VZCZCXRO8384
RR RUEHCD RUEHGA RUEHGD RUEHHA RUEHHO RUEHMC RUEHQU RUEHTM RUEHVC
DE RUEHBU #2095/01 2971808
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 241808Z OCT 07
FM AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9544
INFO RUCNMRC/WESTERN HEMISPHERIC AFFAIRS DIPL POSTS
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 0683

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BUENOS AIRES 002095 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
G/IWI FOR PENNY RECHKEMMER 
G/TIP FOR BARBARA FLECK AND KATIE BRESNAHAN 
WHA/BSC FOR JANINA SLATTERY 
WHA/PPC FOR SCOTT MILLER 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: AR KWMN PHUM PREL KCRM SMIG KFRD ASEC ELAB
 
SUBJECT: TIP ACTIVIST TRIMARCO LAUNCHES ANTI-TIP FOUNDATION 
 
REF:  BUENOS AIRES 300 
 
¶1.  (U)  Summary.  Ambassador Wayne delivered the keynote speech at 
the launch of Susana Trimarco's anti-trafficking in persons (TIP) 
foundation.  In the Ambassador's remarks, he highlighted the need 
for comprehensive anti-TIP legislation and underscored USG 
commitment to fight TIP.  He also announced an Embassy donation of 
computers and educational materials to the foundation.  The event 
attracted strong local media coverage, and National Deputy Stella 
Maris Cordoba as well as provincial officials attended the event. 
After the event, Trimarco and the Ambassador called on Tucuman 
Governor Jose Alperovich to underscore the importance of fighting 
human trafficking.  Alperovich congratulated Trimarco and offered 
continued support. 
 
¶2.  (U)  Earlier this year, the Department twice recognized Trimarco 
for her efforts to combat trafficking: first as an International 
Woman of Courage and later as a Heroine Acting to end Modern-Day 
Slavery.  Department recognition of Trimarco's fight against TIP has 
helped raise her profile and call attention to Argentina's human 
trafficking problem.  An extraordinary networker, Trimarco has 
relied on the media, grassroots organization, the Catholic Church 
and the National Gendarmerie to develop an ad hoc response to 
identifying, rescuing, and rehabilitating victims.  The 
establishment of the Maria de los Angeles Foundation is the first 
step to institutionalizing Trimarco's crusade against human 
trafficking and will hopefully inject momentum to civil society's 
efforts to pass meaningful anti-TIP legislation.  End Summary. 
 
--------------------------------- 
Foundation Inauguration a Success 
--------------------------------- 
 
¶3.  (U) Ambassador Wayne delivered the keynote speech at the launch 
of Susana Trimarco's anti-trafficking in persons (TIP) foundation on 
October 19.  The "Maria de los Angeles Foundation" is named after 
Trimarco's daughter who was kidnapped in 2003 and is believed to 
have been trafficked into sexual slavery.  During the ribbon-cutting 
ceremony, Trimarco publicly thanked the Ambassador for his and the 
USG's continued support of her fight against TIP. 
 
¶4.  (U)  Trimarco says that the main objectives of the foundation 
are to: 1) continue investigations into human trafficking; 2) 
provide assistance to trafficking victims until they are ready to be 
reintegrated into their communities or start new lives elsewhere; 3) 
advocate for stronger government policies to combat human 
trafficking on behalf of mothers who have lost children to 
modern-day slavery; and 4) raise awareness of the problem through 
media outreach and training to judges, prosecutors and law 
enforcement officials.  According to Trimarco, the GOA and the 
provincial government of Tucuman provided financial assistance to 
help her launch the foundation. 
 
