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DE RUEHAC #0138/01 0651037
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 051037Z MAR 08
FM AMEMBASSY ASUNCION
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6667
INFO RUCNMER/MERCOSUR COLLECTIVE
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RUEAHLC/HOMELAND SECURITY CENTER WASHDC
RUEAWJB/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC

UNCLAS ASUNCION 000138 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
G/TIP, G, INL, DRL, PRM, WHA/PPC, WHA/BSC KBEAMER, STATE 
PLEASE PASS TO USAID 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KCRM PHUM KWMN SMIG KFRD ASEC PREF ELAB PA
SUBJECT: PARAGUAY:  EIGHTH ANNUAL TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS 
REPORT 
 
REF: STATE 02731 
 
¶1.  (SBU) This cable responds to reftel questions regarding 
anti-trafficking in persons efforts in Paraguay. 
 
¶2.  (SBU) Paraguay's activities to eliminate trafficking in 
persons (TIP) are as follows: 
 
¶A.  Is Paraguay a country of origin, transit, and destination 
for internationally trafficked men, women, or children? 
 
Paraguay is a country of origin and transit for women and 
children who are internationally trafficked from Paraguay for 
sexual exploitation and forced labor.  Paraguay is not an 
international destination for internationally trafficked 
women and children, although the domestic trafficking of 
women and children is common.  Few Paraguayan men are 
internationally trafficked. 
 
Most trafficking victims transit Paraguay through Asuncion, 
Encarnacion, or Ciudad del Este via the Tri-Border Area of 
Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay.  The border crossing between 
Encarnacion and Posadas, Argentina is also a major 
trafficking corridor.  Most victims are trafficked to 
Argentina and Spain; smaller numbers of victims went to 
Brazil, Italy, and Bolivia.  Foz do Iguacu, Brazil and Buenos 
Aires, Cordoba, Corrientes, Entre Rios, Posadas, and Puerto 
Iguazu, Argentina are major trafficking transit points and 
destinations. 
 
¶B.  General overview of the trafficking situation in Paraguay 
and changes since the last TIP report. 
 
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 
remains scarce on the extent of the problem, particularly 
with regard to international trafficking.  The government 
neither gathers nor publishes statistics related to human 
trafficking.  However, anecdotal evidence suggests that each 
year several hundred women, children, adolescents (mostly 
girls), and trans-gendered prostitutes (taxi boys), are 
trafficked internationally.  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 February 2008 that up to 20 victims are 
trafficked each day to Brazil and Argentina via the 
Friendship Bridge in the Tri-Border Area.  Most victims live 
in the rural eastern interior of the country, particularly in 
the departments of Alto Parana, Canindeyu, Caaguazu, and 
Itapua.  Studies show that most victims worked as street 
vendors when traffickers targeted them and that 70 percent of 
victims had drug addictions. 
 
Initial contact between traffickers and victims is typically 
made by women, who ask potential victims whether they would 
be interested in working overseas in the retail industry.  In 
some cases, parents are fully aware that their children plan 
to work in other cities or countries but are unaware of the 
potentially exploitative conditions.  Victims who accept 
traffickers' offers are referred to handlers who facilitate 
travel and issue false travel documents to them.  Once they 
arrive at their destination, victims are typically forced to 
surrender their travel documents and are unwillingly 
subjected to sexual exploitation in brothels or night clubs 
or forced into domestic servitude. 
 
Most traffickers work in organized criminal syndicates based 
in Argentina and Brazil with operations in Paraguay, 
particularly Asuncion, Ciudad del Este, and Encarnacion.  The 
trafficking of women and children for sexual exploitation is 
a high-profit, low-risk activity for traffickers who travel 
covertly at non-recognized or unmonitored border crossing 
points.  Many crime syndicates are also involved in 
trafficking narcotics, weapons, and contraband.  The 
destination of illicit funds is unclear, as is the purpose of 
such transfers; however, recent press reports indicate that 
over USD one million leaves Paraguay daily as a result of 
customs evasion and international trafficking. 
 
