IMO RESPONSE TO FY 2008 PEDOPHILIA CERTIFICATION

UNCLAS LONDON 000897 SIPDIS SIPDIS FOR IO/RHS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AORC PHUM SOCI UK SUBJECT: IMO RESPONSE TO FY 2008 PEDOPHILIA CERTIFICATION REF: SECSTATE 27762 ¶1. In response to reftel, Post requested a Pedophilia certification from the International Maritime Organization (IMO). On March 28, 2008 ESTOff received the following letter and a list of NGOs affiliated with the IMO from Rozalie Balkin, Director of Legal Affairs and External Relations Division at the IMO. (begin text) NGOs affiliated with the UN - Section 102(G) Paedophilia Certification With reference to your letter of 18 March 2008 on the above subject, I accordingly certify that the International Maritime Organization does not knowingly grant any official status, accreditation, or recognition to any organization which promotes and condones, or seeks the legalization of paedophilia, or which includes as a susidiary or member any such organization. (end text) ¶2. Post reviewed the 69 non-governmental organizations which have been granted consultative status with the International Maritime Organization (IMO). This list is current as of November 2007.A review of the list of NGOs affiliated with the IMO showed the same organizations which were listed in the review last year with five new organizations. Post has reviewed IMO documents C98/WP.1 of 27 June 2007 and MSC 83/23/1 of 5 July 2007 which thoroughly review the applications of the International Association of Maritime Universities (IAMU),International Paint and Printing Ink Council (IPPIC),the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF),the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW),and the International Spill Control Organization (ISCO). Embassy staffer examined websites to ascertain that none of those organization was pro-pedophilia. There is no indication that any of the NGOs associated with the IMO are pro-pedophilia. ¶3. Post concludes that the International Maritime Organization does not grant any official status, accreditation, or recogniton to any organization which promotes and condones or seeks the legalization of pedophilia or has subsidiaries or member organizations that do. ¶4. Per reftel request the follow-up Mission contact is Kadri Sanchez, tel 44-20-7589-0704, email SanchezK@state.gov. Total amount of time devoted to complying with the request was approximately 3 hours. Visit London's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/london/index. cfm Tuttle