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Ano ang human trafficking, at paano makakakuha ng tulong ang mga biktima?

Alam mo ba na ang Cleveland ay isang pangunahing hub para sa human trafficking? Ang human trafficking ay ang paraan kung saan ang mga tao sa lahat ng kasarian, edad, lahi, at kultura ay binibili at ibinebenta para sa libreng paggawa at mga sekswal na gawain. Sa madaling salita, ito ay isang anyo ng pang-aalipin. Ang mga pinaka-nasa panganib ay ang mga kababaihan, mga bata, mga kabataan, mga taong walang tirahan, mga imigrante, at mga bata sa foster care. Minsan hindi namamalayan ng mga tao na sila ay biktima ng human trafficking. Sa ibang mga kaso, ang mga biktima ay hindi makaabot ng tulong o natatakot na humingi ng tulong.

Matutulungan mo ang mga biktima ng human trafficking sa pamamagitan lamang ng pagbibigay pansin. Ang ilang karaniwang palatandaan ng human trafficking ay kinabibilangan ng: mga marka ng pisikal na pang-aabuso; pagkakaroon ng maraming susi ng hotel; isang magkaparehong address ng tahanan at trabaho; nagtatrabaho ng mahabang oras nang hindi binabayaran; at madalas na pagkuha ng bago at mamahaling damit, alahas, ayos ng buhok, o pinakintab na mga kuko na hindi kayang bilhin ng indibidwal. Kung pinaghihinalaan mo ang isang tao ay biktima ng human trafficking, tumawag sa pulisya. Huwag subukang harapin ito sa iyong sarili.

Ang human trafficking ay ilegal. Kung arestuhin ng pulisya ang isang tao para sa trafficking, maaaring kasuhan ng tagausig ang taong iyon at maaaring hatulan siya ng korte ng isang krimen. Ang biktima ay may karapatang lumahok sa kasong kriminal at maaaring kailanganin na tumestigo bilang saksi.

Ang mga biktima ng human trafficking ay maaaring mangailangan ng maraming uri ng legal na tulong. Ang mga biktima na nauugnay sa kanilang mga trafficker ay maaaring mangailangan ng tulong sa isang diborsiyo, pangangalaga sa bata, o pangangalaga. Maaaring kailanganin din ng biktima ng tulong sa pagkuha ng utos ng proteksyon. Lumalabag ang human trafficking sa maraming batas sa pagtatrabaho; ang mga biktima ay maaaring magkaroon ng mga claim sa sahod o mga kaso ng diskriminasyon batay sa trafficking. Ang mga nakaligtas sa trafficking ay maaaring mangailangan ng tulong sa mga pampublikong benepisyo at pabahay. Panghuli, kung minsan ang mga biktima ay sinisingil ng mga krimen, tulad ng prostitusyon, na kadalasang maaari nilang alisin.

Maraming organisasyon sa lugar ng Cleveland ang tumutulong sa mga biktima ng human trafficking. Kung nag-aalala ka na ikaw o isang taong kilala mo ay na-traffic, tumawag para sa tulong.

Ang artikulong ito ay isinulat ni Jessica Weber at lumabas sa The Alert: Volume 35, Issue 2. 

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Human Trafficking in the Philippines: The Plight of Forced Labor

• First Online: 31 August 2023

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• Mary Dioise M. Ramos 3  

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Forced labor is a form of exploitation in which individuals are compelled to work against their will, typically through threats, deception, or other forms of coercion. Various organizations and government agencies have identified and documented different types of forced labor in the Philippines. This chapter consists of three main sections. The first section is an overview of the trafficking problem in the Philippines. It discusses the scope of the problem and the current state of forced labor. The second section discusses the types of forced labor in the Philippines, which include sex tourism and sex trafficking, exploitation of children, women, and migrant workers, and how the pandemic affected forced labor. The exploitation of migrant workers included different industries in which labor trafficking is rampant such as maritime, construction, healthcare, domestic, and hospitality-related workers. The last section contains information about how the government and various organizations address the forced labor issues in the Philippines. Government and non-government organizations need to work together to address the problem and provide support and assistance to those affected by forced labor.

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The Challenge of Addressing Both Forced Labor and Sexual Exploitation

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Ramos, M.D.M. (2023). Human Trafficking in the Philippines: The Plight of Forced Labor. In: de Chesnay, M., Sabella, D. (eds) Human Trafficking: A Global Health Emergency. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-33875-5_13

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Philippines

OSEC: A Modern Face of Human Trafficking

Attachments.