Prosecutors are investigating 30 TIP cases on behalf of 71 
victims, including 61 women and 10 adolescent girls.  The 
 
Public Ministry prosecuted 26 total trafficking cases filed 
during 2005-07 on behalf of 66 women, including nine minors. 
There were 34 persons in prison on trafficking-related 
offenses; 11 of these individuals had been convicted of 
trafficking and associated crimes, 23 were charged with these 
crimes, and five were in restrictive custody.  Others 
remained fugitives.  The Secretariat of Development for the 
Repatriated and Conational Refugees (SEDERREC), the agency 
charged with repatriating Paraguayan victims of international 
trafficking, has 60 repatriation cases pending.  The Women's 
Secretariat of the Presidency of the Republic (SMPR) accepted 
 
SIPDIS 
12 new cases on behalf of 18 women in 2007.  The Children and 
Adolescents' Secretariat (SNNA) accepted eight new cases in 
¶2007. 
 
¶C.  Which government agencies are involved in 
anti-trafficking efforts and which agency, if any, has the 
lead? 
 
The Public Ministry is the lead agency involved in 
investigating and prosecuting traffickers.  The Attorney 
General's office of the Public Ministry has one prosecutor 
dedicated full time to prosecuting trafficking cases, 
although other prosecutors in Greater Asuncion, Ciudad del 
Este, and Encarnacion also investigate TIP cases.  The 
Foreign Ministry, SEDERREC, SMPR, and SNNA work closely with 
the Public Ministry to combat TIP.  The Interior Ministry, 
which oversees the National Police, and Immigration assist 
the Public Ministry with TIP investigations and arrests. 
 
The government coordinates anti-TIP efforts through the 
Inter-Institutional Roundtable for the Prevention and Combat 
of Trafficking in Persons.  The roundtable includes 
representatives from the following government agencies: 
Foreign Ministry; Public Ministry; Ministry of Education and 
Culture; Ministry of Industry and Commerce; SMPR; SNNA; 
SEDERREC; National Tourism Secretariat; Social Action 
Secretariat; Directorate General of Statistics, Surveys, and 
 
SIPDIS 
Censuses; Directorate General of Migration; National Police, 
Interpol, and Crime Identification and Investigation; Itaipu 
Binational Authority; Public Defender's office; and the 
Municipality of Asuncion. 
 
International organizations that participate in the 
roundtable include:  IOM; ILO; Inter-American Development 
Bank (IDB); UNICEF; and United Nations Population Fund 
(FNUAP).  Representatives from foreign governments, including 
the United States, European Union, Spain, Argentina, and 
Brazil, also participate in the roundtable 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 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); and Soroptimist International. 
 
¶D.  What are the limitations on the government's ability to 
address this problem in practice? 
 
The government's ability to address this problem in practice 
is limited by insufficient financial and technical resources. 
 The government focuses its efforts on prosecuting 
traffickers and providing victims' assistance. It devotes 
virtually no resources to locating trafficking victims or 
screening vulnerable population groups to identify potential 
victims.  In areas where funding is available, government 
agencies involved in fighting TIP have had to make difficult 
choices.   Many anti-TIP officials do not have computers, and 
officials do not have official vehicles in which to transport 
victims.  The primary TIP prosecutor lacks adequate staff to 
manage the 30 pending cases.  Victims typically receive 
limited government assistance, including follow-up after 
repatriation. 
 
¶E.  To what extent does the government systematically monitor 
its anti-trafficking efforts? 
 
Although it has made progress in monitoring anti-TIP efforts, 
 
 
the government's ability to monitor TIP is limited by 
resource constraints.  The Foreign Ministry publishes an 
annual report summarizing its anti-TIP accomplishments and a 
list of ongoing TIP projects.  In addition, the Public 
Ministry, with USG support, launched the first nationwide 
Trafficking in Persons database in December 2007 to help 
manage trafficking cases.  The Foreign Ministry and SNNA 
received database access in January 2008; the SMPR and 
SEDERREC are scheduled to receive access by mid-2008. 
 
¶3.  (SBU) Paraguay's activities to investigate and prosecute 
traffickers are as follows: 
 
¶A.  Does Paraguay have a law specifically prohibiting 
trafficking in persons for sexual and non-sexual purposes? 
 
