VZCZCXYZ0012
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHC #0273 3242319
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 202313Z NOV 09
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 0000
INFO RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA IMMEDIATE 0000

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