Hughes honored by U.S. government

JAKARTA: The United States government honored on Thursday television presenter Desak Made Hughesia Dewi -- or Hughes -- for her efforts to fight human trafficking, the Antara news agency reported.

U.S. Ambassador to Indonesia B. Lynn Pascoe presented the Hero Acting to End Modern-Day Slavery award to Hughes at a ceremony at the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta.

"The U.S. government very much appreciates Dewi Hughes' efforts in combating human trafficking," Pascoe said.

The ambassador said human trafficking was a modern form of slavery.

The Indonesian government appointed Hughes its ambassador on fighting human and child trafficking in 2003.

Hughes will also leave for Washington to be honored by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. While in Washington, Hughes will also take part in a three-month training program on combating human trafficking.

Among other people similarly honored by the U.S. government were Silvia Queen from Sweden, former U.S senator Nancy Kassebaum, Amod Kanth from India, Angelina Atyam from Uganda, Somaly Mam and Pierre Legros, the founders of non-governmental organizations dealing with child trafficking in Southeast Asia, a group of Catholic nuns in Peru and Adiba Umarova, a journalist from Tajikistan. -- JP