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FM AMEMBASSY ASUNCION
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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 
 
¶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