VF is currently developing a handbook on rights-based approaches to handling trafficked persons. A national consultation shall be held in Manila on March 29 and 30 to consult practitioners about practical measures to protect the rights of victims. This handbook shall be tested in different regions in the Visayas before publication. If you know of practitioners in the Visayas who will be interested to contribute, contact us at [email protected] now.

Workshop:       National Workshop on Development of a
Handbook on Rights-Based Approaches to Trafficking

Dates: March 29-30, 2006 (Arrival on 28^th, Departure on after lunch of 31^st)

Venue: The Legend Villas

Organizers: The Visayan Forum, with support from PLAN-Philippines

What is the seminar all about?
The seminar is a first step in developing a handbook on rights-based approaches to handling ‘trafficked persons.’ The Visayan Forum has studied various manuals on victims protection here and abroad, and has is developing various modules relevant to Philippine context. The seminar is an emotive process using various participatory tools to enrich shared understanding of the RBA framework and guidelines relevant to making such handbook. Various topics will be pre-tested with the aim of getting useful feedback on topics and exercises that can be included in the module.

What is a Rights-Based Approach (RBA) to Trafficked Persons?
There is a need to develop practical measures to protect the human rights of trafficked persons. It requires developing clear messages about safe migration to challenge the misconception that working on trafficking means preventing people from searching for work. Hence, full information must be made available to trafficking victims most especially when in transit, because once they dissolve into conditions of exploitation, it will be most difficult to reach out to and protect them.

Rights-based approach also requires challenging present misconception about pure police approach to rescue and to investigate cases of trafficking. This means trying to avoid making victims feel that they are treated as criminals and vagrants. It is a common experience that victims, when they are intercepted or rescued, see law enforcers and even services providers as ‘enemies’ and to ’oppresors.’ Lack of sensitivity during the interview and investigation process also tends to discriminate trafficked persons, forcing them to withdraw their cooperation to authorities.

Providing a ready set of protection services to trafficked persons is a basic principle of observing rights-based formula. Trafficked persons remain vulnerable to retaliation and re-trafficking when they are just repatriated without enough preparation. RA 9208 or the Anti-Trafficking Law requires the provision of a comprehensive set of services for trafficking victims such as shelter, counseling, training, education, and legal action.

But in contrast to the ‘welfare approach,’ where victims are sympathized with as seen as unable to decide on anything for them, the human rights approach puts primacy to self-determination. Victims must be respected for their courage to go after their perpetrators. Service providers and those in the justice system also need to understand the pressures and intimidations that victims face. While working out to sustain victims’ interest to pursue prosecution efforts, anti-trafficking advocates must also prepare these victims to resuming a normal life.

Who shall be involved in the Pre-Test Workshop?
VF is inviting around 25 field practitioners from the provinces of Samar, Leyte, Sorsogon, Cebu and the National Capital Region. These practitioners are those in contact with trafficked persons such as front-line law enforcers, immigration officers, social workers, lawyers and prosecutors and trafficking survivors themselves. Law enforcers include operatives from the PNP, PPA Police, Coast Guard, Maritime Police, NBI and the CIDG.

Workshop Objectives
The two-day workshop aims to:

1. To generate understanding on the background information on trafficking towards enriching the basis of outlining a rights-based approach for trafficked persons
2. To identify and explore ethical issues as well as core values related to protecting rights of trafficked persons
3. To develop practical tools in protecting rights such as but not limited to indicators of identifying victims, check lists and recommended questions for interviewing trafficked, and participatory practices involving trafficking victims and their parents during the stages of:

   Prevention and Ensuring Safe Migration
   Identification and Acting on Reports
   Rescue, Recovery or Interception
   Initial Interview
   Provision of Crisis Intervention Services
   Prosecution
   Healing and Reintegration

For more information, contact us at [email protected].