Letter from Yvan Peeters to Sec. of State Powell requesting that children being held at Guantanamo be given access to their families and to lawyers, and either be promptly charged and tried or released.
10-12-03.23:53 +3271218087 YVAN PEETERS.-15880012026472283 ECM PAGE 01
INCT , A SWIFT)
RELEASED IN P B6 B6
Ham sur Heure, 2003-1240
Colin Powell, Secretary of State, Department of State, 2201 C Street. NW,.
. .
US-Washington ut..: Dear Secretary of State.
I am writing to express my deep concern at reports that several children are among the more than 600 detainees being held in the US Naval base in Guantanamo say. I request your assurance that the USA will abide by its international obligations in relation co these young detainees. The reports indicate that a "handful" of children, described as being between the ages of 13 and 15 years old, were "discovered" by the authorities in Guantimamo. It is also reported that the children were transferred, possibly from the Air base in Eagram, earlier this year. I was also informed that a 16-year-old Canadian National, Omar Khadr, was transferred in late 2002 from Afghanistan. International law and standards recognise the particular vulnerability of children and require, among other things, that children be detained only as a last resort and for the shortest time possible. The definition of's "child", according to international legal standards, is anyone under the age of 18. I urge you to ensure that all necessary protections and safeguards be extended to all children, including any 16 and 17 years old who may be held in the naval base, including Omar Khadr. I am further concerned at reports indicating that the children detainees may be subjected to interrogation without access to any legal representatives or to their relatives. It seems somewhat ironic that the USA, one of the first countries to ratify the Optional protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict, is now treating these children in a way that undermines fundamental protections under the body of the main treaty itself. Under this Protocol, the USA has the obligation to assist in the demobilisation and rehabilitation of former child soldiers.. • May I also remind you that the USA has signed the Convention on the Rights of the Child binding under international law, not to do anything to defeat the object and purpose of the treaty pending a ratification decision? I urge you once more to take into consideration the specific needs of children and to give them access to lawyers, their families and the courts as soon as possible. These children should be promptly charged and tried within a reasonable time in accordance with fair trial. standards, or released into appropriate and safe circumstances.
I thank you for taking this letter into consideration,
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE
REVIEW AUTHORITY: CHARLES E LAHIGUERA UNCLASSIFIED DOS-001367
DATE/CASE ID: 03 DEC 2004 200303827