President Nicanor Duarte Frutos approved a new Penal Code 
(3440/07) on January 11, 2008.  The new Penal Code's 
statutes, include its TIP statute, will go into effect on 
March 1, 2009, replacing the 1997 Penal Code.  Paraguay has 
several laws specifically prohibiting trafficking in persons 
for sexual and non-sexual purposes, including the 1997 Penal 
Code (1160/97), the 2001 Children and Adolescents Law 
(1680/01), the 1997 Adoptions Law, and the 2000 Domestic 
Violence Law (1600/00).  The 2001 Children and Adolescents 
Law contains provisions that prosecutors could use against 
traffickers, including:  Children's rights against 
exploitation (article 25), and prohibitions against the use 
of children in commercial sexual activities (article 31). 
The 1997 Adoptions Law (1035/97) contains provisions that 
protect children against violence and exploitation.  The 2000 
Domestic Violence Law contains provisions to protect women 
and children from physical violence and violence associated 
with TIP.  These will remain in effect once the new Penal 
Code goes into effect. 
 
The TIP statute of the 2008 Penal Code contains articles that 
punish those guilty of trafficking in persons for sexual and 
labor purposes.  The code also aligns Paraguayan law with the 
international conventions it has ratified, including:  ILO 
Convention 182 concerning the elimination of the worst forms 
of child labor; ILO Convention 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. 
 
The 1997 Penal Code's TIP statute in effect until February 
28, 2009 includes articles on trafficking in person for 
sexual purposes (129b) and trafficking in persons with 
personal and labor exploitation purposes (129c).  The statute 
prescribes 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. 
 
¶B.  What are the prescribed penalties for trafficking people 
for sexual exploitation? 
 
The 2008 Penal Code stipulates prison sentences of up to 12 
years in cases where the victim is a minor under the age of 
18 years of age or subjected to excessive violence.  The 
statute prescribes eight years' imprisonment for individuals 
involved in human trafficking syndicates, regardless of 
victims' consent. 
 
¶C.  Punishment of Labor Trafficking Offenses. 
 
The punishment for labor trafficking is identical to 
penalties for sexual exploitation under the 1997 and 2008 
penal codes. 
 
¶D.  What are the prescribed penalties for rape or forcible 
sexual assault? 
 
The 2008 Penal Code prescribes penalties up to ten years' 
imprisonment for rape or forcible sexual assault.  If the 
victim is a minor under the age of 18, the sentences range 
from three to 15 years.  The penalties for this violation are 
similar to maximum trafficking sentences.  The 1997 Penal 
Code still in effect prescribes up to eight years' 
imprisonment for rape or forcible sexual assault. 
 
¶E.  Is prostitution legalized or decriminalized? 
 
Prostitution is legal for those over the age of 18 and is 
regulated by local government. 
 
¶F.  Has the government prosecuted any cases against human 
trafficking offenders? 
 
The government has convicted 11 offenders of human 
trafficking since 2005.  Prosecutors are investigating 30 TIP 
cases for 61 women and ten children, opening nine new cases 
in 2005, 12 in 2006, eight in 2007, and one in the first 
quarter of 2008. 
 
¶G.  Does the government provide any specialized training for 
government officials in how to recognize, investigate, and 
prosecute instances of trafficking? 
 
The government does not provide specialized training for 
government officials on how to recognize, investigate, and 
prosecute trafficking.  Financial assistance from the USG 
enabled the Public Ministry to publish and distribute a human 
trafficking intervention manual written by its lead TIP 
prosecutor in 2006 as a resource for government officials. 
Police officers and prosecutors use basic, reactive 
investigative techniques; they do not use advanced 
investigative techniques such as electronic surveillance and 
undercover operations.  There are no laws that permit the 
police to engage in covert operations to combat TIP. 
 
¶H.  Does the government cooperate with other governments in 
the investigation and prosecution of trafficking cases? 
 
The government cooperates with other governments and Interpol 
in the investigation and prosecution of trafficking cases. 
The Foreign Ministry (including Paraguayan embassies and 
consulates), Public Ministry, National Police and SEDERREC 
work closely with Argentine, Brazilian, and Spanish 
authorities in investigating and prosecuting trafficking 
cases and repatriating trafficking victims. 
 
