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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
STRATEGIC PLANNING OF THE MULTI-SECTORAL NETWORK AGAINST TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS Island Cove Resort, Bacoor, Cavite July 9-10, 2003 The Multi-Sectoral Network Against Trafficking in Persons is a national alliance led by various civil society, government and private groups committed to provide intermediate response mechanisms to address the issue of trafficking in persons, especially women and children. It is civil society's response to the alarming situation of trafficking in the country. The Philippines is a source transit and destination point of victims of trafficking with hundreds of minors who dissolve into prostitution and other forms of abusive work on a daily basis. | ||
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As a creative convergence of diverse expertise, the network existed even prior to the adoption of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act or RA 9208. With the signing of he new law last May 26, 2003, the role of civil society groups in partnership with mandated government agencies have become even more crucial to ensure its proper and effective implementation. However, while the problem of trafficking has been there for so long, there is still a need for a comprehensive set of strategies to address the ever-elusive and ever-changing machinations behind the trafficking problem The Strategic Planning of the Multi-Sectoral Network Against Trafficking in Persons was held from July 9 to 10, 2003 in Island Cove Resort, Bacoor, Cavite, Philippines. Participants composed of non-government organizations, government agencies and the private sector gathered for this 2-day workshop to formulate a three-year strategic plan and identify areas of coordination between and among the various members of the network. Hon. Merceditas Gutierrez, Undersecretary of the Department of Justice and Chairperson of the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking, gave the keynote address on the first day. Hon. Bellaflor Angara-Castillo, House Representative of the Lone District of Aurora and principle author of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Bill, highlighted relevant provisions of RA 9208, noting that the law will only be as good as its implementation. Ma. Cecilia Flores-Oebanda, President of Visayan Forum Foundation, gave a presentation on the history of the Task Force Against Trafficking in Persons. The Department of Foreign Affairs facilitated a continuing workshop for participants to flesh out the nature and purpose of the network. The group decided that the group should be named a movement or network instead of the earlier version as a taskforce. The participants discussed the accountability and roles of the group relative to the Inter-Agency Council. They decided that the Network exists independently of the Inter-Agency Council, but should closely coordinate with it because some members are also represented in both bodies. Approving the draft prepared by a Styling Committee, the participants agreed on the following formulation of the network's Vision, Mission and Goals: Vision The Multi-sectoral Network Against Trafficking envisions a society free from trafficking in persons, especially women and children, where our people can enjoy the fullness of life. Mission Multi-sectoral Network Against Trafficking is committed to provide effective and immediate response mechanisms in the areas of prevention of trafficking, prosecution of offenders, and protection, rescue, recovery and reintegration of trafficked persons. Goals
The participants then proceeded to the Strategic Planning session where each agency/organization contributed to the formulation of action plans on the four target areas of action, namely: Prevention, Protection, Prosecution, and Renewal and Reintegration. On the second day, representatives from Government (Department of Foreign Affairs), NGOs (AsiaACTS), and employers groups (WG&A;) shared actions and lessons learned in coordinating multi-sectoral mechanisms. The facilitators from CATW-AP and DOLE facilitated a third workshop aimed to enable the network members to clarify strategic areas of coordination by exploring underlying assumptions. The main facilitator from Visayan Forum synthesized these discussions into different challenges facing the network. Participants from Inter-Agency Council-member agencies requested that they be provided a copy of the outputs of this 2-day activity so that they may present it to the Inter-Agency Council when it convenes the following week. The participants also decided that they would mail the draft Memorandum of Agreement, with their comments and suggestions and/or approval, to the Technical Working Group on or before August 10, 2003. The official high-level launching of the Multi-Sectoral Network Against Trafficking in Persons will be announced after the Memorandum of Agreement is finalized and approved by its members. For details of this Executive Summary, contact:
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