MEDIA REACTION ON TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS REPORT,

UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 001384 SIPDIS FOR PD/WHA (OHILTON),IIP/G/WHA, EB/EPPD INFO IIP/T/ES EMBASSIES FOR PAOS, IOs E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OIIP PREL SMIG KPAO HO SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION ON TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS REPORT, JUNE 18, 2004 ¶1. Editorial in Tegucigalpa-based moderate daily "El Heraldo" on June 18 entitled "Trafficking in Persons." "Trafficking in persons is a source of innumerable violations to human rights, a profitable activity for organized crime, and even a means to spread AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases." "In the latest Department of State report, Honduras has been placed in Tier 2, which means that our government doesn't comply with the minimum standards but is making significant efforts to bring itself into compliance with those standards." "The fight against trafficking in persons, who are used either for sexual exploitation or forced labor, must be addressed by our government, not only because we may lose some of the cooperation we get from the U.S. but because it's their legal and moral obligation." Palmer