ANTI-TRAFFICKING. The National Bureau of Investigation presents to the media seven arrested trafficking suspects at its Quezon City office on July 1, 2024. The Department of Justice has vowed to remain relentless against human traffickers as it intensifies the campaign against those who exploit children, women, elderly and other vulnerable persons forced to be victimized because of poverty. (PNA photo by Joan Bondoc)
MANILA – The Department of Justice (DOJ) has vowed to remain relentless against human traffickers as it intensifies the campaign against those who exploit children, women, elderly and other vulnerable persons forced to be victimized because of poverty.
“Ang human trafficking hindi lang ito whole-of-government approach kundi whole-of-nation approach ito (Human trafficking is not only a whole-of-government approach but a whole-of-nation approach). The government cannot do it alone and requires a comprehensive approach where the citizenry, non-government organizations (NGOs), business corporations, and international partners are working altogether to end modern day slavery,” Justice Undersecretary in-charge for the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) Nicholas Felix Ty said in a news release Wednesday.
Ty also underscored the unwavering efforts employed by the government to fight human trafficking which has placed the Philippines on the map among countries which have made significant progress in battling human trafficking, highlighting the Tier 1 status of the country in the 2024 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report released by the US State Department.
To maintain a Tier 1 status, governments need to demonstrate progress each year in combating trafficking, and must also meet the minimum standards in eliminating TIP based on the US Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA).
“Unang-una yung prosecution, pangalawa ang protection, pangatlo ay ang prevention at pang-apat ay ang partnership. Ito yung mga sabi-sabing paraan na sama-samang ginagamit natin upang solusyunan o mabawasan ang human trafficking (First is prosecution, second is protection, the third is prevention, and fourth is partnership. These are the ways that we collectively use to solve or minimize human trafficking),” Ty said.
He said unfortunately, in most occasions, human traffickers are among the family, making it hard for law enforcement units to track or pin them down.
“So, citizen support will play a crucial role in the State’s crusade to end modern day slavery,” Ty said.
The IACAT is the body mandated by law to coordinate and monitor the implementation of Republic Act No. 9208, or the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003, with the DOJ as the lead agency. (PNA)