Sexual exploitation of children is one of the most heinous crimes in the world today as it targets the most vulnerable members of society – the children. Cyberspace has provided an easier and wider platform for sexual predators to access vulnerable children in any part of the world. Online Sexual Exploitation of Children (OSEC) is a phenomenon that emerged in the recent years which involves the production, possession, and distribution of child sexual abuse materials and livestreaming of sexual abuse or exploitation.

The Scale of the Problem

The Philippines has become the global epicenter of live stream sexual abuse, based on a study by the United Nations International Children’s Education Fund (UNICEF) in 2016. UNICEF’s findings showed that 80% (8 out of 10) of children in the Philippines are vulnerable to being victims of online sexual abuse or bullying. It was also found that 2.5% of children in the country have had their nude bodies or sexual activities shown on the Internet or on a cellphone.

The COVID pandemic facilitated a dramatic rise in OSEC cases. The Philippines has the longest and most restrictive lockdown, imposed by a government, in the world, to contain the spread of the virus, which began in March 2020. The country’s Department of Justice recorded a threefold increase in OSEC cases since the quarantine restrictions were enforced. Sexual predators, locked in their homes due to quarantine, have increasingly turned to cyberspace in order to victimize children. Likewise, the economic hardship brought about by the pandemic is compelling many Filipino families to participate in this online sexual trafficking just to survive.

“When the pandemic started in March, [we] received several referrals thus we needed to improvise our residential space to make room for the rescued survivors. We also had to decline a lot of referrals because of the quarantine protocols and lack of bedspace” explained Gemalyn Viola a social worker in Ruhama Center for Women and Children, a partner assessment center for OSEC, attesting to the sudden and steady increase of OSEC cases needing emergency placement.

WHI has been an active player in the prevention campaign to spread awareness about OSEC by enabling the local churches, Civic Society Organizations (CSO) and government social services. Through the Philippine Children Ministries Network, Church of the Nazarene, and Set Free Movement, 387 youth along with key adults in protective roles – which included 368 church lay-leaders and parents – were empowered through trainings on OSEC awareness, online safety, and referral protocols in several local communities. These awareness campaigns are now being conducted virtually due to the prevailing health risks but has been reaching a wider audience nationwide.

Furthermore, WHI implemented the Protecting At-risk-children Vulnerable to Exploitation project (PAVE) through the United States Department of State’s Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons and The Salvation Army.

WHI worked with the Department of Social Welfare and Development and the Local Government Units of several municipalities/cities with high OSEC cases to strengthen aftercare services for survivors. It likewise established a wide network of partner residential and community based child care agencies which included 7 shelters in the National Capital Region and 9 shelters in the Central Visayas Region. A few of these include those of The Salvation Army, Love146, Cure Foundation, My Refuge House and SOS Children’s Village. WHI helped in coordinating referrals among its partners for placement options for OSEC survivors needing protective custody.

Nursing the Wound

The average age of survivors is 12, but children as young as two months old have been subjected to this horrific form of abuse. The children are groomed to perform sexual acts in photos or live stream for the consumption of sexual predators – mostly from first world countries. Acts conducted by the children within the show vary from performing provocative dance numbers to, in extreme cases, having sexual intercourse with another child or adult. These complex victimization experiences compounded by the sudden separation from their families has tremendous negative impact on the mental health of the survivors.

In the PAVE project, WHI focused on enhancing the clinical care practices among government and Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) who are serving OSEC survivors. Over 170 social workers, counselors, and psychologists were trained on evidence-based therapeutic modalities that they can use to facilitate holistic recovery of the survivors from their abuse experiences. Through WHI’s capacity building programs, 162 OSEC survivors were provided with therapeutic interventions to support their healing throughout the 30-month course of the PAVE Project.

A WHI-trained social worker, Lander Perez, working in Kanlungan Sa ErMa Ministries (KSEM), said “The interventions for the OSEC survivors really helped us to understand the behavior of the children and on how to deal with it accordingly. Most of our OSEC survivors in the shelter have big changes in their level of trauma. Changes in their behaviors and perspectives are also very evident. It is not easy to handle a case of an OSEC survivor especially if you do not have any knowledge or skills on how to properly handle cases such as this.”

Addressing the Roots

The Philippines has been plagued by OSEC specifically due to widespread poverty, lack of jobs, internal and external migration, and cultural norms that uphold prioritizing family over one’s own well-being, according to a study of Terre de Homes (2013). OSEC is made more convenient by the country’s high Internet access rate and English proficiency. The Philippines is being targeted to meet the increasing demand because of the vulnerability that comes along with high rates of poverty, which creates an environment for people to more easily be taken advantage of.

At the heart of this crime are impoverished Filipino families. In a recent finding of a partner organization- International Justice Mission (2020), it was concluded that OSEC is usually a family-based crime. They found that of the 217 victims where the relationship to the trafficker was known, the abuse was perpetrated by biological parents (41%) and other relatives (42%). Furthermore, of the survivors rescued together, 40% were siblings, and another 13% shared some other familial relationship (e.g. cousin).

