Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
10ASUNCION138
2010-02-17 15:02:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Asuncion
Cable title:  

PARAGUAY'S 2010 TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS REVIEW

Tags:  PHUM KTIP PGOV ELAB PREL KPAO KCRM KFRD ASEC KWMN 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO5808
RR RUEHAT
DE RUEHAC #0138/01 0481505
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 171502Z FEB 10
FM AMEMBASSY ASUNCION
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0502
INFO MERCOSUR COLLECTIVE
RHMFIUU/DEPT OF HOMELAND SECURITY WASHINGTON DC
RHMFIUU/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHINGTON DC
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC
RUEHAT/AMCONSUL AMSTERDAM 0001
RUEHC/DEPT OF LABOR WASHINGTON DC
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 0001
RUEHJA/AMEMBASSY JAKARTA 0001
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 0001
RUEHLP/AMEMBASSY LA PAZ
RUEHMD/AMEMBASSY MADRID 0002
RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME 0020
RUEHSG/AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 0001
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 17 ASUNCION 000138 

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
WHA/PPC, G/TIP, INL, DRL, PRM

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM KTIP PGOV ELAB PREL KPAO KCRM KFRD ASEC KWMN
SMIG, MCA, PA, AR, BL
SUBJECT: PARAGUAY'S 2010 TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS REVIEW

REF: A. STATE 2094; B. ASUNCION 31; C. 09 ASUNCION 389

D. 09 ASUNCION 147

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 17 ASUNCION 000138

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
WHA/PPC, G/TIP, INL, DRL, PRM

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM KTIP PGOV ELAB PREL KPAO KCRM KFRD ASEC KWMN
SMIG, MCA, PA, AR, BL
SUBJECT: PARAGUAY'S 2010 TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS REVIEW

REF: A. STATE 2094; B. ASUNCION 31; C. 09 ASUNCION 389

D. 09 ASUNCION 147


1. (SBU) This cable responds to reftel A questions regarding
anti-trafficking in persons (TIP) efforts in Paraguay.


2. (SBU) THE COUNTRY'S TIP SITUATION

2A. What is (are) the source(s) of available information on human
trafficking? What plans are in place (if any) to undertake further
documentation of human trafficking? How reliable are these
sources?

Individual members of the government's Inter-Institutional
Roundtable for the Prevention and Combat of Trafficking in Persons
(hereafter referred to as the "Roundtable,") including the Foreign
Ministry, Public Ministry, Women's Secretariat (SMRP),Children's
and Adolescents' Secretariat (SNNA),and Development Secretariat
for the Repatriated and Co-National refugees (SEDERREC),published
limited information from their ministries on trafficking in
persons, particularly on trafficking cases. The Roundtable also
publishes in March a consolidated annual compendium of its
anti-trafficking efforts that includes some of the results of its
member organizations.

The International Labor Organization (ILO),International
Organization for Migration (IOM),United Nations Children's Fund
(UNICEF),and several NGOs have studied Paraguay's trafficking
situation and published reports related to sexual exploitation and
forced labor in Paraguay. Information published by these
organizations offers a general overview of Paraguay's trafficking
problem but few statistics. Information on trafficking in Paraguay
is generally reliable but imprecise.



2B. Is Paraguay a country of origin, transit, and/or destination
for men, women, or children subjected to conditions of commercial
sexual exploitation, forced or bonded labor, or other slave-like

conditions? Are citizens or residents of the country subjected to
such trafficking conditions within the country? If so, does this
internal trafficking occur in territory outside of the government's
control (e.g. in a civil war situation)? From where are people
recruited or from where do they migrate prior to being subjected to
these exploitative conditions? To what other countries are people
trafficked and for what purposes? Provide, where possible, numbers
or estimates for each group of trafficking victims. Have there been
any changes in the TIP situation since the last TIP Report (e.g.
changes in destinations)?

Paraguay is a country of origin and transit for women and children
who are internationally trafficked for sexual exploitation. It is
also a country of origin and transit for men, women and children
who are internationally trafficked for purposes of domestic
servitude and manual labor. Paraguay is not an international
destination for internationally trafficked women and children,
although some domestic trafficking of women and children for sexual
exploitation and forced labor occurs.

Trafficking occurs within Paraguay's borders in territory
controlled by the government. Women trafficked for sexual
exploitation come predominately from the Central, Alto Parana and
Caaguazu Departments, while smaller numbers come from the
departments of Caazapa and San Pedro. As of December 7, 2009, the
special anti-TIP unit in the Public Ministry had 118 pending
criminal cases involving victims trafficked internationally. Most
victims were trafficked to Argentina (60 percent),Spain (16
percent) and Bolivia (13 percent); smaller numbers of victims went
to Chile, France, Korea, and Japan. Domestically, most victims
were trafficked to Asuncion, Ciudad del Este, and Encarnacion.

ASUNCION 00000138 002 OF 017


Most trafficking victims depart Paraguay via land border crossings
near Ciudad del Este, Asuncion, and Encarnacion. The Women's
Secretariat provided direct aid to 19 women in 2009. Of these, two
were trafficked domestically, while the others went to Argentina
(53%),Bolivia (31%),Japan (8%),and Spain (8%.)

Anecdotal evidence suggests that each year several thousand women,
children, adolescents, and trans-gendered prostitutes (taxi boys)
are trafficked internationally. An estimated 80 percent of victims
are young women and adolescent girls. The Women's Secretariat
(SMPR) estimated in January 2010 that 95 percent of TIP victims are
exploited for commercial sexual purposes and that 52 percent of
victims were minors. The NGO Center for Attention, Prevention, and
Surveillance of Boys, Girls, and Adolescents (CEAPRA),which
operates a children's shelter in Ciudad del Este, estimated in 2008
that up to 20 victims were trafficked each day to Brazil and
Argentina via the Friendship Bridge in Ciudad del Este. In April
2009, police in Encarnacion estimated up to 13 women a week were
recruited and transported to Argentina.

The Government of Paraguay took significant steps to increase
anti-TIP budgets, open more criminal cases, and support ministries
and directorates by adding resources to care for and assist
victims. In general the TIP situation in Paraguay regarding
destinations, sources and methods of traffickers did not change
significantly since the last report. There are reports that other
countries, including Chile and Argentina, are being used as transit
points for traffickers moving victims to Europe because of
increased awareness and involvement of Paraguayan airport
authorities.



