Cebuano youth to implement aggressive measure against human trafficking

Young people in Cebu are mobilizing to curb human trafficking and rid the province of its image as a hotspot for trafficking operations. 

The Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) of Cebu and the Movement of Anti-Trafficking Advocates (MATA), a youth network organized by Visayan Forum Foundation, will join forces to prevent and report cases of trafficking in their areas.  The partnership will be launched today, September 16, 2011, at the Cebu International Convention Center, at 1:00 in the afternoon. 

All Cebu SK units in the province will gather the youth and design programs to raise awareness on the issue to prevent, detect and report cases of human trafficking in the province.

More than 1,000  youth leaders have already been called up to implement education campaigns, guard communities and schools against traffickers, and link up with law enforcement groups in reporting trafficking operations. 

“Cebuano youth don't tolerate exploitation especially human trafficking in their province.  By nature, they are warriors that treasure freedom and justice of their people. It’s not surprising for me that no less than the Governor, Hon. Gwen Garcia, is leading the battle against trafficking, together with the SK youth,” states Oebanda.

“The partnership between MATA and SK Cebu is important because they will reach the grassroots level and equip vulnerable youth with information in order to prevent them from falling into human trafficking conditions,” Oebanda adds.  “The program also seeks to harness the idealism and energy of the youth, transforming them from victims to change-makers.”

Early this year, SK Cebu thru its Executive Board, together with Gov. Garcia, and Visayan Forum Foundation, crafted a 3-Phase Action Plan involving all SK leaders in 56 municipalities and 1,203 barangays to implement Anti-Human Trafficking advocacy activities in the communities.

Last June 8, 2011, SK Federation President Aladin Caminero signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Founder and Executive Director of the Visayan Forum Foundation, Ma. Cecilia Flores-Oebanda, to formalize its commitment to adopt MATA throughout the SK network in Cebu.

MATA is an anti-trafficking advocacy network aimed at motivating and engaging the youth to become voices for the voiceless victims of human trafficking in the Philippines. The network hopes to serve as watchful eyes of young people against trafficking in schools and in the communities.

US Ambassador Harry Thomas will grace this gathering as Keynote Speaker to the launching of the partnership.  Gov. Gwen Garcia will also deliver a message and will be given a plaque in recognition of her leadership against human trafficking in the province.

This event is part of a nationwide youth campaign called Traffick Jam made possible through the support of the US Agency for International Development (USAID).