WHI has been responding to this through reintegration programs that help families towards rehabilitation. The survivors and their families were provided with therapeutic interventions to address underlying dysfunctions in the family. They are provided with support to start anew in forms of medical, educational, livelihood support and connections to helpful networks. Since 2018, 149 families were provided with reintegration support.

“We don’t skip meals anymore, we can even have snacks and my children can now enjoy snacks whenever they want it, unlike before that they just watch with envy the other children who are enjoying their food. We now have a comfortable life; we are earning enough” a smiling Nanay (mother) Imelda shared. Back in April 2019, Nanay Imelda watched in tears as her daughter Cary, 14 years old, along with four other children, were rescued by officers in a joint operation. She was dumbfounded to know that Cary was lured by neighborhood perpetrators into OSEC. Cary was groomed to believe that it would be a good opportunity because she could help her siblings with some of their needs. After placement in a residential facility, Cary was eventually reintegrated in July 2020. WHI facilitated her reintegration and the family was initially supported with livelihood assistance. With a new fishing business to start out, Nanay Imelda and her husband were able to rebuild their family. They likewise underwent family sessions with a WHI social worker, which included psychoeducation on minimizing re-victimization.

Furthermore, WHI’s child sponsorship program in indigenous communities empowers families at a preventive level. Through education, the children and their families are provided with a chance to be alleviated from poverty. Education also serves as a powerful child protection measure that enables children and their families to be informed and to speak up about their rights. To date, there are about 350 students under the child sponsorship program in the Philippines. There is no known incidence of exploitation and abuse among these children who are being sponsored.

Families that are forced to find ways to survive each day because of socio-economic disadvantage will remain vulnerable to possible exploitation. Providing opportunities for families to rise beyond poverty is key to essentially eliminating the root cause of this tragedy.

An On-Going OSEC Threat

The OSEC crisis did not begin with COVID – it was already there beforehand, affecting hundreds of thousands of children. But the pandemic was pivotal in turning this crisis into a much greater catastrophe; one that can permanently scar innocent children. The Filipino families are at a much greater vulnerability because of the health risks, restrictions, and the economic difficulties brought about by the pandemic. Sexual predators, on the other hand, are lurking in cyberspace taking advantage of those crippled by the crisis.

WHI has been responding to the threat of OSEC. However, this is an on-going mission that needs collaborative efforts from various sectors of society.

Together with your help, we can secure a future for Filipino children and children around the world; one that is free from exploitation and abuse.

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Human Trafficking in the Philippines: A Blemish on Economic Growth

Kimberly mehlman-orozco.

May 20, 2014

Economic growth in the Philippines is among the highest in Asia, with 5.9 percent in the second quarter of 2012. Unfortunately though, the bulk of the financial benefits associated with this growth continue to escape the majority of Filipinos living in poverty. According to the most recent estimates from The World Bank, 26.5 percent of the Filipino population is living in poverty. This high rate of economic disparity remains one of the largest factors driving many Filipinos into human trafficking situations. Despite recent economic advancements, the Philippines continue to be one of the largest source countries for sex trafficking and forced labor victims around the world.

Human trafficking is a modern form of slavery, which involves the “recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring or receipt of persons, by means of threat, use of force or other forms of coercion, for the purpose of exploitation” according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. According to the 2013 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report, Filipino human trafficking victims have been identified in over 37 countries across five continents. Absence of economic opportunities in the Philippines, gender role socialization, and family dynamics make Filipinos especially vulnerable to human trafficking crimes. However, reliable statistics on the number of Filipino human trafficking victims are currently unavailable.

In analyzing the types of human trafficking crimes experienced by Filipino victims, we find that false financial promises are often used to lure Filipino children, men, and women into dangerous human trafficking situations in the Philippines and internationally. Within the country, sex tourists come from Northeast Asia, Australia, Europe, and North America to engage in sexual activity with children. Child prostitution in the Philippines primarily takes place in five types of places: 1) ‘casas’, a term used to describe brothels; 2) bars with sex shows; 3) restaurants and karaoke bars; 4) in the streets; and 5) in shopping malls. NGO organizations suggest that there may be 60,000 to 100,000 children forced into prostitution in the Philippines.

The economic disparity between rich and poor in the Philippines also facilitates the opportunity for men to be trafficked abroad into situations involving forced labor or debt bondage “in factories, at construction sites, on fishing vessels, on agricultural plantations, and in the shipping industry”, according to the 2013 TIP Report. Women are even more likely to befall human trafficking victimization, which most frequently involves domestic service or sexual slavery. In recent years, an increasing number of Filipinos are being trafficked to countries in the Middle East, including Afghanistan, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, and Kuwait.