2C. What kind of conditions are the trafficking victims subjected?

Once victims arrive at their international destination, they are
typically forced to surrender their travel documents and are
subjected to a severe beating that serves as a warning of what will
come if they attempt to flee. Afterward, they are sexually
exploited in brothels or night clubs, or forced into domestic
servitude in sweatshops or private residences.



2D. Vulnerability to TIP: Are certain groups of persons more at
risk of human trafficking (e.j. women and children, boys versus
girls, certain ethnic groups, refugees, IDPs, etc.)? If so, please
specify the type of exploitation for which these groups are most at
risk (e.g. girls are more at risk of domestic servitude than boys).

Paraguayan women, adolescent girls, and children are most at risk
of being trafficked, primarily for purposes of sexual exploitation.
Many street children are also trafficking victims. Studies show
that most victims worked as street vendors when traffickers
targeted them and that 70 percent of victims had drug addictions.
Poor indigenous women living in the interior are also at
significant risk. Argentine authorities speaking at seminars in
Paraguay noted they frequently require translation assistance from
Paraguayan consulates to interview TIP victims who speak only
Guarani.



2E. Traffickers and Their Methods: Who are the
traffickers/exploiters? Are they independent business people? Small
or family-based crime groups? Large international organized crime
syndicates? What methods are used to gain direct access to victims?
For example, are the traffickers recruiting victims through
lucrative job offers? Are victims sold by their families, or
approached by friends of friends? Are victims "self-presenting"
(approaching the exploiter without the involvement of a recruiter
or transporter)? If recruitment or transportation is involved, what

ASUNCION 00000138 003 OF 017


methods are used to recruit or transport victims (e.g., are false
documents being used)? Are employment, travel, and tourism agencies
or marriage brokers involved with or fronting for traffickers or
crime groups to traffic individuals?

Most traffickers are Paraguayan, Brazilian, and Argentine. Many
work in large, organized criminal syndicates based in Argentina and
Brazil with local contacts operating nationwide, particularly in
Asuncion, Ciudad del Este, and Encarnacion.

Traffickers include relatives or acquaintances of victims who are
paid by syndicates to refer victims. They typically make initial
contact by offering false promises of educational opportunities and
employment, including work in the service industry or as models.

In some cases, parents are aware that their children plan to work
in other cities or countries, but are unaware of the potentially
exploitative conditions they will encounter. Some parents believe
they are helping their children by giving them new opportunities to
work and improving their overall living condition. Other parents
sell their children to traffickers for profit fully knowing the
repercussions.

Victims who accept these offers are referred to handlers, including
some who double as travel agents, who facilitate travel and
lodging, and issue false travel documents. Traffickers then
transport victims domestically or internationally through
unrecognized or lightly monitored border crossings. There is also
a reported increase in the use of transit countries such as Chile
and Argentina to move Paraguayans to Europe.




3. (SBU) SETTING THE SCENE FOR THE GOVERNMENT'S ANTI-TIP
EFFORTS

3A. Does the government acknowledge that human trafficking is a
problem in Paraguay? If not, why not?

Yes.



3B. Which government agencies are involved in efforts to combat
sex and labor trafficking - including forced labor - and, which
agency, if any, has the lead in these efforts?

The Public Ministry is the lead agency in investigating and
prosecuting traffickers. The Attorney General's office of the
Public Ministry established a Trafficking in Persons Unit in
October 2008. Currently, Paraguay has two sections within the
specialty unit. Both sections are based in Asuncion, and together
contain two prosecutors and ten assistants dedicated to combating
the trafficking of persons. These TIP prosecutors work with local
prosecutors nationwide, particularly in Ciudad del Este and
Encarnacion, to investigate and prosecute traffickers.

The Foreign Ministry, Women's Secretariat (SMPR),Children's and
Adolescents' Secretariat (SNNA),and Development Secretariat for
the Repatriated and Co-National Refugees (SEDERREC) work closely
with the Public Ministry to combat TIP. The Interior Ministry,
which oversees the National Police as well as Immigration, assists
the Public Ministry with investigations and arrests. The Interior
Ministry announced January 9 the creation of an intra-agency
working group on trafficking and other issues. In July 2009, the
Interior Ministry upgraded its TIP unit from a "section" to a
"division" giving it more clout and direct access to resources. It
also established regional anti-TIP offices in the Paraguayan cities
of Ciudad del Este (CDE) which opened in September 2009, Colonel
Oviedo, Encarnacion, Caaguazu, and Puerto Elisa. These units are
comprised of around 6 policemen who conduct investigations and work
to channel TIP complaints to the right offices in the Public

ASUNCION 00000138 004 OF 017


Ministry. They also cooperate with Immigration to combat
trafficking across borders. In total, the Interior Ministry's
anti-TIP division now contains 33 employees.

The government coordinates anti-trafficking efforts through its
Inter-Institutional Roundtable for the Prevention and Combat of
Trafficking in Persons led by the Foreign Ministry. The Roundtable
consists of four sub-committees on Prevention, Prosecution,
Assistance, and Legislation, which each meet monthly. The
executive committee of the Roundtable meets bi-monthly, and a
plenary session of all members meets three times a year.

Agencies participating in the Roundtable include the Foreign
Ministry; Public Ministry; SMPR; SNNA; SEDERREC; Ministry of
Education and Culture; Ministry of Industry and Commerce; National
Tourism Secretariat; Social Action Secretariat; Directorate General
of Statistics, Surveys, and Censuses; Directorate General of
Migration; National Police, Interpol, and Crime Identification and
Investigation; Itaipu Binational Authority; Public Defender's
office; the military's Joint Peace Operation Training Center
(CECOPAZ) and the Municipality of Asuncion.

International organizations that participate in the Roundtable
include the IOM, ILO, Inter-American Development Bank (IDB),
UNICEF, and the United Nations Population Fund (FNUAP).
Representatives from foreign missions, including the United States,
European Union, Spain, Argentina, and Brazil, also participate as
observers.

