VZCZCXRO8882
PP RUEHAT
DE RUCNDT #1038 3202144
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 162144Z NOV 07
FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3133
INFO RUEHZJ/HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS PRIORITY 0338
RUEHDM/AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS PRIORITY 0383
RUEHFN/AMEMBASSY FREETOWN PRIORITY 1067
RUEHLI/AMEMBASSY LISBON PRIORITY 0541
RUEHLU/AMEMBASSY LUANDA PRIORITY 0090
RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA PRIORITY 0958
RUEHSA/AMEMBASSY PRETORIA PRIORITY 0791

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 001038 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: UNGA PHUM KWMN
SUBJECT: UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY: U.S. ANTI-RAPE RESOLUTION 
ADOPTED BY CONSENSUS 
 
REF: A. SECSTATE 145641 
     ¶B. SECSTATE 136426 
     ¶C. SECSTATE 151477 
     ¶D. SECSTATE 155063 
     ¶E. USUN NEW YORK 00952 
 
¶1.  (U) On November 15, the Third Committee of the UN General 
Assembly adopted by consensus the resolution "Eliminating 
rape and other forms of sexual violence in all their 
manifestations, including in conflict and related 
situations."  Consensus was reached after weeks of 
negotiations, in a process lauded by the African group as "a 
model of intergovernmental negotiations."  The intense 
lobbying efforts in capitals and in New York were pivotal to 
this successful outcome, and USUN expresses its appreciation 
to all the embassies and Department officials who worked so 
diligently to bring this about. At the time of adoption, the 
resolution had 83 co-sponsors. 
 
¶2.  (U) Ambassador Grover Joseph Rees delivered a statement 
for the United States, thanking delegations for their 
support.  He expressed satisfaction that the resolution calls 
special attention to victims of rape in conflict situation 
and to rape and sexual violence committed to achieve military 
or political objectives.  Ambassador Rees also highlighted 
the reporting requirement of the resolution, which will help 
identify and put an end to this practice.  (Full text of the 
U.S. statement is available at 
www.usunnewyork.usmission.gov/press 
 releases/20071115 314.html) 
 
¶3.  (U) Portugal (on behalf of the EU) and Canada (speaking 
also for New Zealand) noted the important role of the 
International Criminal Court in addressing this issue.  Both 
delegates highlighted the importance of the Beijing 
Declaration, the Convention on the Elimination of 
Discrimination against Women and the Convention of the Rights 
of the Child.  The Portuguese delegate also called for future 
UN resolutions on this subject to make clear recognition of 
their importance.  Liechtenstein stated that due to the main 
co-sponsor's inability to include reference to the key role 
of the ICC, it was unable to co-sponsor. 
 
¶4.  (U) Several African nations also took the floor to 
express support.  South Africa expressed the African group's 
original concern that the draft created two categories of 
rape: those perpetrated by soldiers and those by civilians. 
He noted that as a result of working with the U.S. 
delegation, the text that was adopted is more comprehensive, 
addressing all rape as "brutal and despicable," regardless of 
whether it is perpetrated by civil, military or armed groups. 
 Angola appreciated the flexibility of the United States in 
considering the concerns of the African group, noting that 
the international community "can count on Africa when its 
interests are taken into account." The Angolan delegate 
complimented the consultations process as a "model of 
intergovernmental negotiations."  Sierra Leone described the 
serious consequences that rape has had on the children of 
Sierra Leone, who were raped by rebel groups and now live 
with the consequences: early parenthood and disease.  He 
called for assistance for victims of rape, including 
reparations, and appreciated inclusion in the resolution of a 
paragraph on the topic of assistance. 
 
¶5. (U) Venezuela expressed its commitment to the promotion 
and protection of human rights of women, noting that rape is 
a serious crime that is also a significant issue for the 
Human Rights Council.  Syria stated that it joined consensus 
in support of women's development, but mentioned the need to 
deal with the issue in accordance with international 
humanitarian law and the Geneva Convention, concerning 
situations of armed conflict and foreign occupation. 
Khalilzad