Although the gross national income in the Philippines has doubled since 2004, it remains relatively low compared to other countries, with $2,500 per capita in 2012. Hierarchical trafficking organizations in and outside the Philippines take advantage of the lack of economic opportunity within the region. These actors include investors, recruiters, transporters, corrupt public officials or protectors, informers, guides and crew members, enforcers, supporting personnel and specialists, debt collectors and money–movers.

Currently, there are a number of laws and international treaties that attempt to address human trafficking in the Philippines. For example, the 2003 Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act outlines penalties for human trafficking that are categorized by the U.S. State Department as being “sufficiently stringent and commensurate with those prescribed for other serious crimes, such as rape”. However, during 2012 only 227 cases were filed with the Department of Justice for potential prosecution, which led to a mere 24 convictions of human traffickers in the Philippines, a decrease from the 29 traffickers convicted during 2011. This data suggests that although the Philippine government criminally prohibits sex and labor trafficking through its laws, the crime is rarely successfully prosecuted. Some explanations for this trend of under enforcement include lack of financial resources, informal case processing, lack of victim cooperation, time lapse between charge and trial, and lack of jurisdictional familiarity with the new and changing trafficking laws.

Over time, the Philippines have maintained a ranking of Tier 2 or Tier 2 Watch List on the State Department scale. This ranking means that although the Philippines have not fully complied with the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) minimum standards, the country is making significant efforts to bring themselves into compliance. However, for 2009 and 2010, the country was on the Tier 2 Watch List. During those years, the U.S. State Department reported that the“number of victims of severe forms of trafficking was very significant or significantly increasing; there was a failure to provide evidence of increasing efforts to combat severe forms of human trafficking; and/or the determination that the Philippines was making significant efforts to bring the country into compliance with minimum standards was based on commitments by the country to take additional future steps over the next year".

The Philippines continues to make improvements to their prosecution of human trafficking cases, protection of human trafficking victims, and prevention of future human trafficking crimes. Although the Philippine government only landed 24 convictions of human traffickers in 2012, they used resources to assist 2,569 victims by providing skills training, shelter, medical services, financial, and legal assistance. In that same year, at least 223 Filipino children were rescued from the worst forms of child labor, including sex trafficking. Additionally, pre-employment orientation seminars provided to Filipino overseas workers may have potentially prevented an unknown number of international human trafficking victimizations involving Filipino citizens.

Despite the improvements to the rates of human trafficking prosecution, victim protection, and potential crime prevention, it is important to understand that these statistics are not necessarily significant or proportional to the country’s economic growth or the amount of money allocated to combat human trafficking locally. The Office of the President of the Philippines has touted the Philippine economic growth as “outpacing its Southeast Asian Neighbors and far surpassing the IMF growth forecast of 3.5 percent”. However, the rate of poverty in the Philippines has remained relatively consistent, hovering at or above 25 percent. Furthermore, there is little data to suggest that the improvements to anti-trafficking efforts are proportional to the allocated resources. For example, the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) receives over $1 million per year to implement anti-trafficking laws and policies at the national, regional, and provincial levels. Yet, these resources netted only 24 human trafficking convictions in 2012.

Ultimately, we know that economic disparity is a driving force toward human trafficking. Given the recent economic growth in the Philippines, more research is warranted to evaluate the efficacy and cost effectiveness of anti-trafficking efforts.

Kimberly Mehlman-Orozco , Ph.D. serves as Executive Director of The Justitia Institute (TJI), a research non-profit focused on issues related to human trafficking, immigration, and social justice. Dr. Mehlman-Orozco earned her degree from the Department of Criminology, Law and Society at George Mason University.

Photo: Ville Miettinen ( cc ).

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The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) pursued cases to combat trafficking involving overseas Filipinos. This is anchored on one of the three pillars of the Philippine Foreign Policy: Protection of the rights and promotion of the welfare and interest of Filipinos overseas. The DFA is a member of the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT), the Philippines’ central coordinating body that monitors and oversees institutional mechanisms to protect and support trafficked persons. As part of IACAT, the DFA does its part in addressing and eliminating trafficking in persons especially to Filipinos overseas.

In the Gulf region, falling into vulnerable conditions such as trafficking is among the unintended consequences brought by the Kafala system, a traditional sponsorship system in the Middle East. Addressing Kafala garnered the support of no less than Philippine President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, whose pronouncements in his final State of the Nation Address called to address this. President Duterte also mentioned Kafala in the UN General Assembly. What once was not mentioned by States in the UN made it to the UN High Level Debate.

