Hughes honored by U.S. government

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