


E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KSEP MASS PINR PREL AADP
SUBJECT: LEAHY VETTING GUIDANCE/ACES UP AND RUNNING

REF: (A)A. 05 STATE 21314, (B)B. 03 STATE 34981

UNCLAS STATE 131486

SIPDIS


E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KSEP MASS PINR PREL AADP
SUBJECT: LEAHY VETTING GUIDANCE/ACES UP AND RUNNING

REF: (A)A. 05 STATE 21314, (B)B. 03 STATE 34981


1. Summary: The Abuse Case Evaluation System (ACES),
which is the Department's new software application to
compile and track human rights abuses worldwide, is now
operational. ACES is a clearinghouse of human rights-
related reporting, which will facilitate the management of
human rights abuse allegations and compliance with the
Leahy amendment guidelines on providing foreign
assistance. ACES is now available to posts and the
Department for integration into Leahy vetting procedures.
This cable supplements but does not replace previous
guidance. Guidance in reftels A and B is still valid.

ACES: The New Human Rights Database
--------------


2. ACES is now operational and is available for use at (
http://ACES.state.sgov.gov) ACES is intended as the
Department's standard repository for human rights abuse
allegations and reporting on same. For full procedures,
see reftel A. To summarize reftel A, reports will come
from sources currently used for Leahy vetting, such as
post reporting, press, NGOs, National Human Rights
Commissions, and others. Users at post and in the
Department will be able to enter and comment on
allegations, and DRL will validate all reports. To the
extent possible, DRL will check with desk and post for
additional information before allegations are entered into
ACES. While the Department will accept reports from all
sources, only the USG will have access to ACES.


3. Henceforth posts and relevant bureaus in Washington
must enter all allegations of human rights abuses by
foreign security forces into ACES in addition to any and
all other reporting protocols such as Cable Express. For
posts where security forces are being trained, a quarterly
country team meeting should be conducted to ensure that
reports are entered or to verify that no allegations have
been received in that quarter, per reftel A. Users should
also provide comment on existing reports, such as
evaluation of the report's credibility and whether post
has investigated the report, and identify known
connections between records when appropriate. Both
historical and current reports can be entered into ACES.
Personnel of other government agencies (DOD, Justice) will
also be able to access ACES via SIPRNET.


4. Per reftel A, posts will use ACES to report human
rights abuses (para 8) and for vetting (para 9). Posts are
also urged to use ACES as a tool to organize existing
files of past allegations by creating new records for each
incident. The Department will also be working to fill
ACES with reports. In the verification stage, DRL will
ensure there are no duplicate records. ACES contains
approximately 300 records so far, so we must work together
to log new and existing reports for it to be a robust
tool. It is the Department's desire to make Leahy human
rights vetting efficient and effective as well as to
facilitate human rights monitoring and reporting in
general.

How to Access ACES:
--------------


5. ACES is classified Secret/NoForn. ACES is a web-
enabled application on CLASSNET and requires no software
installation to the user's computer. Users should access
the home page to request a user name and password. All
requests will be answered via CLASSNET e-mail with a one-
time use password. During the user's first login, a new
password will be generated by the user in compliance with
State Department password format policies.


6. An ACES user manual is also available on the site, as
is guidance on how to use ACES for vetting purposes. The
Leahy human rights vetting procedures are explained in
reftels. Posts are advised to review reftels to ensure
compliance with Leahy vetting requirements. ACES contains
a mechanism enabling questions, comments, and
recommendations about ACES to be submitted. Classnet
performance issues should be reported to the IRM
Infocenter; question about ACES's performance or features
should be directed to the ACES system manager Gary Carlson
of IRM/OPS/SIO at carlsongs@state.sgov.gov.


7. Points of contact at the Department of State regarding
ACES are LeRoy Potts DRL/CRA, Patrick Harvey DRL/PHD, and
Gary Carlson IRM/OPS/SIO. Point of contact for questions
on Leahy vetting procedures is Gregory Holliday, PM/PPA.


8. MINIMIZE CONSIDERED.
RICE