There is the case of two overseas Filipino workers who were survivors of trafficking and sexual exploitation committed by fellow Filipinos and foreign nationals in Bahrain. Both Filipina survivors gave their statements in the Philippines, and the suspects were later apprehended, prosecuted, and convicted in Bahrain.

Reports of trafficked Filipino women in Syria were also received in 2020. They were all undocumented workers who ran away from their employers and were eventually sheltered at the Philippine Embassy in Damascus.  

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Human Trafficking in the Philippines

Human trafficking is the second-largest criminal enterprise in the world, after narcotics. In Asia’s western Pacific, human trafficking in the Philippines is a considerable concern; it has one of the largest victim populations in the world with an estimated 784,000 people living as modern-day slaves.

The Philippines is currently ranked as a Tier 1 country by the US Department of State , meaning that it fully meets the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking. This status recognizes the huge and ongoing progress made in the fight against human trafficking in the Philippines; however as the figures show, it remains a significant problem.

Demographics of Human Trafficking in the Philippines

Men, women, and children are exploited from rural communities, conflict and disaster zones, and impoverished urban areas. The most at-risk populations are Indigenous persons, internally displaced persons, women, and children.

The Philippines is one of the largest known sources of online sexual exploitation of children , and it is estimated that of the 50,000 Filipino children employed as domestic workers in the Philippines almost 5,000 are under 15 years old. In total, estimates say that between 60,000 and 100,000 Filipino children are impacted by labor trafficking or sex trafficking.

Perpetrators

Native Filipinos are usually involved in the recruitment stage of human trafficking.   Often, perpetrators are family members of trafficked individuals or corrupt state officials. Organized crime groups in the Philippines oversee the smuggling networks and subsequent trafficking. They link with the owners of nightclubs or karaoke bars in the destinations where the girls are deployed, most of whom tend to be nationals of the country of destination.

Many of the sex tourists in the Philippines come from wealthy, developed countries and are often convicted or charged sex offenders in their home countries. However, Filipino men also purchase commercial sex acts from trafficked children.

Types of Human Trafficking in the Philippines

According to the U.S. Department of State, the Philippines is a major source of both sex and labor trafficking. With one of the largest migrant populations in the world, male Filipino migrant workers are typically exploited in the fishing, shipping, construction, manufacturing, and agricultural sectors while females are exploited in domestic and hospitality roles. Children of both genders are subject to sex and labor trafficking, many of whom have been sold by family members. There is an emphasis on tight-knit family units in the Philippines, which can mean that children are unlikely to speak out when they are abused or exploited by someone in their family.

The labor code in the Philippines allows parents to decide if their children can work before they turn 15. This means that sometimes, kids are working starting at age 6. This lack of protection contributes to forced labor and indentured servitude for children who have no one to advocate for them.

The recruitment of child soldiers also remains a huge issue in the Philippines, in particular on the southern island of Mindanao where radical separatist groups operate. Armed, non-state groups such as the Maute Group, the Moro National Liberation Front, and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters recruit child soldiers, while the Islamic State is reported to subject women and girls to sexual slavery.

Recruitment Methods of Human Trafficking in the Philippines

The most common human trafficking recruitment method is false promises of job placement. Traffickers prey on the economically disadvantaged, using debt-based coercion or the promise of work to lure their victims. Many migrants leave the Philippines voluntarily, only to be exploited sexually or financially in the destination country. Employers often confiscate all travel documents to prevent them from leaving.

In many cases, victims are recruited to work as “entertainers” but end up being forced to work as strippers, night-club hostesses, and prostitutes. In January 2021 , traffickers fraudulently recruited Filipino domestic workers to work in the United Arab Emirates but instead forced them into domestic work in Damascus.

Online recruitment is another common tactic, particularly when it comes to online exploitation of children. One in every three internet users in the Philippines in 2020 was a child. That increased internet usage by minors increases their vulnerability to grooming and online exploitation. Social media in particular is an increasingly common venue for recruitment.

Human Trafficking Networks in the Philippines

Human trafficking victims in the Philippines are trafficked both domestically and internationally. Bribing immigration personnel, producing fake travel documents, and using student and intern exchange programs are some of the main methods of moving victims.

Traffickers use both air and sea routes to transport their victims across borders and evade detection. They capitalize on the lack of immigration personnel at smaller airports in the Philippines to smuggle people into the cities of Bangkok, Hong Kong, and Kuala Lumpur. These serve as major transit hubs for destination countries. According to the UN Global Program against Trafficking in Human Beings, top destinations include the USA, Japan, South Korea, Italy, Jordan, and Taiwan.

Due to its geographical proximity, Malaysia serves as both a destination and transit site for overseas transport. The “Southern Backdoor,” the popular route of leaving the Philippines via its southern islands, takes advantage of Malaysia’s unguarded sea borders. This passage is wrought with dangers including detainment, starvation, and drowning.