NGOs that participate in the Roundtable include Amnesty
International Paraguay; Aprevim Paraguay; BASE IS; Business Bureau
of Consultants and Advisors (BECA); Paraguay Human Rights
Coordinator (CODEHUPY); Children's and Adolescents' Rights (CDIA);
Women's Forum of Mercosur; Center for Integral Assistance (CEDAI)
Foundation; Arco Iris Foundation; Paraguayan Foundation of the
Catholic Commission of International Migrations; Marco Aguayo
Foundation for the Fight Against AIDS/HIV; Global Infancia; Grupo
Luna Nueva; Institute of Comparative Social and Penal Science
Studies (INECIP); Soroptimist International; and others.



3C. What are the limitations on the government's ability to
address this problem in practice? For example, is funding for
police or other institutions inadequate? Is overall corruption a
problem? Does the government lack the resources to aid victims?

The government's ability to address human trafficking in practice
is limited by insufficient financial and technical resources. The
government focuses its efforts on prosecuting traffickers and
providing victims' assistance. However, it has begun to expend
additional resources on prevention efforts and awareness outreach.
In January 2010, the Women's Secretariat anti-TIP unit was upgraded
from a committee to a directorate, and obtained its own dedicated
line in the Congressional budget for the first time. Within the
Public Ministry, the TIP unit was one of the few sections to
register a budget increase over the previous year.

In areas where funding is available, government agencies involved
in fighting TIP often have to make difficult choices. Some
officials do not have computers, adequate access to information, or
official vehicles to transport victims. This is especially true in
the police. Victims typically received limited government
assistance.

Further compounding the government's ability to address the problem
are allegations of interagency rivalry, distrust among officials,
and weak or nonexistent land border controls. There are
allegations that some government officials undermined
investigations or alerted suspected traffickers of impending
arrests. In Paraguay, government corruption is a severe problem
and the wealthy and powerful criminal syndicates are alleged to

ASUNCION 00000138 005 OF 017


frequently corrupt police and judicial activities.



3D. To what extent does the government systematically monitor its
anti-trafficking efforts (on all fronts - prosecution, victim
protection and protection) and periodically make available,
publicly or privately and directly or through
regional/international organizations, its assessments of these
anti-trafficking efforts?

The government made progress in monitoring its anti-trafficking
efforts, especially in the area of prosecution. Still, its ability
to monitor efforts in prevention and protection of victims of
trafficking in persons was limited by resource constraints. The
Foreign and Interior Ministries both publish annual summary reports
which include special chapters regarding anti-trafficking
accomplishments and a review of some ongoing TIP projects and
prosecutions. The Roundtable conducted a review in December 2009
of the efforts and achievements of its component parts which will
result in the publishing in March 2010 of a comprehensive report on
what Paraguay accomplished in 2009.



3E. What measures has the government taken to establish the
identity of local populations, including birth registration,
citizenship, and nationality?

The government took significant steps to improve its
federally-issued identity documents during the reporting period.
The government replaced the handling and transfer of physical ID
documents with a modern information system that ap????plies enhanced
security controls. Paraguay also redesigned and upgraded ID cards
and passports in 2009, using the UN's International Civil Aviation
Orga????nization requirements. Paraguayan citizens now receive
tamper-proof documents.

The failure to register all births resulted in some discrimination,
including the denial of public services. In 2008 the Secretariat
for Children and Adolescents (SNNA) registered approximately
255,000 births, but unofficial estimates suggested that up to 35
percent of births were unregistered.



3F. To what extent is the government capable of gathering the data
required for an in-depth assessment of law enforcement efforts?
Where are the gaps? Are there any ways to work around these gaps?

The Public Ministry publishes an annual report that includes
statistical data regarding the ministry's work that is broken down
both by type of incident and geographically. Agencies or sub-units
that receive complaints and telephone calls often do not maintain
statistics. When the statistics are maintained locally, the
federal government does not always consolidate everything in an
easily accessible format.




4. (SBU) INVESTIGATION AND PROSECUTION OF TRAFFICKERS

4A. Existing Laws against TIP: Does the country have a law or
laws specifically prohibiting trafficking in persons -- both for
sexual exploitation and labor? If so, please specifically cite the
name of the law(s) and its date of enactment and provide the exact
language [actual copies preferable] of the TIP provisions. Please
provide a full inventory of trafficking laws, including
non-criminal statutes that allow for civil penalties against
alleged trafficking crimes (e.g. civil forfeiture laws and laws
against illegal debt). Does the law(s) cover both internal and
transnational forms of trafficking? If not, under what other laws

ASUNCION 00000138 006 OF 017


can traffickers be prosecuted? For example, are there laws against
slavery or the exploitation of prostitution by means of force,
fraud, or coercion? Are these other laws being used in trafficking
cases?

Law 3440/08 "Modifying Various Articles of the Penal Code," which
includes a provision ratifying a series of international
conventions on trafficking in persons for sexual exploitation and
labor, went into effect on July 16. Under Law 3440/08, Paraguay
became a signatory to ILO Convention 182 concerning the elimination
of the worst forms of child labor; ILO Conventions 29 and 105 on
forced and compulsory labor; the optional protocol to the
Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) on the sale of
children, child prostitution, and child pornography; and the
Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons.

Law 3440/08's anti-trafficking in persons statute took effect on
July 16. An unofficial English translation of the statute follows:



BEGIN TRANSLATION.

"Article 129b.- Trafficking in persons for sexual exploitation.

1 .- Whoever takes advantage of a situation of constraint or
vulnerability of another found in a foreign country, induces or
coerces him/her to participate in or to continue to participate in
prostitution or bringing about other sexual acts, with another or
in front of another, with purposes of sexual exploitation, shall be
sentenced to deprivation of liberty for up to eight years. The
same penalty shall be applied to whoever induces a minor under
eighteen years of age to participate in or continue to participate
in prostitution or in the performance of acts indicated in
paragraph 1.

2 .- With a prison sentence of up to twelve years, the person will
be punished who, by force, threat, deception or trickery:


1. induces another to participate in or continue to participate in
prostitution or sexual acts indicated in subsection 1, paragraph 2;


2. detains another with intent to induce them to participate in
prostitution or continue to act as a prostitute or commit sexual
acts indicated in subsection 1, paragraph 2.

3 .- The same penalty applies when the victim is:


1. a person under fourteen, or


2. is exposed, upon doing the act, to grave physical abuse or
danger to his/her life.