¶I.  Does the government extradite persons who are charged 
with trafficking in other 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 Penal Code allows 
Paraguayans and foreign nationals who are charged with 
trafficking in other countries to be extradited.  However, no 
Paraguayans or foreign nationals have been extradited for TIP 
offenses. 
 
¶J.  Is there evidence of government involvement in or 
tolerance of trafficking, on a local or institutional level? 
 
There were reports that public officials, including political 
figures, border guards, police, prosecutors, judges, or other 
officials, participated in, facilitated, or condoned human 
trafficking.  There were several reports that officials 
accepted bribes directly or indirectly to facilitate 
trafficking in persons.  Prosecutors from the Public Ministry 
and the National Police supported the efforts of the SMPR, 
SNNA, and SEDERREC to combat trafficking.  However, 
prosecutors and the police neither investigated nor 
prosecuted public officials allegedly involved in trafficking 
or removed them because they lacked the resources and 
political will to prosecute government officials. 
 
¶K.  If government officials are involved in trafficking, what 
steps has the government taken to end such participation? 
 
Despite reports of involvement by government officials in 
trafficking, the Public Ministry has not investigated these 
allegations.  As such, the government has not taken steps to 
end such participation. 
 
¶L.  For countries that contribute troops to international 
peacekeeping efforts, please indicate whether the government 
has vigorously investigated, prosecuted, convicted and 
sentenced nationals of the country deployed abroad. 
 
The Paraguayan military has deployed a platoon of 31 
peacekeepers to Haiti under MINUSTAH, a squad of 15 
 
peacekeepers to Cyprus, and several officers to Africa.  The 
military is currently preparing a 136-member unit to conduct 
peacekeeping under the United Nations Peace Keeping Operation 
Initiative.  The military conducted police and military 
background checks on all soldiers before allowing them to 
join the unit.  The Paraguayan government has not had any 
incidents of Paraguayans deployed abroad requiring 
investigation, prosecution, conviction, or sentencing. 
 
¶M.  If Paraguay has an identified child sex tourism problem, 
how many foreign pedophiles has the government prosecuted or 
deported/extradited to their country of origin? 
 
There is no identified child sex tourism industry in 
Paraguay.  However, child sex tourism does occur, and 
Paraguay has several locations where foreign pedophiles are 
known to frequent such as bus terminals.   The government has 
not prosecuted, deported, or extradited any foreign 
pedophiles. 
 
¶4.  (SBU) Paraguay's activities to protect and assist TIP 
victims: 
 
¶A.  Does the government assist foreign trafficking victims? 
 
The government provides limited assistance to foreign 
trafficking victims, notably Bolivians trafficked 
internationally through Paraguay.  However, the government 
concentrates its efforts on aiding Paraguayans who are 
victims of international trafficking. 
 
¶B.  Does Paraguay have victim care facilities which are 
accessible to trafficking victims? 
 
Children, adolescents, and women who are trafficking victims 
receive limited medical, psychological, and legal services. 
Some victims also receive shelter, meals, and transportation. 
 Because their resources are limited, the Public Ministry, 
Foreign Ministry, SEDERREC, SMPR, and SNNA can only assist up 
to 100 trafficking victims at a time and only for a limited 
period of time.  SEDERREC, SMPR, and SNNA help victims return 
to their families; SNNA places some child and adolescent 
victims in foster homes.  The government does not follow up 
with victims once they return to their families. 
 
SMPR, with USG assistance, opened a new shelter in December 
2007 for women who are victims of trafficking, the first of 
its kind in Paraguay.  The shelter can accommodate up to 18 
women.  Although it does not operate a shelter, the NGO Kuny 
Aty provided assistance to women who were trafficking victims 
in Asuncion and Villarrica. 
 