¶5.  (U)  In his remarks, the Ambassador congratulated Trimarco on 
her achievements, highlighted the need for comprehensive anti-TIP 
legislation, and underscored USG commitment to working with Trimarco 
and others in the government and civil society to combat human 
trafficking.  The Ambassador also presented Trimarco with a State 
Department certificate naming her a Heroine Acting to end Modern-Day 
Slavery and announced an Embassy donation of two computers and 
educational materials.  National Congresswoman Stella Maris Cordoba, 
who has sponsored comprehensive draft anti-TIP legislation, attended 
the event, as did a number of officials from the provinces of 
Tucuman and La Rioja.  Representatives from the National Ministry of 
Justice and the National Anti-Discrimination Institute (INADI) were 
also present. 
 
------------------------------- 
Media Views Ambassador's Presence as Sign of USG Support 
------------------------------- 
 
¶6.  (U)  Local television, radio and press in full force covered the 
event and carried the Ambassador's key-note address as the main 
feature of their news items.  Tucuman's most traditional and 
biggest-selling newspaper, La Gaceta, for example, carried the news 
on its front page and two separate stories on the Ambassador's visit 
inside.  Local journalists viewed the Ambassador's presence as a 
sign of strong international support for Trimarco's cause. 
 
------------------------------ 
Trimarco and Ambassador Raise TIP with Tucuman Governor 
------------------------------- 
 
¶7.  (U)  After the foundation's launch, Trimarco accompanied the 
Ambassador on a courtesy call to Tucuman Governor Jose Alperovich. 
The Ambassador noted USG commitment to supporting Trimarco and her 
 
BUENOS AIR 00002095  002 OF 002 
 
 
foundation.  Trimarco thanked Alperovich for the financial support 
his administration provided to the Foundation, and asked him to 
"forgive her" when she asks him for more.  She praised the 
governor's efforts to create a special police unit dedicated to 
investigating crimes against sexual integrity, including TIP crimes, 
calling the unit "exemplary".  Alperovich congratulated Trimarco on 
the inauguration of her new foundation and offered to continue 
supporting her efforts to combat human trafficking. 
 
---------------------------- 
What Accounts for Trimarco's Success 
---------------------------- 
 
¶8.  (U)  Trimarco has relied heavily on the media, at the national 
and provincial levels, to highlight the problem of human trafficking 
in Argentina, in general, and her search for her missing daughter, 
in particular.  The opening of the foundation is widely seen as a 
landmark in her work.  Trimarco is an extraordinary networker, 
organizing a group of mothers throughout the country whose children 
have disappeared.  They often accompany her at meetings with 
provincial government officials to demand greater action in 
resolving these cases.  As reported reftel, Trimarco's initial modus 
operandi included her investigating bars and brothels disguised as a 
prostitute in search of information that could lead to the rescue of 
her daughter, Marita.  In her search, she came across trafficking 
victims and worked with the Argentine National Gendarmerie to 
organize rescue missions. 
 
¶9.  (U)  Now, due to her high public profile, people call Trimarco 
directly to provide her information on new disappearances.  Trimarco 
passes this information on to the Argentina National Gendarmerie, 
and if it is a case that took place in Tucuman, to the Special Unit 
in charge of investigating sex crimes and TIP.  The Gendarmerie then 
looks into the case, and if the lead can be verified, they organize 
a rescue mission.  The Maria de los Angeles Foundation website, 
www.casoveron.org.ar, also has a link so that people can report 
information about the whereabouts of Trimarco's missing daughter, 
Marita, or other cases.  Once rescued, Trimarco works with the 
Catholic religious order "Hermanas Adoratrices" to provide housing 
to victims.  It is Trimarco's hope that the foundation will help to 
institutionalize these ad hoc efforts to rescue and rehabilitate 
trafficking victims. 
 
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COMMENT 
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¶10.  (U)  Department recognition of Trimarco's efforts have helped 
raise her profile and call attention to Argentina's human 
trafficking problem.  The establishment of the Maria de los Angeles 
Foundation is the first step to institutionalizing Trimarco's 
crusade against human trafficking and will reenergize civil 
society's efforts to pass meaningful legislation to prevent human 
trafficking, protect victims, and prosecute offenders. 
 
WAYNE