Visayan Forum Foundation Inc.

MICROSOFT STEPS UP ANTI-TRAFFICKING CAMPAIGN

Makati City, Philippines, May 26, 2006 - On the third anniversary of the signing of Republic Act 9208 or the "Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003", Filipinos who have fallen prey to the evils of human trafficking are getting a break that could help them step up to a better life.

Microsoft Philippines, together with Visayan Forum Foundation - a private, non-profit NGO that works for the welfare of marginalized migrants, is launching Stop Trafficking and Exploitation of People through Unlimited Potential or Step-UP, to provide information and technology (IT) skills training to underprivileged youth and adults, concretely boosting their chances of finding better jobs.

“Human trafficking, in its clandestine nature, is one of the worst forms of human rights violations. Unfortunately, traffickers and organized criminal groups have made huge profits out of hundreds of thousands of Filipinos. Through Step-UP, we at Microsoft are taking a stand to help eradicate human trafficking and exploitation in the Philippines,” said Antonio Javier, Managing Director, Microsoft Philippines.

Human trafficking is not a new phenomenon, but is a rapidly growing global problem. RA 9208 defines trafficking as the “… recruitment, transfer or harboring or receipt of persons…by means of threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, abduction, fraud, deception, abuse of power or of position or taking advantage of the vulnerability of the person,…for the purpose of exploitation.” In Southeast Asia, the estimated number of victims trafficked across borders have reached at least 225,000.

“Step-UP is both a preventive and protective response to human trafficking. This is also the very first computer skills training program that we will implement, which would complement our existing services, which include the provision of temporary shelter, medical and legal assistance and psycho-social interventions,” said Ma. Cecilia Flores-Oebanda, President and Executive Director, Visayan Forum Foundation, Inc.

Step-UP is the latest local initiative under Unlimited Potential, Microsoft’s global program which focuses on improving lifelong learning for underserved young people and adults by providing technology skills through community-based organizations around the world. Microsoft Philippines has so far invested more than Php100 million in its existing Unlimited Potential programs, including Tulay: An Unlimited Potential Program for Overseas Filipino Workers, Pag-Asa: An Unlimited Potential Program for Amerasians; and Kapit-Bisig: An Unlimited Potential Program for NGOs.

Microsoft Step-UP will be facilitated in three of Visayan Forum’s centers, namely Manila, Batangas City and Davao City, which are some of the trafficking hot spots in the country. The training will also be coursed through the Community Technology Learning Centers (CTLCs) that Visayan Forum’s 10 local NGO partners will operate this year. Two more NGO implementers will be added next year. An estimated 10,000 victims/survivors and potential victims of trafficking are expected to benefit from the two-year project.

Oebanda, who is a recipient of the 2005 Anti-Slavery Award for her outstanding and innovative work in the area of child domestic work, noted the significance of the partnership with Microsoft, Visayan Forum’s first corporate partner: “This project is solid proof of Microsoft’s commitment to corporate responsibility and we are honored to work hand in hand with them for this cause,” she said.

The Step-UP launch was attended by various stakeholders in the fight against human trafficking, including representatives from the Department of Justice (DOJ), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), the International Labour Organization (ILO), NGOs and foreign embassies. A renewal of commitment to the cause was led by members of the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT), the government body tasked with implementing R.A. 9208, signing a symbolic tableau.

Stated Atty. Severino Gaña, Jr., DOJ Assistant Chief State Prosecutor and IACAT Focal Person: “To eliminate human trafficking, there is really a need for cooperation among government agencies, NGOs and the private sector because the government cannot do it alone.” He added that the Step-UP project will definitely give the country’s anti-trafficking drive a major boost.

“Filipinos should be vigilant against any form of human rights violation. Microsoft is here to help the government and non-government organizations be more aggressive and increase efforts to eliminate trafficking,” stressed Javier.

Since 2001, the Port Halfway Houses - a partnership program of the Philippine Ports Authority and Visayan Forum - in Manila, Batangas, Matnog and Davao have served a total of 10,523 victims and potential victims of trafficking, mostly women and children. The actual number of trafficked victims in the country, however, is higher and difficult to estimate because of the many other trafficking gateways and countless other victims or potential victims have escaped the monitoring mechanisms of government agencies and NGOs.

# # # # #

About Visayan Forum

Established in 1991, Visayan Forum Foundation, Inc. is a non-stock, non-profit NGO working nationwide for the welfare of marginalized migrants, especially domestic workers and trafficked women and children.

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.

#########

Microsoft partners with VF on trafficking