PARAGUAY RAISES PROFILE OF TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS

UNCLAS ASUNCION 000031 SENSITIVE SIPDIS WHA/BSC MDRUCKER, BFRIEDMAN, MDASCHBACH E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM KTIP PGOV PREL KPAO PA AR SUBJECT: PARAGUAY RAISES PROFILE OF TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS ¶1. (U) Leading daily newspaper ABC Color ran a full-page article on trafficking in persons (TIP) January 11. The article focused on Ciudad del Este (CdE) and cited the penal code, explained "what is trafficking in persons," and described two ongoing prosecutions. The new penal code increased the penalty for international trafficking as of July 2009. The Paraguayan government's Women's Secretariat and the TIP division of the National Police subsequently opened offices in CdE to assist post-rescue TIP victims, receive complaints, and liaise with prosecutors in the Public Ministry. ¶2. (U) Paraguayan and Argentine TIP prosecutors collaborated to extradite one trafficker to Argentina in December 2009. Members of the Inter-institutional Roundtable Against Trafficking in Persons (the "Roundtable"),which includes relevant government and non-governmental organizations, visited a Brazilian home for trafficked women December 11. On December 18, the Roundtable hosted Argentine social development director Gloria Bonatto, who shared her views, statistics, and "best practices" for preventing TIP. ¶3. (U) Lead Paraguayan TIP prosecutor Teresa Martinez shared with PolOff January 4 statistical information from her unit on open TIP cases. The victims of the 124 cases under investigation come primarily from the departments of Asuncion (38),Alto Parana (27), Central (21) and Caaguazu (13). The majority of the 118 victims trafficked internationally went to Argentina (71),with smaller numbers to Spain (19),Bolivia (15) and Chile (7). ¶4. (SBU) COMMENT: The spate of TIP articles in major media publications, the government's outreach to neighboring countries, and the continued opening of new offices has raised the public profile of TIP in Paraguay. While significant challenges remain, the government is taking positive steps and hopes that increased visibility will impact prosecution and prevention efforts. END COMMENT. HOLLOWAY