BY JOMAR CANLAS, TMT, Manila Times, July 1, 2017
The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Friday welcomed the US State Department’s report citing the Philippines’ efforts to stop human trafficking, and vowed to strengthen measures against “modern-day slavery.”
The US on Thursday retained the Philippines on its list of “Tier 1” countries in the Trafficking in Persons Report.
Tier 1 status means a country has acknowledged the existence of human trafficking, exerted efforts to address the problem and complied with minimum requirements set by the United States Trafficking Victims Prevention Act of 2000.
In a statement, Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre 2nd stressed the government’s commitment to end human trafficking.
“We acknowledge that the Philippines, even in Tier 1, should do more to combat human trafficking, and [the government]vows to continue its intensified efforts. Nobody has the right to profit from the deprivation of the freedom of others. When we dehumanize others, we dehumanize ourselves,” Aguirre said.
The Philippines attained Tier 1 status in 2016, after placing on the Tier 2 list from 2011 to 2015, and on the Tier 2 watch list before that. It is the first Southeast Asian country to reach Tier 1 status.
Data from the DOJ-led Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking showed that from July 2016 to June 2017, 1,567 trafficking victims were attended to and assisted, and 44 traffickers were put behind bars.
“The government demonstrated serious and sustained efforts by convicting and punishing more traffickers, identifying more victims through proactive screening procedures, and expanding its efforts to prevent trafficking of Filipino migrant workers,” the US report said.
However, the report said the government had failed to improve the quality of protection for trafficking victims, particularly mental health care and services for male victims.
The country also failed to “vigorously investigate and prosecute officials allegedly involved in trafficking crimes or expand its pilot program to address the backlog of trafficking cases in the courts.”
March –
IT’S WOMEN’S MONTH!
“Respect and support women
every day of the year/s!”
Invoke Article 33 of the ILO Constitution
against the military junta in Myanmar
to carry out the recommendations of the 2021 ILO Commission of Inquiry
against serious violations of protocols of
Forced Labour and Freedom of Association.
Accept the National Unity Government (NUG)
of Myanmar. Reject Military!
#WearMask #WashHands
#Report Corruption #SearchPosts #TakePicturesVideos
Monthly Observances:
Women’s Role in History Month
Weekly Observances:
Week 1: Environmental Week;
Women’s Week
Week 3: Philippine Industry and “
Made-in-the-Philippines Products Week
Last Week: Protection and Gender-Fair Treatment
of the Girl Child Week
Daily Observances:
March 8: Women’s Rights and
International Peace Day;
National Women’s Day
March 4: Employee Appreciation Day
March 15: World Consumer Rights Day
March 18: Global Recycling Day
March 21: International Day for the Elimination
of Racial Discrimination
March 23: International Day for the Right to the Truth
Concerning Gross Human Rights Violations
and for the Dignity of Victims
March 25: International Day of Remembrance of the
Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade
March 27: Earth Hour
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