4 .- With the same penalty shall be punished he who acts
commercially or belongs to a gang that was formed for the purpose
of realizing acts indicated in the preceding paragraphs. In this
case, Articles 57 and 94 will also be applied.

The consent of a victim to any form of exploitation is not taken
into account when using any of the means enunciated in this
article.

Art 129c .- Trafficking in persons for purposes of personal
exploitation and labor.

1 .- Whoever takes advantage of the constraint or vulnerability of
another found in a foreign country, subjects another to slavery,
servitude, forced labor or similar conditions, or makes someone do
or continue to do work in conditions disproportionately inferior to
other people who do identical or similar work, shall be sentenced
to deprivation of liberty for up to eight years. The same penalty
shall be applied to whoever subjects a minor less than eighteen

ASUNCION 00000138 007 OF 017


years of age to slavery, servitude, forced labor or similar
conditions, or to the performance or continuation of work indicated
in paragraph 1.

2 .- With a prison sentence of up to twelve years, the person will
be punished who, by force, threat, deception or trickery:


1. subjects another to slavery, servitude, forced labor or similar
conditions, or attempts to make someone do or continue to do work
indicated in subsection 1, paragraph 1;


2. detains another with the intention to subject them to slavery,
servitude, forced labor or similar conditions, or attempts to make
them do or continue to do work indicated in subsection 1, paragraph
1;


3. detains another with intent of facilitating the extraction his
organs without consent.

3 .- The provisions in article 129b, paragraph 3 and 4, also apply.

The consent of a victim to any form of exploitation will not be
taken into account when using any of the means enunciated in this
article."

END TRANSLATION.

Before the new law went into effect in July 2009, the 1997 Penal
Code Law (1160/97) was in effect. The TIP statute of Law 1160/97
prohibited trafficking in persons for sexual exploitation and
labor. It contained several articles that addressed trafficking in
persons and associated violations, including: Article 129
Trafficking in Persons; Article 246 Production of Illegal
Documents; Article 25 Production of Government Documents with False
Information; Article 185 Extortion; Article 25 - which prohibited
the forced extraction of a person from Paraguayan territory;
Article 24 Deprivation of Freedom; Articles 20 and 121 Coercion and
Grace Coercion; Article 22 Threats; and Article 135 Child Sexual
Abuse. These articles were not properly enforced.

Laws for domestic trafficking do not exist; however, prosecutors
have used other laws to investigate and prosecute trafficking. The
2001 Children and Adolescents Law (1680/01) includes provisions
that could be used in the prosecution against traffickers,
including: Article 25 Children's rights Against Exploitation and
Article 31 - which prohibited the use of children in commercial
sexual activities. The 1997 Adoptions Law protects the rights of
children against violence and exploitation. The 2000 Domestic
Violence Law (1600/00) protects women and children from physical
violence and violence associated with trafficking in persons.
These laws remain in effect under the new penal code.



4B. Punishment of Sex Trafficking Offenses: What are the
prescribed and imposed penalties for trafficking people for sexual
exploitation, including for the forced prostitution of adults and
the prostitution of children?

The 1997 Penal Code's anti-trafficking statute in effect until July
15 prescribed up to eight years' imprisonment for international
trafficking for the purpose of prostitution, sexual exploitation,
intent to commit personal sexual acts, slavery, forced servitude,
or subjecting victims to inferior working conditions.

The revised Penal Code, Law 3440/08, which went into effect on July
16, punishes offenders with imprisonment of up to eight years for
taking advantage of another person who is vulnerable, or compelling
the victim to practice prostitution or engage in sexual acts for
the purposes of sexual exploitation. The same penalty applies to
those whom aid and abet a person who compels a person under 18
years of age to practice activities related to sexual exploitation.

ASUNCION 00000138 008 OF 017


The revised statute also punishes offenders for up to twelve years
should the crime be considered an aggravated offense. The statute
also explicitly provides penalties of up to twelve years when a
trafficking victim is under fourteen years of age, or is exposed to
serious injury or whose life is in danger. It includes a provision
for offenders committing trafficking offenses through gang
involvement or commercial activities.

Laws used to prosecute domestic traffickers, including the 2001
Children and Adolescents Law, 1997 Adoptions Law, and 2000 Domestic
Violence Law, sentence traffickers up to five years in prison for
exploiting victims under eighteen years of age, and up to five
years for labor exploitation.



4C. Punishment of Labor Trafficking Offenses: What are the
prescribed and imposed penalties for labor trafficking offenses,
including all forms of forced labor? If your country is a source
country for labor migrants, do the government's laws provide for
criminal punishment -- i.e. jail time -- for labor recruiters who
engage in recruitment of workers using knowingly fraudulent or
deceptive offers with the purpose of subjecting workers to
compelled service in the destination country? If your country is a
destination for labor migrants (legal/regular or
illegal/irregular),are there laws punishing employers or labor
agents who confiscate workers' passports or travel documents for
the purpose of labor trafficking, switch contracts without the
worker's consent as a means to keep the worker in a state of
compelled service, or withhold payment of salaries as means of
keeping the worker in a state of compelled service?

The revised Penal Code punishes offenders with up to eight years'
imprisonment for enslaving an individual or forcing anyone into
servitude. The penalty is the same when the victim is a minor.
The penalty increases to twelve years in prison when the offender
commits the crime in an aggravated manner. The law does not
specifically penalize recruiters who engage in recruitment of
workers using knowingly fraudulent or deceptive offers with the
purpose of subjecting workers to trafficking.

The Ministry of Labor and Justice (MJT) also has the authority to
fine companies for violating minimum wage and child labor laws or
engaging in forced labor. It can also refer cases to the Public
Ministry for criminal prosecution.



4D. What are the prescribed penalties for rape or forcible sexual
assault? (NOTE: This is necessary to evaluate a foreign
government's compliance with TVPA Minimum Standard 2, which reads:
"For the knowing commission of any act of sex trafficking... the
government of the country should prescribe punishment commensurate
with that for grave crimes, such as forcible sexual assault
(rape)." END NOTE)

The law criminalizes rape, including spousal rape, and provides
penalties of up to 10 years in prison for rape or forcible sexual
assault. If the victim is a minor under the age of 18, sentences
range from three to 15 years.



