08 March 2007

Power of a Mother’s Love Saves 100 Women from Traffickers

Argentine woman wins U.S. International Women of Courage Award

 

Under Secretary Paula Dobriansky stands with Susana Trimarco de Veron in Washington. (Janine Sides/State Dept.)

By Jane Morse
USINFO Staff Writer

Washington – Marita Veron, a 23-year-old mother of a young child, was less than a block away from her home when she was kidnapped from the streets of San Miguel de Tucuman, Argentina, on April 3, 2002.

Marita’s mother, Susana Trimarco de Veron, launched an intensive search that since has reclaimed 100 young women from the bondage of human traffickers – but, sadly, not her own daughter.

Trimarco de Veron’s efforts have led her into dangerous situations, trolling bars and alleys in search of anyone who might know something about her daughter’s whereabouts.  She has been threatened, spied upon and tricked.  She has received false leads and death threats.  But nothing has deterred her from her investigations into human trafficking in Argentina.

Thanks to Trimarco de Veron’s work, human trafficking now is gaining public and government attention in Argentina, and victims are being encouraged to report the crime.

Trimarco de Veron’s bravery was honored on March 7 in Washington when she received one of the first International Women of Courage Awards.  The award was inaugurated by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to recognize women around the globe who have shown exceptional courage and leadership in advocating women’s rights and advancement. (See related article.)  

Trimarco de Veron joined nine other women in receiving the award during in a special ceremony at the U.S. Department of State.  The other awardees came from Afghanistan, Indonesia, Iraq, Latvia, Maldives, Saudi Arabia and Zimbabwe.  They were selected from 82 nominees submitted by U.S. embassies worldwide.

At the awards presentation, Rice congratulated the women for their “dedication, commitment and passion” in work that is transforming societies and serving as an inspiration to the international community.

During an interview with USINFO, Trimarco de Veron said she felt that the award will help the people of Argentina focus more attention on the problem of human trafficking in their country.  “They will start paying attention that another country has recognized my work,” she said through an interpreter.

Women disappear in Argentina every day, she said.  Many are taken away to Colombia, Mexico, Spain, Paraguay and other countries to work in the sex industry.

Armed with search warrants, Trimarco de Veron said she has accompanied police on raids of places where trafficking victims are suspected to be imprisoned.  These raids have yielded successful results:  In April, 24 suspected traffickers – 13 already formally accused – will stand trial.

Trimarco de Veron sees another successful step forward in the Argentine president’s decision to assign a special police task force (gendarmeria) to focus on the human-trafficking problem.

Trimarco de Veron has formed a network of concerned mothers of missing children and is working on establishing a shelter for abused women.

She said her goals for the coming year are to establish a foundation to help fight human trafficking, get more governmental involvement, and, of course, to find her beloved Marita.

For more information on U.S. policies, see Women in the Global Community.