Filipinos Take the Lead in the Campaign to End Human Trafficking and Modern-Day Slavery

MANILA, Philippines, 15 June 2012 – Thousands of Filipinos gathered at the Ayala Triangle Gardens, Makati City in a strong show of support to the campaign to end human trafficking and modern-day slavery.

The “Walk for Freedom” activity, jointly organized by the Visayan Forum Foundation, Inc. (VFFI), the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT), and Walk Free, drew supporters from various sectors, including government, non-government organizations, the private sector, the academe, religious groups, and civil society, among others.

“This is an inspiring show of support for the campaign to end human trafficking and modern-day slavery,” remarks Mr. H.E. “Bud” Scruggs, Acting Chief Executive Officer of Walk Free. “We are cognizant of the Philippines’ efforts to lead this campaign across all fronts, with its push to ratify ILO Convention 189 and with this remarkable display of collective solidarity toward addressing one of the world’s biggest challenges.”

“We are optimistic that the ‘Walk for Freedom’ activity will lead to increased sustained efforts to end human trafficking,” adds Scruggs. “Beyond this walk, Walk Free has made available an online petition on its website that would allow Filipinos to make their voices heard and show their legislators how important the issue of human trafficking is to them.”

The campaign to end human trafficking and modern-day slavery becomes more significant in the Philippines, given that more young women leave their homes in the country than anywhere else in the world to seek a better life elsewhere by working as maids and nannies, with some as young as nine years old. VFFI estimates that the number of domestic workers in the Philippines ranges from 600,000 to 2.5 million. Meanwhile, the International Labour Organization (ILO) estimates that there are 1.9 million Filipina domestic workers overseas and internally for affluent, middle-class, and even average income families.

“The ‘Walk for Freedom’ campaign is a symbolic act to encourage individuals immobilized by apathy to ‘walk with us’ and help show the way to free modern-day slaves,” shares VFFI Founding President and Executive Director Ma. Cecilia Flores-Oebanda. “The campaign taps on the Filipino spirit of ‘bayanihan’ (being a hero for others), as well as the values of selflessness, creativity, belongingness, and unity, as we all work together toward a common cause.”

“Filipinos can take on various actions to support the ‘Walk for Freedom’ campaign,” continues Flores-Oebanda. “They may report incidences of human trafficking through hotline 1343 and create community watch networks, show their support via online petitions to pass new laws, encourage the private sector to ensure that recruitment and employment practices do not provide avenues for human trafficking, and donating or volunteering in projects that address the root causes of human trafficking and modern-day slavery.”

The Philippine government has also been working toward helping address human trafficking and modern-day slavery. Before it can ratify ILO Convention 189, the Philippine government must enact a national law on domestic work. In December 2010, the Senate passed its version of the Domestic Workers Act, while the House of Representatives is currently conducting hearings at the committee level. This bill is expected to raise the minimum wage for domestic workers, require written contracts, extend social security, and improve safeguards against violence and abuse. The Aquino administration has identified the Domestic Workers Act as one of its priority bills during President Benigno S. Aquino III’s last State of the Nation Address.

Meanwhile, through the IACAT, the government has made successful rescues of victims and convictions against offenders, both within the Philippines and abroad. Just last month, government officials were able to rescue 15 human trafficking victims in two operations in the province of Tawi-Tawi. Most recently, IACAT also partnered with the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) to help strengthen the government’s awareness and education campaign to end human trafficking.

“The Philippine government recognizes that addressing human trafficking is an urgent priority, especially as hundreds of thousands of Filipinos are victims each year,” states Justice Undersecretary Jose Vicente Salazar, Undersecretary-in-charge of the IACAT. “While significant gains have been made, there are still remains much more to be done. We are encouraged by the strong multi-sector support that has been manifested in today’s ‘Walk for Freedom’ activity, and we hope that this could lead to more significant advancements in our fight to end human trafficking.”

“The Philippines has been leading the way internationally in demonstrating what we can do to help end modern-day slavery, if we all act together,” notes Scruggs. “We are one with the Filipino people in their initiatives to address this prevalent concern that affects a significant number of the population. We are optimistic that this generation will be the generation that sees the end of modern-day slavery.”