SNNA places child and adolescent trafficking victims in 
various victim care facilities and foster homes.  The NGO 
CEAPRA manages a children's shelter directly supported by the 
SNNA in Ciudad del Este.  The Ministry of Health and Social 
Welfare operates three homes for abused children and orphans 
in Asuncion.  The Paraguayan Network for Human Development 
(REPADEH) chaired by First Lady Gloria Penayo operates two 
children's homes in Asuncion.  In many cities, the Municipal 
Council for Children's Rights (CODENI) runs shelters and 
assists abused and neglected children.  Catholic and other 
religious organizations operate children's shelters in 
Asuncion, Encarnacion, and Villarrica.  NGOs Kuna Aty in 
Asuncion and the Integral Attention Service for Adolescents 
(SAIA) also assist abused children. 
 
¶C.  Does the government provide funding or other forms of 
support to foreign or domestic NGOs and/or international 
organizations for services to trafficking victims? 
 
SNNA provides funding and support to CEAPRA.  The SMPR 
provides some support to Kuna Aty to assist women who are 
trafficking victims. 
 
¶D.  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? 
 
The government's law enforcement, immigration, and social 
services personnel do not have a formal system of proactively 
identifying trafficking victims.  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 their 
victims.  Most land-based ports of entry are patrolled by 
fewer than four police officers or immigration and customs 
officials who frequently allowed traffic to pass through 
borders 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. 
 
¶E.  Does the government have a mechanism for screening for 
trafficking victims among persons involved in the 
legal/regulated commercial sex trade? 
 
Local police and municipal authorities in Asuncion, Ciudad 
del Este, and Encarnacion screen potential trafficking 
victims in the local commercial sex trade.  The authorities 
refer potential victims to the SMPR, SNNA, or NGOs, including 
CEAPRA, for assistance.  However, many victims are trafficked 
internationally without any prior association with the 
commercial sex trade. 
 
¶G.  Does the government encourage victims to assist in the 
investigation and prosecution of trafficking? 
 
The government encourages victims to file complaints against 
traffickers and assist in the investigation and prosecution 
of traffickers.  However, many victims avoid the legal 
process for fear of potential retaliation by traffickers and 
social stigma surrounding their victimization.  The TIP 
prosecutor noted that she had received no reports of human 
trafficking as of January 2008 in Pedro Juan Caballero, a 
major transit point for many types of trafficking, and she 
noted that this was likely due to victims' fear of reprisal. 
 
¶H.  What kind of protection is the government able to provide 
for victims and witnesses? 
 
The government had a limited ability to protect victims and 
witnesses.  Shelters that accept trafficking victims offer 
them limited protection and do not have appropriate security 
mechanisms to protect victims from possible retaliation. 
Police officers and prosecutors rarely provide personal 
protection to victims or witnesses.  Victims who return to 
their homes -- often to the same community from which they 
were trafficked -- receive no further government protection. 
 
¶I.  Does the government provide any specialized training for 
government officials in identifying trafficking victims and 
in the provision of assistance to trafficked victims? 
 
The government does not provide specialized training for 
government officials in identifying trafficking victims. 
However, the SMPR conducted several courses for the police, 
health care workers, prosecutors, and others in assisting 
trafficking victims.  The Public Ministry's human trafficking 
intervention manual provides written guidance on identifying 
and assisting trafficking victims. 
 
¶J.  Does the government provide assistance to its nationals 
who are repatriated as victims of trafficking? 
 
SEDERREC repatriates trafficking victims to Paraguay and 
provides them with limited legal, medical and psychological 
assistance.  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 new women's shelter for trafficking victims. 
 
¶K.  Which international organizations or NGOs work with 
trafficking victims? 
 
Many international organizations and NGOs that participate in 
the government's inter-institutional roundtable cooperate 
with local authorities to combat TIP and assist trafficking 
victims.  IOM, which opened an office in Asuncion in November 
2007, provides limited support and counseling to trafficking 
victims.  Kuna Aty assists women who are victims in Asuncion 
and Villarrica; the NGO Women's November 25th Collective 
assists women in Asuncion.  CEAPRA operates a children and 
adolescents' shelter in Ciudad del Este.   The NGO Grupo Luna 
Nueva operated a shelter in Asuncion for child and adolescent 
 
trafficking victims until November 2007, when the SNNA ended 
financial support.  Grupo Luna Nueva continues to offer 
limited victims' assistance to 12 trafficking victims.  Kuna 
Aty assists children in Asuncion; SAIA in Villarrica. 
 
