Letter from DOS in response to the recipient's previous letter expressing concern over the US' treatment of juvenile detainees. The letter from Pierre-Richard Prosper states that the "the United States . . . is treating young enemy combatants in a manner appropriate to their status and age.”
UNCLASSIFIED
United Stales DepvtmeDt of Stale
An..b....dor-at-r..r~ (or War Crimeillaauea
53f
Wm~n.D.C. 20520
~ber12,2003
RELEASED IN PART B6
Yvan Peeters
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Dear Ms. Peeters:
.......
Thank you for your leiter of October 12 to Sccrctary Powell expressing concern related to juveniles detainees held under U.S. control at a U.S. Naval Base located in~ Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Secretary Powell has asked me to respond to your letter on his behalf.
The detention ofjuveniles in accordance with the laws and customs of war is consistent with U.S. obligations under the Convention on the Rights of the Child. As with all detainees, these individuals are being held because they are enemy combatants who pose a threat to United Slates forces. The United States recognizes the special needs ofyounger detainees and me difficult circumstances surrounding their situation, and is treating young enemy combatants in a manner appropriate to their status and age.
UNITED STATES DEPART:\-lE!"T OF STATE
REVIEW AliTHORITY: FRA"iK E SCHMELZER
VA 1 E/CASE I D: 24 SEP 2004 200303827 ,
UNCLASSIFIED
+-~::;l
005-000268