CANADIAN VIEWS REGARDING U.S. DRAFT RESOLUTION ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L OTTAWA 001845 SIPDIS SIPDIS IO/RHS FOR LINDA LUM E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/02/2012 TAGS: PHUM KWMN AORC SOCI UN CA SUBJECT: CANADIAN VIEWS REGARDING U.S. DRAFT RESOLUTION ON "CONDEMNING THE USE OF RAPE AS AN INSTRUMENT OF STATE POLICY" REF: STATE 135255 Classified By: PolMinCouns Scott Bellard, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) In a meeting with PolMinCouns on October 2, Acting Director General of Foreign Affairs for Human Security and Human Rights Gwyneth Kutz expressed Canada's support for the overall objective of reftel draft resolution and its hopes for eventual adoption in some form. However, she noted a long-standing Canadian concern that it and similar resolutions must refer to a growing international legal framework including the International Criminal Court and the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, among others. She and Elizabeth Williams of DFAIT's Human Rights and Economic Law Division both commented that they had appreciated earlier dialogues on this topic with IO/RHS and with Ambassador Rees, and that Canadian views were well known already, but added that DFAIT looks forward to a further exchange of views here and in New York. ¶2. (C) Kutz warned in particular of the special dynamics of the Third Committee, and urged the U.S. to examine carefully the lessons of previous resolutions in order to develop a strategy that would lead to success. She especially encouraged a dialogue with the British on a previous resolution regarding "honor crimes," such as the importance of the "right" co-sponsors. She noted that women's issues in particular have often been "polarizing" and "polemic" in the Third Committee, with many delegations -- notably the Cuban but also OIC members -- often attempting to slip in "bomblets," such as references to "foreign occupation" or other controversial buzzwords. She also commented that this topic would almost inevitably trigger discussion and possible inclusion of references to World War II-era "comfort women" as well as calls for reparations. Williams emphasized that the Canadians would insist on expanding the references to health care and HIV/AIDS in the draft resolution. Visit our shared North American Partnership blog (Canada & Mexico) at http://www.intelink.gov/communities/state/nap WILKINS