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| TRAFFICKING: A HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUE
Trafficking is a growing global problem. Next to trafficking of money, drugs, and guns, trafficking in persons is among the most profitable underground businesses worldwide. The main purposes of recruiting persons include labor trafficking, sex trafficking, sale of body parts and illegal adoption. Philippine action against trafficking of women and children is gaining ground through the newly approved law, RA9208 or Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003. |
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How serious is the problem in the Philippines? A Trafficking Fact Sheet NEW! prepared by VF comes as a handy guide about the situation of trafficking in the Philippines. If you would like to request for our newly published Primer on Trafficking, please contact our Information Officer at [email protected]. We are also working in seaports across the country to prevent trafficking and protect victims by providing safe haven for rescued victims during transit. To learn more about trafficking of women and children at the Manila Port, click here. A video about VF port partners' interception efforts, you can request a copy of our video documentary of Trafficking at the Manila Port. Several case studies show that exploitation and greed as the main engine of trafficking. Click on the following titles to learn more. To view the latest report of the number of trafficked and potentially trafficked women and children Visayan Forum provided with services through the Port Halfway House program, click here. In the Philippines, trafficking is now a serious crime. A new law has been signed criminalizing the sale and trafficking of persons into sexual exploitation, forced labor, slavery, involuntary servitude or debt bondage. It prescribes stiff penalty of life imprisonment and a fine of up to P5 million. This law is entitled
Still, there are many problems related to prosecution. These concerns were investigated by a top journalist of the Manila Times. To address these issues, the VF recently conducted two major trainings in 2004 with the members of the Justice and Labor departments. Full documentations of these workshops are available at: Department of Justice-Visayan Forum Joint Training on Trafficking for Prosecutors
Department of Labor and Employment - Visayan Forum Joint Training on Trafficking (PDF Download) Current efforts in the Philippines More than thirty (30) partners of the "Multi-Sectoral Network Against Trafficking in Persons" have signed a Memorandum of Agreement vowing to creatively converge in the areas of prevention of trafficking, prosecution of offenders, protection, rescue and recovery and reintegration of trafficked persons, and to support government efforts in the fight against the problem. Related documents include:
This need for establishing a national multi-disciplinary task force came from the experiences in setting up cooperative efforts in major ports such as the Balay Silungan sa Daungan, a joint project of the Visayan Forum, the PPA and its Police arm, WG&A;, Negros Navigation, Philippine Cost Guard, porters groups and other partners.
The US State Department is required by law to submit a report each year to the Congress on foreign government efforts to eliminate severe forms of trafficking in persons. This June 2004 report is the fourth annual Trafficking in Persons Report. Although country actions to end human trafficking are its focus, the report also tells the painful stories of the victims of human trafficking-21st century slaves. To view the report, click here. For more information, please contact the Visayan Forum Foundation at 562.7810, 562.7821, 5627120 or 0920.267.3844 or email [email protected]
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