4E. Law Enforcement Statistics: Did the government take legal
action against human trafficking offenders during the reporting
period? If so, provide numbers of investigations, prosecutions,
convictions, and sentences imposed, including details on plea
bargains and fines, if relevant and available. Please note the
number of convicted traffickers who received suspended sentences
and the number who received only a fine as punishment. Please
indicate which laws were used to investigate, prosecute, convict,
and sentence traffickers. Also, if possible, please disaggregate

ASUNCION 00000138 009 OF 017


numbers of cases by type of TIP (labor vs. commercial sexual
exploitation) and victims (children under 18 years of age vs.
adults). What were the actual punishments imposed on convicted
trafficking offenders? Are they serving the time sentenced? If
not, why not?

Yes, the government took continuous legal action against human
trafficking offenders during the reporting period. In 2009, the
Public Ministry investigated 119 TIP cases; indicted 47 suspected
traffickers and associates; and earned convictions in two cases
against two traffickers who both entered into plea bargains that
resulted in two year prison terms. The Public Ministry used the
laws referenced in section 4A to prosecute traffickers.
Additionally, they began some investigations using anti-pimping
laws. Separately, the National Police Anti-TIP units investigated
30 complaints received in calendar year 2009, conducted 26 raids,
and apprehended 24 suspected traffickers.



4F. Does the government provide any specialized training for law
enforcement and immigration officials on identifying and treating
victims of trafficking? Or training on investigating and
prosecuting human trafficking crimes? Specify whether NGOs,
international organizations, and/or the USG provide specialized
training for host government officials.

Yes, the government provided and supported specialized TIP
training. The Roundtable provided government officials with
training on TIP via seminars during the reporting period. For
example, the Roundtable hosted in November 2009 an anti-trafficking
seminar led by Argentine Gloria Bonatto for TIP officials in
Asuncion. Dr. Bonatto is Argentina's director for the area of TIP
and Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children in the Ministry of
Social Development. In September 2009, eight prosecutors and
police officials attended anti-TIP seminars at the International
Law Enforcement Academy in Lima, Peru with USG support. The
Women's Secretariat led 12 regional workshops that addressed the
government response to trafficking from the perspective of local
prosecutors, police, and social workers. These workshops reached
approximately 1000 individuals throughout the country

With support of the Paraguayan government, International Woman of
Courage Cynthia Bendlin, travelled to Europe on an OIM grant to
instruct Paraguayan consular officials in Spain and Italy on how to
receive, interview, and assist victims in filing complaints and
follow-up with law enforcement officials. She conducted the same
training with Paraguayan officials in Argentina and will go to
Washington, DC in March 2010 to deliver the same training. Over
thirty government officials received training.

Police officers and prosecutors use basic, reactive investigative
techniques; they do not use advanced investigative techniques such
as electronic surveillance and undercover operations.



4G. Does the government cooperate with other governments in the
investigation and prosecution of trafficking cases? If possible,
provide the number of cooperative international investigations on
trafficking during the reporting period.

The government cooperates with other governments and Interpol in
the investigation and prosecution of trafficking cases. Government
officials from the Foreign Ministry (including Paraguayan embassies
and consulates),Public Ministry, National Police and SEDERREC
cooperated during the reporting period with Argentine, Bolivian,
Brazilian, Chilean, Dutch, Indonesian, and Spanish authorities to
investigate trafficking cases and repatriate victims.

Dutch authorities detained 44 Paraguayans in December 2009 when
they arrived by plane at Amsterdam's international airport. The

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Paraguayan Ministry of Foreign Affairs assisted the TIP victims,
including providing repatriation assistance, and worked with Dutch
authorities to deal with an alleged trafficker, who was arrested in
the Netherlands.

Anti-trafficking prosecutor Teresa Martinez worked closely with
Argentine counterparts on several investigations. In one case,
Paraguay extradited a trafficker to Argentina to face prosecution.
In another case, 10 Paraguayan minors were rescued from a brothel
in Buenos Aires and brought back to Paraguay with support from the
Paraguayan Embassy in Argentina.

Similar cooperation existed between Teresa Martinez and Bolivian
authorities involving a September 2009 case where 13 Paraguayan
women were found enslaved in a brothel in La Paz. Martinez
traveled to Bolivia to collaborate with the Bolivians and to pursue
leads that could lead to prosecution of traffickers in Paraguay.
One of the victims decided to cooperate with prosecutors.



4H. Does the government extradite persons who are charged with
trafficking in other countries? If so, please provide the number
of traffickers extradited during the reporting period, and the
number of trafficking extraditions pending. In particular, please
report on any pending or concluded extraditions of trafficking
offenders to the United States.

The government extradites persons who are charged with trafficking
in other countries if it has extradition treaties with those
countries. Paraguay has a multi-lateral extradition treaty with
Mercosur countries and bi-lateral extradition treaties with the
United States, Argentina, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica,
Ecuador, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela. The law allows Paraguayans
and foreign nationals who were charged with trafficking in other
countries to be extradited. The government, working with the
Argentines, extradited one trafficker during the reporting period.



4I. Is there evidence of government involvement in or tolerance of
trafficking, on a local or institutional level? If so, please
explain in detail.

There were reports by members of the anti-TIP community that public
officials, including political figures, border guards, police,
prosecutors, judges, or other officials, participated in,
facilitated, or condoned human trafficking at the local level.
There were reports that officials accepted bribes directly or
indirectly to facilitate trafficking in persons and to release
victims from incarceration. Corruption, especially in Ciudad del
Este, extends beyond the single issue of trafficking in persons.



4J. If government officials are involved in human trafficking,
what steps has the government taken to end such complicity? Please
indicate the number of government officials investigated and
prosecuted for involvement in trafficking or trafficking-related
corruption during the reporting period. Have any been convicted?
What sentence(s) was imposed? Please specify if officials received
suspended sentences, or were given a fine, fired, or reassigned to
another position within the government as punishment. Please
indicate the number of convicted officials that received suspended
sentences or received only a fine as punishment.

Despite reports of involvement by government officials in
trafficking in persons, the Public Ministry did not investigate
these allegations, and no government officials resigned or were
removed over allegations of trafficking. A lack of resources,
political will, and the power of organized crime hindered
prosecutors' ability to prosecute government officials for

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trafficking.



