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Drive vs illegal human trade strengthened

Published August 22, 2008 4:12am

MANLA, Philippines - An intensified campaign against human traicking was launched early this week by a nongovernmental
organization with the support of the United States embassy.

Human traicking refers to the illegal trade of humans, mostly children and women, and forcing them to work either as sex slaves or child
laborers.

With nearly 2.3 million forced into "modern slavery" annually, human traicking has become the third largest illegal cross-border crime,
behind drug traicking and illegal arms trade.

The campaign launch was led by the Visayan Forum Foundation, Inc. (VFFI).

The Philippines is considered as a source, transit and destination country for human traicking. According to the US State Department,
the victims are brought to Cote d Ivoire, Japan, Hong Kong and Malaysia, among others. The victims number hundreds of thousands.

The Philippines has been put on the second tier of the US State Departments Traicking in Persons Report.

The classification meant the country is complying only with the minimum standards set by the US on the protection and prevention of
human traicking.

The minimum standard includes imposing punishment to deter traicking and sustained eorts by the government to eliminate
traicking.

In response to improving the anti-human traicking campaign record, the Philippines enacted into law Republic Act 9208 also known as
the Anti-traicking of Persons Act 2003. There has so far been 11 convictions on traicking.

A further downgrade to the third tier will result in the loss of non-humanitarian, non-trade assistance from the US such as development
programs and educational exchange programs.

"Human traicking is a global problem," US Ambassador to the Philippines Kristie A. Kenney said at the launch. "It is modern-day slavery
and victims rarely have a voice."

Cecil Flores-Oebanda, VFFI president and executive director, noted a "massive exploitation of safe migration."

The VFFI works with other sectors to provide halfway houses for traicking victims. The Philippine Ports Authority is building halfway
houses in ports where rescued victims are hosted until they can fully reintegrate into society.

According to the International Labor Oice, victims oen cope with reintegration problems since their families expected them to provide
money.

In the same event, Justice Undersecretary Ricardo Blancaflor of the Inter-Agency Council Against Traicking said that the campaign
against human traicking had no budget.

Despite the predicament, Ombudsman Merceditas N. Gutierrez vowed that the Oice of the Ombudsman would continue to probe and
prosecute any public oicials found guilty of colluding with traickers.

"There is no reason why we cannot win the war against traicking in this lifetime," said Mr. Blancaflor. - BusinessWorld
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