Our Innovations

Visayan Forum works with partners to innovate sustainable solutions to end human trafficking and other modern-day forms of slavery.

  We are on the frontline in the war against trafficking.
We build Anti-Trafficking Task Forces composed of law enforcers, social workers, prosecutors, transport groups, and port and airport authorities to guard key transit areas such as ports, airports, and bus terminals against traffickers and their cohorts. Our Halfway Houses serves as a 24-hour haven to provide safety, security, and services to vulnerable migrants. Through our partnership with lawyers groups, prosecutors, and other pillars of the justice system, we help secure justice for trafficking victims and abused domestic workers.
 
We help transform victims to survivors.
Our Center of Hope provides comprehensive psycho-social services to victims of trafficking, forced labor, and involuntary domestic servitude. We work with other social entrepreneurs in exploring innovative models to foster economic empowerment among survivors and their communities. We organize survivors, their families and communities into self-help groups so that they themselves can become agents of positive change.
 
We build and rally social movements to address the root causes of modern-day slavery.
VF facilitates the formation of broad-based alliances to forge concrete solutions to reduce the vulnerabilities of migrants. The Multi-Sectoral Network Against Trafficking (MSNAT) synergizes the efforts of civil society groups, corporations, lawyers? groups, and other professionals devoted to combatting human trafficking. The Movement of Anti-Trafficking Advocates (MATA) harnesses the idealism and passion of young leaders and students to foster vigilance in their schools and communities.

Domestic workers, faith-based organizations, trade unions, employers? groups, and government unite under the banner of Decent Work for Domestic Workers to campaign for the ratification of ILO Convention 189, the passage of a Philippine Magna Carta for Domestic Workers, and to reform practices that makes domestic workers vulnerable to trafficking and forced labor.
 
We engage with government to improve public policy and instil a culture of accountability.
VF utilizes its experience and its broad base to work with legislators and political leaders in reforming existing laws and mechanisms for its implementation. VF is at the forefront of efforts to strengthen the capacity of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act (RA 9208) to better protect victims. We work with local governments and community grassroots organizations so that they can formulate more effective actions to guard their communities. We support government efforts towards transparency and accountability by helping detect possible cases of corruption and by helping monitor and evaluate the efficiency of government efforts.
 
We help the private sector ensure that their practices do not lead to slavery.
VF assists the private sector in developing codes of conduct and verification activities to make sure that their hiring, employment, and contracting practices do not contribute to the enslavement of Filipinos. We provide orientation to industry leaders, managers, and key personnel to help them arrive at actions that would help address the demand-side of trafficking.
 
We serve as a resource center.
VF documents its own experience and good practices along with those of its partners to serve as vital tools for innovation. It produces analysis of laws and practices and recommendations to policy-makers. Its data-base of victims offers insights on the various push and pul factors of trafficking and domestic servitude. VF is host to a pool of trainers and experts who can serve as resource persons during seminars and conferences. VF shares its Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) Materials - posters, fliers, manuals, and powerpoint presentations ? that can be utilized to build awareness among different targets.
 
We promote international solidarity.
VF establishes linkages with stakeholders from other countries to share resources and information, wage joint campaigns, and coordinate the provision of rights-based services to victims across borders.