¶5.  (SBU) Paraguay's activities to prevent TIP: 
 
¶A.  Does the government acknowledge that trafficking is a 
problem in Paraguay? 
 
Yes, the government acknowledges that trafficking is a 
problem in the country. 
 
¶B.  Are there government-run anti-trafficking information or 
education campaigns conducted during the reporting period? 
 
The inter-institutional roundtable frequently conducts 
anti-trafficking seminars in Greater Asuncion, Caacupe, and 
in Ciudad del Este during the reporting period.  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.  IOM, with USG 
funding, conducted a TIP awareness campaign in the Tri-Border 
Area in 2006 and 2007 designed to discourage involvement in 
the commercial sex industry. 
 
¶C.  What is the relationship between government officials, 
NGOs, other relevant organizations and other elements of 
civil society on the trafficking issue? 
 
Government officials, particularly those involved in the 
inter-institutional roundtable, generally have a cordial 
relationship with anti-TIP international organizations and 
NGOs.  The government provides limited support to NGOs and 
other organizations, most notably CEAPRA and Kuna Aty; it 
generally does not obstruct non-governmental efforts to 
combat TIP.  The government also provides information to NGOs 
such as Global Infancia and the Center for the Study of 
Children and Adolescents (CENIJU) to help them research and 
advocate TIP issues. 
 
International organizations such as the IDB provide financial 
support to the inter-institutional roundtable for its 
anti-TIP efforts.  The IOM and ILO assist the government in 
researching and analyzing sexual exploitation and forced 
labor in Paraguay. 
 
¶D.  Does the government monitor immigration and emigration 
patterns for evidence of trafficking? 
 
No.  Refer to response in 4.D. 
 
¶E.  Is there a mechanism for coordination and communication 
between various agencies, internal, international, and 
multilateral on trafficking-related matters? 
 
The government coordinates its efforts to combat trafficking 
in persons through its inter-institutional roundtable (refer 
to response in 2.C).  The roundtable meets monthly in 
Asuncion to coordinate TIP efforts.  The roundtable's 
influence outside Asuncion is limited by its ability to 
coordinate with field offices around the country. 
 
¶F.  Does the government have a national plan of action to 
address trafficking in persons? 
 
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.  However, no comprehensive national 
plan exists to address TIP.  The Foreign Ministry publishes 
an annual compendium that includes the laws, legal codes, 
decrees, and resolutions related to TIP that serves as a 
guideline for the inter-institutional roundtable. 
 
¶G.  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 to reduce 
 
demand for commercial sex acts.  Instead, the government 
focused its attention on victim's assistance and prosecuting 
traffickers.  The IOM's 2006-07 trafficking in persons 
awareness campaign in the Tri-Border Area encouraged 
potential victims to avoid engaging in commercial sex acts. 
 
¶6.  (U) TIP Hero.  Post recommends the Center for Attention, 
Prevention, and Surveillance of Boys, Girls, and Adolescents 
(CEAPRA) in Ciudad del Este be recognized as a TIP Hero. 
CEAPRA, which operates a shelter for adolescents who are 
victims of human trafficking and abuse, has worked closely 
with the government's Children and Adolescents' Secretariat 
(SNNA) for many years to assist victims in Ciudad del Este. 
Ciudad del Este is major trafficking corridor for victims who 
are trafficked internationally, and those who combat TIP in 
the area face the potential threat of personal violence by 
traffickers.  CEAPRA receives funding from the SNNA and the 
Itaipu Binational Authority.  CEAPRA has assisted many 
trafficking victims locally and worked with the SNNA to 
return victims to their families while operating in a hostile 
environment under the influence of human traffickers. 
 
¶7.  (U) The POC for Post is Political Officer Michael 
Edwards.  His contact information is as follows: 
595-21-213-715 (voice), 595-21-214-479 (fax), or 
edwardsmg@state.gov (e-mail).  The POC conducted 60 hours of 
meetings, writing, and editing.  The Regional Legal Advisor's 
assistant spent five hours assisting the POC with this 
report.  The deputy chief of mission and political counselor 
each spent three hours reviewing this report. 
 
Please visit us at     http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/asuncion 
 
CASON