UNGA THIRD COMMITTEE RESOLUTION -- "IMPROVING THE

UNCLAS STATE 120273 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AORC SIPDIS UN UNGA PHUM SOCI KWMN SUBJECT: UNGA THIRD COMMITTEE RESOLUTION -- "IMPROVING THE COORDINATION OF EFFORTS AGAINST TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS" REF: 9NOV09 UNGA THIRD COMMITTEE DRAFT RESOLUTION "IMPROVING THE COORDINATION OF EFFORTS AGAINST TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS" ¶1. BACKGROUND. Negotiations on Belarus' trafficking in persons (TIP) resolution are wrapping up. Last draft resolution is the November 10 version. A major area of contention throughout the negotiations was how the draft resolution would characterize a Global Plan of Action (GPOA) on TIP. Belarus and Egypt in particular have pushed for language saying that there should be intergovernmental negotiations to draw up a GPOA. The United States and other member states, including most of the EU countries, are not convinced of the merits of a GPOA and have resisted such wording. OP 8 reads as follows. The EU is willing to accept this wording. "OP 8. Takes note with appreciation of the decision of the President of the 63rd session of the General Assembly to appoint the co-facilitators to start the consultations and consideration by Member States of a UN global plan of action on preventing trafficking in persons, prosecuting traffickers and protecting and assisting victims of trafficking and stresses the need that the consultations be held in an open, inclusive and transparent manner, taking into account all the views expressed by Member States." ¶2. ACTION REQUEST. A) If the text of the resolution remains as it is now, Mission should join consensus with an EOP. BEGIN EOP POINTS. -- The United States has agreed to join consensus on this resolution with an Explanation of Position. -- We all share a common desire to renew our collective efforts to confront human trafficking. We must recognize the fact that slavery continues to exist in the 21st century. At every level -- national, regional, and international -- much work remains to be done to prevent and combat trafficking in persons. -- The United States remains firmly convinced that international attention needs to be focused on implementing the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime. While more countries have adopted comprehensive anti-trafficking legislation, there has been a 35 percent reduction in the global number of prosecutions of traffickers over the last six years, and convictions of traffickers remain unacceptably low. Effective enforcement of national anti-trafficking laws is a necessary deterrent. -- For those countries who argue that not all member states are parties to the TIP Protocol, it and the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime is open to accession by ALL states. Additionally, the rules of procedure to the Conference allow for the participation of non-parties as observers. -- In practice, there is no difference between the participation of states parties and that of state observers, as decisions have been taken by consensus with the input of observers. The COP is only exclusionary by choice, i.e., governments who lack a commitment to combat TIP choose not to engage. -- The United States remains extremely skeptical that a Global Plan of Action will have any substantive impact leading to improved anti-trafficking responses. Instead, we will have another exercise that will distract governments from what they need to do to address human trafficking aggressively within their own countries. While international coordination of efforts is very important, governments need to first do more at home to prevent trafficking, punish the traffickers, and protect and assist the victims. International coordination could prove helpful if the purpose was to bring donors and possible implementers together to work with committed governments that have limited resources. END EOP POINTS. B) If Egypt or another member state amends the resolution, possibly through a floor amendment, so that it is no longer acceptable to the U.S. -- for example, amending the wording to read that member states support and will act to develop a GPOA -- and if another member state calls for a vote on the resolution, Mission should vote NO and deliver an Explanation of Vote. If the resolution is amended so that it is not acceptable to the U.S., but no other member state calls for a vote, USDEL should not/not call for a vote, provided that the resolution text does not change significantly to negatively affect vital U.S. interests. It is unlikely that the EU would vote NO with us, and given the USG's high profile on TIP issues, it would be awkward for us if we called a vote and were isolated. In this instance, Mission should join consensus on the resolution and deliver the EOP above. BEGIN EOV POINTS. -- The United States votes NO on this resolution and would like to deliver our Explanation of Vote. -- First of all, the United States appreciates the efforts of the Chair to show flexibility on the latest text of the resolution on "Improving the Coordination of Efforts Against Trafficking in Persons." We all share a common desire to renew our collective efforts to confront a modern-day form of slavery that is human trafficking. We must recognize the fact that slavery continues to exist in the 21st century. At every level -- national, regional, and international -- much work remains to be done to prevent and combat trafficking in persons. -- The United States voted NO on this resolution on principle. This action should not be interpreted in any way as a lack of U.S. commitment to fighting human trafficking. The Obama Administration firmly believes that international attention must remain focused on implementing the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime. -- A global plan of action is unlikely to have any substantive, positive impact, and will not lead to improved responses to trafficking for those governments that lack the political will or resources, or both, to improve their own national efforts. -- The UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and its Trafficking in Persons Protocol is open to accession by ALL states. Additionally, the rules of procedure to the Conference allow for the participation of non-parties as observers. -- In practice, there is no difference between the participation of states parties and that of state observers, as decisions have been taken by consensus with the input of observers. The COP is only exclusionary by choice, i.e., governments who lack a commitment to combat TIP choose not to engage. END EOV POINTS. CLINTON