US embassy cable - 05STATE131486

UNCLAS STATE 131486 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KSEP, MASS, PINR, PREL, AADP 
SUBJECT: LEAHY VETTING GUIDANCE/ACES UP AND RUNNING 
 
REF: (A)A. 05 STATE 21314, (B)B.  03 STATE 34981 
 
1.  Summary: The Abuse Case Evaluation System (ACES), 
which is the Department's new software application to 
compile and track human rights abuses worldwide, is now 
operational. ACES is a clearinghouse of human rights- 
related reporting, which will facilitate the management of 
human rights abuse allegations and compliance with the 
Leahy amendment guidelines on providing foreign 
assistance.  ACES is now available to posts and the 
Department for integration into Leahy vetting procedures. 
This cable supplements but does not replace previous 
guidance. Guidance in reftels A and B is still valid. 
 
ACES: The New Human Rights Database 
----------------------------------- 
 
2.  ACES is now operational and is available for use at ( 
http://ACES.state.sgov.gov) ACES is intended as the 
Department's standard repository for human rights abuse 
allegations and reporting on same.  For full procedures, 
see reftel A.  To summarize reftel A, reports will come 
from sources currently used for Leahy vetting, such as 
post reporting, press, NGOs, National Human Rights 
Commissions, and others. Users at post and in the 
Department will be able to enter and comment on 
allegations, and DRL will validate all reports. To the 
extent possible, DRL will check with desk and post for 
additional information before allegations are entered into 
ACES.  While the Department will accept reports from all 
sources, only the USG will have access to ACES. 
 
3.  Henceforth posts and relevant bureaus in Washington 
must enter all allegations of human rights abuses by 
foreign security forces into ACES in addition to any and 
all other reporting protocols such as Cable Express. For 
posts where security forces are being trained, a quarterly 
country team meeting should be conducted to ensure that 
reports are entered or to verify that no allegations have 
been received in that quarter, per reftel A.  Users should 
also provide comment on existing reports, such as 
evaluation of the report's credibility and whether post 
has investigated the report, and identify known 
connections between records when appropriate. Both 
historical and current reports can be entered into ACES. 
Personnel of other government agencies (DOD, Justice) will 
also be able to access ACES via SIPRNET. 
 
4.  Per reftel A, posts will use ACES to report human 
rights abuses (para 8) and for vetting (para 9). Posts are 
also urged to use ACES as a tool to organize existing 
files of past allegations by creating new records for each 
incident.  The Department will also be working to fill 
ACES with reports.  In the verification stage, DRL will 
ensure there are no duplicate records.  ACES contains 
approximately 300 records so far, so we must work together 
to log new and existing reports for it to be a robust 
tool. It is the Department's desire to make Leahy human 
rights vetting efficient and effective as well as to 
facilitate human rights monitoring and reporting in 
general. 
 
How to Access ACES: 
------------------- 
 
5.  ACES is classified Secret/NoForn. ACES is a web- 
enabled application on CLASSNET and requires no software 
installation to the user's computer. Users should access 
the home page to request a user name and password. All 
requests will be answered via CLASSNET e-mail with a one- 
time use password. During the user's first login, a new 
password will be generated by the user in compliance with 
State Department password format policies. 
 
6.  An ACES user manual is also available on the site, as 
is guidance on how to use ACES for vetting purposes. The 
Leahy human rights vetting procedures are explained in 
reftels. Posts are advised to review reftels to ensure 
compliance with Leahy vetting requirements.  ACES contains 
a mechanism enabling questions, comments, and 
recommendations about ACES to be submitted. Classnet 
performance issues should be reported to the IRM 
Infocenter; question about ACES's performance or features 
should be directed to the ACES system manager Gary Carlson 
of IRM/OPS/SIO at carlsongs@state.sgov.gov. 
 
7.  Points of contact at the Department of State regarding 
ACES are LeRoy Potts DRL/CRA, Patrick Harvey DRL/PHD, and 
Gary Carlson IRM/OPS/SIO.  Point of contact for questions 
on Leahy vetting procedures is Gregory Holliday, PM/PPA. 
 
8.  MINIMIZE CONSIDERED. 
RICE