NETHERLANDS/UNGA: CAUTION ABOUT DRAFT RESOLUTION

UNCLAS THE HAGUE 001809 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: UN KWMN AORC PHUM SOCI NL SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/UNGA: CAUTION ABOUT DRAFT RESOLUTION "CONDEMNING THE USE OF RAPE AS AN INSTRUMENT OF STATE POLICY." REF: SECSTATE 135255 ¶1. (SBU) On September 27, POLOFF delivered reftel points to Suzanne de Groot, policy officer at the Human Rights and Peacebuildng Department of the Dutch MFA. De Groot expressed appreciation for the advanced consultation on the resolution, as well for U.S. efforts to address this specific human rights issue. De Groot expressed caution on the draft resolution, noting the Netherlands' preference to build on the success of last year's successful resolution, which took a more general approach. Last year's negotiations were intensive but successful in winning the support even of Islamic nations. A more specialized resolution, such as the U.S. proposal on rape as an instrument of state policy, could spur more controversial measures on, for example, the occupied territories or prostitution. ¶2. (SBU) De Groot emphasized that the Dutch reaction to the U.S. proposal was as a friend, and that the Dutch would discuss the proposal within the EU to reach a joint position. De Groot understood the risk of controversial amendments to U.S. sponsorship of the proposed resolution. De Groot suggested that -- notwithstanding U.S. concerns -- a resolution on violence against women ought to find appropriate language to reference Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women, the International Criminal Court, the Convention on the Rights of the Child and UN Security Council Resolution 1325. Gallagher