4K. For countries that contribute troops to international
peacekeeping efforts, please indicate whether the government
vigorously investigated, prosecuted, convicted and sentenced
nationals of the country deployed abroad as part of a peacekeeping
or other similar mission who engaged in or facilitated severe forms
of trafficking or who exploited victims of such trafficking.

The military's Joint Peace Operation Training Center (CECOPAZ)
supports the United Nations' global peacekeeping operations with
peacekeepers. The Paraguayan military deployed a platoon of 31
peacekeepers to Haiti under MINUSTAH, a squad of 17 peacekeepers to
D.R. Congo, 10 to Cote d'Ivoire, 9 to Sudan, and a total of 16
peacekeepers to Nepal, Western Sahara, Liberia and Afghanistan.
The military is now preparing a 100-member engineering company to
conduct peacekeeping missions under its own flag, and plans to
deploy this unit in March 2010. The military conducted police and
military background checks on all soldiers before allowing them to
join the unit, and CECOPAZ members received human rights training
as part of their pre-deployment regimen. There were no incidents
of Paraguayans deployed abroad that required investigation,
prosecution, conviction, or sentencing for trafficking-related
offenses.



4L. If the country has an identified problem of child sex tourists
coming to the country, what are the countries of origin for sex
tourists? How many foreign pedophiles did the government prosecute
or deport/extradite to their country of origin? If your host
country's nationals are perpetrators of child sex tourism, do the
country's child sexual abuse laws have extraterritorial coverage
(similar to the U.S. PROTECT Act) to allow the prosecution of
suspected sex tourists for crimes committed abroad? If so, how many
of the country's nationals were prosecuted and/or convicted during
the reporting period under the extraterritorial provision(s) for
traveling to other countries to engage in child sex tourism?

Although there is no identified industry devoted to child sex
tourism in Paraguay, child sex tourism is suspected to occur, and
Paraguay has several locations where foreign pedophiles are known
to frequent, particularly in Ciudad del Este. The government did
not prosecute, deport, or extradite any foreign pedophiles during
the reporting period. Paraguay did not identify any citizens who
were perpetrators of child sex tourism. The government did
cooperate in breaking a child pornography ring run out of Austria
that victimized Paraguayan children.




5. (SBU) PROTECTION AND ASSISTANCE TO VICTIMS

5A. What kind of protection is the government able under existing
law to provide for victims and witnesses? Does it provide these
protections in practice?

The government provides limited protection, including some security
safeguards, to victims who live in shelters or are assigned to
foster parents. The government also provides shelter, meals, and
transportation to some victims on short- and medium-term basis.
Because resources are limited, the government can only assist up to
approximately 100 trafficking victims at a time. Roundtable members
Development Secretariat for the Repatriated and Co-National
Refugees (SEDERREC),Women's Secretariat (SMPR),Children's and
Adolescents' Secretariat (SNNA) also help repatriate victims to
their families; SNNA placed some child and adolescent victims in
foster homes. The government does not typically follow up with
victims once they are returned to their families, and does not
provide protections to witnesses.

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5B. Does the country have victim care facilities (shelters or
drop-in centers) which are accessible to trafficking victims? Do
foreign victims have the same access to care as domestic
trafficking victims? Where are child victims placed (e.g., in
shelters, foster care, or juvenile justice detention centers)? Does
the country have specialized care for adults in addition to
children? Does the country have specialized care for male victims
as well as female? Does the country have specialized facilities
dedicated to helping victims of trafficking? Are these facilities
operated by the government or by NGOs? What is the funding source
of these facilities? Please estimate the amount the government
spent (in U.S. dollar equivalent) on these specialized facilities
dedicated to helping trafficking victims during the reporting
period.

The country has some government-supported victim care facilities,
including two shelters and three drop-in assistance centers for
women, adolescents, and children who are victims of TIP. The USG
supported a shelter run by the Women's Secretariat in Asuncion for
women who are trafficking victims. A shelter and assistance center
for children in Ciudad del Este is run by the NGO Center for
Attention, Prevention, and Surveillance of Boys, Girls, and
Adolescents (CEAPRA) and supported by the Children's and
Adolescents' Secretariat. The country does not have victim care
facilities for men. Foreign victims generally do not have the same
access to government-operated shelters as domestic victims.

International organizations and NGOs work with Roundtable members
and local Municipal Councils for Children's Rights (CODENI) in
several cities to place trafficking victims with their families, in
shelters, and in foster care. NGOs independently operate shelters
and assistance centers for victims in Asuncion, Encarnacion, and
Villarrica. In October 2009, with help from the European Union, an
NGO opened the Complete Care Day Shelter (CADI) which plans to
provide the care required to rehabilitate up to 75 child victims of
trafficking and sexual exploitation during the three year program.
The NGO Grupo Luna Nueva runs a shelter in Asuncion exclusively for
domestic child and adolescent trafficking victims. The Red Cross,
Paraguayan Network for Human Development (REPADEH),Dequeni
Foundation, and Catholic charities run shelters and assistance
centers for children and adolescents in Asuncion; a Catholic
charity runs a shelter for children and adolescents in Encarnacion;
the NGOs Women's November 25 Collective, CECTEK, and Kuna Roga
operate assistance centers for women, children and adolescents in
Encarnacion; and the Integral Attention Service for Adolescents
(SAIA) has a children's and adolescents' assistance center in
Villarrica.

The Paraguayan government provides some funding to support victim
care, particularly shelters. The budget for the Women's
Secretariat was increased by Congress in August 2009 to support
greater engagement to combat trafficking in persons. A specific
line-item was added for the fight against trafficking in persons -
a first for Paraguay. However, Post estimates that the government
still spends less than USD 125,000 annually to combat TIP, relying
heavily on international assistance. In addition to the USG's
ongoing support for the SMPR's Asuncion shelter, the Paraguayan
government received funding during the reporting period from the
United Nations Development Programme, UNICEF, Inter-American
Development Bank, IOM, ILO, the European Union and the Spanish
government to support various anti-trafficking initiatives.



