EMBASSY BERLIN RESPONSE TO FY 2008 PEDOPHILIA

UNCLAS BERLIN 000386 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS, IO, EUR E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AORC EAID PHUM SOCI GM SUBJECT: EMBASSY BERLIN RESPONSE TO FY 2008 PEDOPHILIA CERTIFICATION REF: STATE 27762 ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY. Per reftel request, Embassy Berlin has found no evidence that would suggest that United Nations Volunteers (UNV) or its affiliate organizations have ties to groups that support pedophilia. Per UNV representatives, the organization does not grant official status, accreditation, or recognition to any organization that promotes, condones, and/or seeks the legalization of pedophilia, or that has any subsidiaries or member organizations that do. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (SBU) Post contacted a representative from UNV, whose headquarters are located in Bonn, who provided us with a website listing their partners. The website can be found at http://www.unv.org/partners/partnership-list/ print.html. ¶3. (SBU) The list of partner agencies includes 22 UN agencies and seven other agencies. Information about the 22 UN agencies is either requested directly from other posts in reftel, or is most readily attainable from USUN; as such, Embassy Berlin will not look into these agencies. Of the seven other agencies, two of them -- the European Union and the International Federation of the Red Cross/Red Crescent -- are based outside of Germany and have a regional or global reach that spans well beyond Germany. ¶4. (SBU) The other five agencies listed as partners with UNV were not readily known to Embassy Berlin personnel, and were examined in accordance with reftel instructions, utilizing the internet. Results were as follows: -- CIVICUS: This is a South African-based NGO that seeks to strengthen citizen action and civil society throughout the world. Our investigation yielded no overt ties to groups that support pedophilia. -- International Association for Volunteer Effort (IAVE): This is a California-based NGO that seeks to promote the development of volunteering worldwide. They already have special consultative status with the UN ECOSOC Committee, and associate status with the UN Department of Public Information. Our investigation yielded no overt ties to groups that support pedophilia. -- Inter-American Development Bank (IADB): This is a U.S.-based international development bank that serves as the main source of financing for economic development in Latin America and the Caribbean. Our investigation yielded no overt ties to groups that support pedophilia. -- New Academy of Business: This is a UK-based NGO that seeks to provide leaders with insights on organizational responsibility. Our investigation yielded no overt ties to groups that support pedophilia. Post notes there is a limited amount of information about this NGO on the internet. Embassy London may have additional information. -- OneWorld: This is a UK-based NGO that seeks to promote democracy worldwide through modern medium such as the internet. Our investigation yielded no overt ties to groups that support pedophilia. ¶5. (SBU) POC for this cable is EconOff Jeremy Nathan, nathanjp@state.gov. Total amount of staff time devoted to complying with this request was 4.5 hours. TIMKEN JR