Despite the illegality of prostitution in the Philippines, many of the major tourist destinations are hotspots for the commercial sex trade, including the exploitation of minors. It is typically taxi drivers with knowledge of hidden locations who facilitate child sex trafficking in these urban, tourist areas.

Human Trafficking and COVID-19

Undeterred by the COVID-19 pandemic, traffickers in The Philippines have adapted to use the internet as a means of recruitment and abuse. The United States reports a 265% increase in unconfirmed reports of online child sexual abuse in the Philippines during the pandemic, according to the 2021 Trafficking in Person Report.

Traffickers sexually exploit children in live internet broadcasts, where their customers watch from abroad and wire payment internationally. These traffickers are very often parents or close relatives who force their children into online sexual exploitation. Most viewers of this child sexual abuse material are located in the U.S., Australia, Canada, and the UK.

The pandemic did result in a decrease in reports of sex trafficking in locations near offshore gaming operations due to the mass departure of Chinese nationals that these areas catered to. However, experts believe that the pandemic will only further increase socio-economic disparity, forcing more people into poverty and increasing the number of people vulnerable to trafficking.

The Filipino Government and Human Trafficking

The Filipino government has made huge progress in the fight against human trafficking since its initial Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act in 2003, according to the U.S. Department of State . Amidst the pandemic, it has continued its efforts; prosecuting more traffickers, imprisoning the majority of convicted traffickers, and increasing the number staff assigned to anti-trafficking task forces. In aftercare, a specialized shelter in Manila was opened to serve more than 1,000 victims and it launched a platform for educating governments units and the public about trafficking and how to report cases.

Although there has been legislative progress, those changes are inconsistently implemented and practiced. Resources for law enforcement and victims remain inadequate, and labor crimes in particular need more attention. I n many states where human trafficking occurs, officials involved in law, diplomacy, and immigration processes facilitate or are themselves complicit in trafficking. Some reports assert that corrupt officials carry out fake raids on commercial sex establishments to extort money from managers, clients, and victims and that embassy employees exploit their domestic workers in exchange for government protection.

Nonprofit Organizations Fighting Human Trafficking in the Philippines

The Filipino government is partnering with NGOs to identify the areas where better structures and increased funding are most needed. Organizations such as Renew Foundation and Made in Hope are empowering survivors of human trafficking in the Philippines through livelihood and skills training programs. Organizations like Together in Hope are providing anti-trafficking education to help prevent human trafficking.

Organizations like Destiny Rescue and The Exodus Road are fighting human trafficking through intervention, in which they partner with law enforcement to remove children being exploited in sex trafficking.

Although the battle against human trafficking seems never-ending, it is the tireless work of dedicated NGOS, in partnership with government and local law enforcement, that brings us a step closer to eliminating human trafficking in the Philippines.

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Sara McGeough and The Anti-Human Trafficking Intelligence Cell of Mercyhurst University

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Wanted: Tagalog word for ‘human trafficking’

Jan 24, 2014

-minute read

By verafiles

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 By ELLEN TORDESILLAS

IN an informal survey conducted by a civil society group working to stop human trafficking, they asked people in the streets what comes to their mind when they hear the phrase “human trafficking.”

Everybody answered:“Traffic.” As in vehicular traffic.

Such is the level of public awareness about human trafficking- the trade in human beings for several purposes, most commonly sexual slavery, pornography, forced labor , extraction of organs or tissues, surrogacy.

The Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking under the Department of Justice is aware of the importance of public cooperation in the campaign against this abominable crime in which the Philippines ranks high as one of the source countries of trafficked persons.

They want to involve the public, especially the people in the provinces, through an information campaign. And they also know that to do that, they have to speak the language or the dialect of the people they are dealing with.

Yet, up to now, they don’t know how to translate in Tagalog the term “human trafficking.”

Jan Arceo, IACAT’s International Affairs Executive Officer, said they are asking the help of the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino on the Filipino word for “human trafficking.” She also said they need Filipino language writers as well as writers in local dialects to do their information materials.

Lately, media came out with reports of the proliferation of cybersex dens in the Philippines following the release of results of the investigation by London’s National Crime Agency about pedophile syndicates in the Philippines victimizing some 60,000 to 100,000 Filipino children (ages six to 15).

In reporting, members of media are again reminded of the following principles for ethical reporting on children provided by the United Nations Children Fund:

1. The dignity and rights of every child are to be respected in every circumstance.

2. In interviewing and reporting on children, special attention is to be paid to each child’s right to privacy and confidentiality, to have their opinions heard, to participate in decisions affecting them and to be protected from harm and retribution, including the potential of harm and retribution.