5C. Does the government provide trafficking victims with access to
legal, medical and psychological services? If so, please specify
the kind of assistance provided. Does the government provide
funding or other forms of support to foreign or domestic NGOs
and/or international organizations for providing these services to

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trafficking victims? Please explain and provide any funding amounts
in U.S. dollar equivalent. If assistance provided was in-kind,
please specify exact assistance. Please specify if funding for
assistance comes from a federal budget or from regional or local
governments.

The government provides trafficking victims with medical,
psychological, and legal services to women in the Asuncion TIP
victims' shelter. A government psychologist from the Women's
Secretariat works part-time at the victims' shelter supported by
the U.S. The government also supports NGOs CEAPRA's and Kuny Aty's
efforts to provide medical, psychological, and legal services to
victims who live in their shelters. Refer also to response in 5.B.



5D. Does the government assist foreign trafficking victims, for
example, by providing temporary to permanent residency status, or
other relief from deportation? If so, please explain.

The government provides limited assistance to foreign trafficking
victims, notably to Bolivians trafficked internationally through
Paraguay. In another case, 30 Indonesian orphans who were brought
to Paraguay for an alleged long-term soccer training camp received
food and aid from the Paraguayan government. However, the
government concentrates its primary efforts on aiding Paraguayans
who are victims of international trafficking. The government
provides temporary or permanent residency status to those who
request it.



5E. Does the government provide longer-term shelter or housing
benefits to victims or other resources to aid the victims in
rebuilding their lives?

The government, through the Women's Secretariat, provide limited
access to shelter. There is no time limit on how long women may
stay while they are receiving reintegration assistance. While most
stay for several months, some women have stayed over a year. The
government works cooperatively with several NGOs that have short
and medium term housing options and provides material support to
these NGOs helping to rebuild victim's lives.



5F. Does the government have a referral process to transfer
victims detained, arrested or placed in protective custody by law
enforcement authorities to institutions that provide short- or
long-term care (either government or NGO-run)?

SEDERREC, SNNA, and SMPR refer victims to institutions that provide
care.



5G. What is the total number of trafficking victims identified
during the reporting period? (If available, please specify the type
of exploitation of these victims e.g. "The government identified X
number of trafficking victims during the reporting period, Y or
which were victims of trafficking for sexual exploitation and Z of
which were victims of nonconsensual labor exploitation.) Of these,
how many victims were referred to care facilities for assistance by
law enforcement authorities during the reporting period? By social
services officials? What is the number of victims assisted by
government funded assistance programs and those not funded by the
government during the reporting period?

The Asuncion anti-TIP unit of the Public Ministry identified 138
victims assigned to cases (119 in Asuncion and 19 from Ciudad del
Este),of which 134 were for sexual exploitation and 4 for
nonconsensual labor exploitation. The Ministry also recorded 78

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victims who received assistance, 30 of which were children. The
Women's Secretariat provided direct assistance at their shelter to
19 adult women in 2009, 18 of whom suffered sexual exploitation,
and one who suffered labor exploitation. Prosecutors at anit-TIP
unit at the Natoinal Police recorded 81 victims, without specifying
the type of exploitation; 30 of those 81 were children. In some
cases, victims may have received assistance from more than one
government body and are reflected in the numbers of more than one
agency.



5H. Do the government's law enforcement, immigration, and social
services personnel have a formal system of proactively identifying
victims of trafficking among high-risk persons with whom they come
in contact (e.g., foreign persons arrested for prostitution or
immigration violations)? For countries with legalized prostitution,
does the government have a mechanism for screening for trafficking
victims among persons involved in the legal/regulated commercial
sex trade?

The police anti-TIP division has official systems for proactively
identifying trafficking victims at a minority of land border
crossings. However, these systems are hampered in practice by
loose immigration controls at such crossings. Nevertheless, police
were successful in the limited identification of potential
trafficking victims at select border crossings during the reporting
period, including several suspected potential victims whose border
crossings were prevented. The government does not have a mechanism
for screening trafficking victims among persons involved in the
legal/regulated commercial sex trade. Immigration and customs
officials at ports of entry, particularly at land border crossings,
are neither equipped with appropriate tools nor trained in
techniques to identify traffickers or victims. Fewer than four
police officers or immigration and customs officials controlled
some land-based ports of entry. These officials allowed traffic to
pass without conducting identification and document checks. The
Paraguayan government relies heavily on Argentine and Brazilian
immigrations and customs officials to monitor international border
crossings, although they too have been ineffective in identifying
and stopping human traffickers and their victims.



5I. Are the rights of victims respected? Are trafficking victims
detained or jailed? If so, for how long? Are victims fined? Are
victims prosecuted for violations of other laws, such as those
governing immigration or prostitution?

Although the rights of victims are respected in most cases, abuses
probably occurred. By policy, the government does not prosecute
victims for violating laws and there is no systematic fining or
punishment of victims.



5J. Does the government encourage victims to assist in the
investigation and prosecution of trafficking? How many victims
assisted in the investigation and prosecution of traffickers during
the reporting period? May victims file civil suits or seek legal
action against traffickers? Does anyone impede victim access to
such legal redress? If a victim is a material witness in a court
case against a former employer, is the victim permitted to obtain
other employment or to leave the country pending trial proceedings?
Are there means by which a victim may obtain restitution?

The government encourages victims to file complaints against
traffickers, and assists in the investigation and prosecution of
traffickers. Many victims cooperate by filing complaints to open
investigations. However, victims often avoid participating in the
legal process, including acting as witnesses for fear of potential
retaliation by traffickers and social stigma. Victims may file

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civil law suits or seek legal action against traffickers.



5K. Does the government provide any specialized training for
government officials in identifying trafficking victims and in the
provision of assistance to trafficked victims, including the
special needs of trafficked children? Does the government provide
training on protections and assistance to its embassies and
consulates in foreign countries that are destination or transit
countries? What is the number of trafficking victims assisted by
the host country's embassies or consulates abroad during the
reporting period? Please explain the type of assistance provided
(travel documents, referrals to assistance, payment for
transportation home).

The government provided specialized training for some officials in
identifying trafficking victims. The government's human trafficking
intervention manual provides written guidance on identifying and
assisting trafficking victims. The government also cooperated with
NGOs to provide training. International Woman of Courage, Cynthia
Bendlin, travelled to Europe and Argentina on an OIM grant to
instruct Paraguayan consular officials on how to receive,
interview, and assist victims in filing complaints and follow-up
with law enforcement officials. Over thirty government officials
received training (see 4F. above.)

