EMBASSY BERLIN RESPONSE TO FY 2009 PEDOPHILIA

UNCLAS BERLIN 000085 SENSITIVE SIPDIS, IO, EUR E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AORC EAID PHUM SOCI GM SUBJECT: EMBASSY BERLIN RESPONSE TO FY 2009 PEDOPHILIA CERTIFICATION REF: STATE 2050 ¶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) The list of partner organizations includes 22 UN agencies and seven other agencies, which can be found at www.unv.org/partners/partnership-list.html. 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 did not look into these agencies. Of the seven other agencies, three of them -- the European Union, International Federation of the Red Cross/Red Crescent, and the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB) are well-known international organizations based outside of Germany. ¶3. (SBU) The other four organizations 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 with offices in Washington DC that seeks to strengthen citizen action and civil society throughout the world. As part of the global civil society network in the UN General Consultative Status, CIVICUS has intensified its contributions to the UN Economic and Social Council and has actively shown support for the Millennium Development Goals. 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. -- New Academy of Business: This is a UK-based NGO that seeks to provide leaders with insights on organizational responsibility. The New Academy of Business re-opened as the Association of Sustainability Practitioners in June ¶2005. 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 by covering news related to global justice that is not covered in mainstream media. Our investigation yielded no overt ties to groups that support pedophilia. ¶4. (SBU) POC for this cable is Global Affairs Officer David Fisher, FisherDL@state.gov. Total amount of staff time devoted to complying with this request was 3.5 hours. Koenig