3. The best interests of each child are to be protected over any other consideration, including over advocacy for children’s issues and the promotion of child rights.

4. When trying to determine the best interests of a child, the child’s right to have their views taken into account are to be given due weight in accordance with their age and maturity.

5. Those closest to the child’s situation and best able to assess it are to be consulted about the political, social and cultural ramifications of any reportage.

6. Do not publish a story or an image which might put the child, siblings or peers at risk even when identities are changed, obscured or not used.

Below is the MTV “Enslaved” presented during a training workshop conducted by VERA Files in cooperation with the Embassy of the United States and the Embassy of Canada. “Enslaved” is a documentary hosted by Dingdong Dantes and produced by MTV EXIT (End Exploitation and Trafficking) — an international multimedia campaign to raise awareness and increase prevention of human trafficking and exploitation

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Overseas Filipino Worker Voices: Study of Forced Labor

 Author: Global Fund to End Modern Slavery

 Year Published: 2022

 Link to Resource: Read More

Overseas labor migration has been a feature of the Filipino economy for over a century. Over the last thirty years, overseas labor migration has become an increasingly important part of the country’s economy, reducing unemployment and strengthening US dollar reserves. However, many Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) —particularly those employed as domestic workers or in occupations viewed as “low-skilled”—are often subject to unethical recruitment mechanisms, deceptive hiring practices, and forced labor conditions after arriving in the receiving country. This situation has been exacerbated by the profound economic, public health, and other impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, which have caused uncertainty, skyrocketing unemployment, and large-scale repatriation among migrant workers globally.

This study sought to determine the pathways leading to forced labor/trafficking in persons (TIP) and the distribution of forced labor indicators among samples of OFWs in several destination countries and industries. In concert with GFEMS, the University of Philippines Centre International de Formation des Autorités et Leaders (CIFAL), and grantee organizations including the Fair Employment Foundation (FEF), Two Six Technologies (TST) implemented this multi-cohort survey effort and examined the occurrence, distribution and dimensions of labor exploitation among study participants in three distinct study cohorts.

Findings show that overall, approximately 26.4% of all study participants reported experiencing Tier 2* or worse forced labor conditions, and that domestic work—a female-dominated profession among OFWs—is associated with an even higher rate of forced labor with 42.9% of domestic workers experiencing conditions meeting at least Tier 2 conditions. Among other recommendations included in the report, researchers call for enhancements to pre-departure training to include content that better prepares workers for the risks they may face abroad.

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Essay on Human Trafficking

Students are often asked to write an essay on Human Trafficking in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Human Trafficking

Understanding human trafficking.

Human trafficking is a serious global issue. It involves the illegal trade of people for exploitation or commercial gain. Victims are often lured with false promises of well-paying jobs or manipulated by people they trust.

Types of Human Trafficking

The main types of human trafficking are forced labor, sex trafficking, and child trafficking. Forced labor involves making people work against their will. Sex trafficking involves forcing victims into sexual exploitation. Child trafficking includes all these forms but involves children.

Preventing Human Trafficking

To prevent human trafficking, we must raise awareness about its reality. Educating people about its signs and consequences can help prevent it. Additionally, supporting victim services is crucial.

Also check:

250 Words Essay on Human Trafficking

Human trafficking, a grave violation of human rights, is a complex issue that has plagued societies globally. It is a form of modern-day slavery, where individuals are exploited through force, fraud, or coercion for various purposes such as forced labor, sexual exploitation, or organ trafficking.

The Scale of the Problem

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) reports that human trafficking is the third most profitable crime after drug trafficking and arms smuggling. This illicit trade thrives due to poverty, political instability, armed conflict, and corruption, affecting millions of victims, predominantly women and children.

Measures to Combat Human Trafficking

Addressing human trafficking requires a multi-faceted approach. Legal measures, such as strict laws and penalties, are crucial. The Palermo Protocol, adopted by the UN, provides a framework for criminalizing trafficking, protecting victims, and promoting cooperation among states.

The Role of Education and Awareness

Education and awareness play a pivotal role in combating human trafficking. By informing communities about the tactics used by traffickers and the rights of individuals, we can empower potential victims to protect themselves.

Human trafficking is a pressing issue that demands global attention and action. Through a combination of legal measures, education, and international cooperation, we can work towards eradicating this heinous crime and safeguarding human dignity.

500 Words Essay on Human Trafficking

Introduction to human trafficking.

Human trafficking, a grave violation of human rights, is a contemporary global issue that transcends borders, cultures, and economies. It is a multi-billion dollar criminal industry that enslaves nearly 25 million people around the world. This heinous crime involves the illegal trade of people for exploitation or commercial gain and is often referred to as ‘modern-day slavery’.