In the Dutch case, the government provided return transportation to
Paraguay. Working with SEDERREC the Foreign Ministry helped return
seven other trafficking victims to Paraguay.



5L. Does the government provide assistance, such as medical aid,
shelter, or financial help, to its nationals who are repatriated as
victims of trafficking?

SEDERREC and the Foreign Ministry repatriate trafficking victims
from abroad and SEDERREC provides them with limited legal, medical
and psychological assistance (see also 5.B). The agency attempts
to place repatriated victims with their families. When
unsuccessful, the agency refers child and adolescent victims to
shelters or foster homes and women to the Asuncion women's shelter
for trafficking victims.



5M. Which international organizations or NGOs, if any, work with
trafficking victims? What type of services do they provide? What
sort of cooperation do they receive from local authorities?

International organizations and NGOs work with trafficking victims
through the Roundtable and independently. They provide a wide
range of services, including repatriation assistance, shelter,
victims assistance (including medical, financial, and legal
assistance),and education as well as training and sensitization
programs for government employees. No international organization
or NGO offers a comprehensive program to assist trafficking
victims, but all receive cooperation from local authorities. Refer
to response 5.B for a list of international organizations and NGOs
that work with trafficking victims.




6. (SBU) PREVENTION

6A. Did the government conduct anti-trafficking information or
education campaigns during the reporting period? If so, briefly
describe the campaign(s),including their objectives and
effectiveness. Please provide the number of people reached by such
awareness efforts, if available. Do these campaigns target
potential trafficking victims and/or the demand for trafficking

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(e.g. "clients" of prostitutes or beneficiaries of forced labor)?
(Note: This can be an especially noteworthy effort where
prostitution is legal. End Note.)

The government conducted several anti-trafficking information and
education campaigns during the reporting period, including one with
help from the OIM that provided potential victims contact numbers
for hotlines used by the anti-TIP police units. Additionally, the
government held several seminars and events designed to generate
publicity regarding the dangers posed by trafficking in persons.
In 2009, the Women's Secretariat hosted 12 regional workshops that
reached 1000 individuals in person and many more via newspaper
articles. These events were attended by the minister of the
Women's Secretariat and anti-TIP prosecutors. They involved a
publicity campaign that handed out anti-TIP bracelets worn to
increase awareness of the problem.

Congress approved a budget line-item accepting about $100,000 from
the Interamerican Development Bank to conduct an anti-TIP publicity
campaign in 2010.

The chief anti-TIP prosecutor and other government officials from
Argentina and Brazil conducted seminars in both Asuncion and near
Ciudad del Este highlighting TIP. Around 300 individuals attended
the seminar in Asuncion. The Roundtable conducted an
anti-trafficking seminar in Greater Asuncion during the reporting
period to increase government officials' general knowledge of
trafficking in persons (see also 4.F). Approximately 100 officials
attended this training.

The SMPR sponsors programs focused on supporting education and job
training for women and adolescent girls. The SNNA sponsors
programs to combat child and adolescent labor, including programs
to protect children and adolescents from forced labor. The
government also works with international organizations such as IOM,
ILO, and UNICEF to publish reports on trafficking and labor abuses
in Paraguay.

To raise awareness among those seeking work abroad, the Foreign
Ministry produced "know your rights when travelling" pamphlets with
contact information for its embassies and consulates abroad and
explanations of what rights immigrant workers have.



6B. Does the government monitor immigration and emigration
patterns for evidence of trafficking? Do law enforcement agencies
screen for potential trafficking victims along borders?

Refer to response in 5.H.



6C. Is there a mechanism for coordination and communication
between various agencies, internal, international, and multilateral
on trafficking-related matters, such as a multi-agency working
group or a task force?

Refer to response in 3.B.



6D. Does the government have a national plan of action to address
trafficking in persons? If the plan was developed during the
reporting period, which agencies were involved in developing it?
Were NGOs consulted in the process? What steps has the government
taken to implement the action plan?

SNNA has a national plan to address trafficking in children through
the National Commission for the Prevention and Eradication of
Childhood Labor and the Protection of Adolescent Labor (CONAETI).
SMPR also has a national plan to address women's issues. The

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Roundtable will begin a process to create a comprehensive national
plan to address TIP in March 2010. The Foreign Ministry publishes
an annual compendium that includes the laws, legal codes, decrees,
and resolutions related to trafficking that serves as a guideline
for the Roundtable. As members of the Roundtable, NGOs play a key
role in advising the government on its anti-trafficking efforts.
There is national action plan to combat forced and child labor,
which was developed by the MJT with help from the International
Labor Organization. This plan went into effect in January 2010.



6E. What measures has the government taken during the reporting
period to reduce the demand for commercial sex acts?

The government did not take noticeable measures during the
reporting period to reduce demand for commercial sex acts. Instead,
the government focused its attention on victim's assistance, and
prosecuting traffickers, and preventing the trafficking of persons.



6F. What measures has the government taken during the reporting
period to reduce the participation in international child sex
tourism by nationals of the country?

The government provided anti-trafficking training to its global
peacekeepers to discourage them from participating in international
child sex tourism (see 3.B and 4.F). However, in general, the
government has not taken steps to reduce the participation of
Paraguayan nationals in international child sex tourism.




7. (U) PARTNERSHIPS

7A. Does the government engage with other governments, civil
society, and/or multilateral organizations to focus attention and
devote resources to addressing human trafficking? If so, please
provide details.

Yes, the government - primarily through the Roundtable - engages
neighboring governments and multilateral organizations to focus
attention on and devote resources to addressing trafficking. The
Roundtable has partnered with Brazil and Argentina to promote
counter-TIP efforts in the tri border region, including several
regional seminars, joint visits to hostels, and coordinated law
enforcement efforts. Argentine and American efforts have come to
Paraguay to conduct training seminars during the reporting period.



7B. What sort of international assistance does the government
provide to other countries to address TIP?

None.


8. The TIP POC at Embassy Asuncion is Ralan Hill
(hillrl@state.gov).
AYALDE