The Mechanics of Human Trafficking

Human trafficking operates on the principles of supply and demand. The demand for cheap labor, sexual services, and certain criminal activities fuels this illicit trade. The supply side, however, is driven by factors such as poverty, lack of education, gender discrimination, armed conflict, and political instability. Traffickers exploit these vulnerabilities to lure victims with false promises of employment, education, or a better life.

Forms of Human Trafficking

Human trafficking manifests in various forms, including forced labor, sex trafficking, child labor, and organ trafficking. Forced labor, also known as involuntary servitude, is the biggest sector of trafficking in the world. Sex trafficking victims are often involved in prostitution, pornography, or sex tourism. Child trafficking, another gruesome form, involves the exploitation of children in labor, soldiering, or sexual slavery. Organ trafficking, a lesser-known form, involves the illegal trade of organs.

Impacts of Human Trafficking

The impacts of human trafficking are devastating and far-reaching. Victims often suffer physical and emotional abuse, rape, threats, and even death. Additionally, they often face long-term psychological trauma, disease, unwanted pregnancy, malnutrition, social ostracism, and death. The societal implications include the reinforcement of gender and social inequalities, perpetuation of poverty, and undermining of public health, safety, and security.

Preventing human trafficking requires a comprehensive, multi-faceted approach. It involves strengthening laws and regulations, enhancing victim identification and protection, promoting awareness and education, and fostering international cooperation. Governments, non-governmental organizations, and individuals all have crucial roles to play in this fight against human trafficking.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

Philippine Bishops offer four recommendations to combat human trafficking

By Deborah Castellano Lubov

"We must pray and take immediate action to combat child trafficking, safeguard vulnerable groups and provide support to victims."

This appeal was made by Bishop Ruperto Cruz Santos, Vice-President of the Episcopal Commission for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), in a message on the occasion of World Anti-Trafficking Day .

Established by the United Nations ten years ago and celebrated every year on 30 July, the Day has as its theme this year: "The fight against child trafficking is of paramount importance."

Children most trafficked 

There are many forms of human trafficking, including forced labour, sexual exploitation, forced marriage, and recruitment of child soldiers.

Amid all those trafficked globally, children account for almost one-third of the victims, with girls making up the majority.

There are an estimated 40 million people in modern slavery worldwide, according to the International Labour Organization, which observes they often work for little or no compensation. 

Given the extent of this phenomenon, the Catholic Church in the Philippines has appealed to the faithful of the country to work to prevent human trafficking.

Steps to combat the phenomenon

In his message on behalf of the Filipino Bishops' Conference, Bishop Cruz Santos called for prayer and action.

"Prayer changes things," he underscored, noting that, ‘Even if we feel powerless in certain situations," we "must unite in prayer to end child trafficking and protect vulnerable lives."

Secondly, he urged for taking "immediate action to combat child trafficking, safeguard vulnerable groups and provide support to victims,’ and called for raising public awareness.

The third appeal was not only to support policy reforms but to improve law enforcement.

Ensuring no child is left behind

Lastly, he called for establishing additional resources such as child sponsorship programmes to provide education, nutritious food, healthcare, and life skills training.

The Bishop acknowledged the faithful's common commitment to combat this scourge, despite the challenges.

"We must make every effort to ensure that no child is left behind in this struggle," he noted, saying, "It is time to act and make a positive impact. By working together, we can create a safer world for children and pave the way for a brighter future."

"With fervent prayers and faith, the desire that God puts in our hearts," the Bishop noted, "will move His heart and bring a blessing."

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Asean beat  |  security  |  southeast asia.

Governments are slowly waking up to the risks posed by the sector’s connection to criminal operations including large-scale cyber-scams.

Online gambling has  emerged as a lucrative sector in Southeast Asia, luring in foreign investors and capital across the region.  Consisting of live casino games, online gaming machines, and sports betting, the sector is primarily  driven by offshore Chinese gamblers. By setting up operations in states with liberal gaming laws, they effectively evade China’s stringent ban on gambling activities.

However, amid rising criminal activity and illicit financial flows, Southeast Asia’s booming online gambling sector has resulted in economic and political losses for the member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). This can be attributed to the transnational nature of online gambling, lax governance at the national level, and ASEAN’s fractured regulatory environment. While countries initially viewed the sector as a surefire solution for post-pandemic recovery, online gambling’s risks have been made apparent, precipitating legislation in countries like  Indonesia , Singapore , and  Laos that seek to crack down on these operations.

The Philippines and Cambodia have achieved notoriety due to their reputations as gambling meccas for Chinese nationals. Both have facilitated the industry’s growth within their borders through regulations conducive to online gambling operators. However, in a policy reversal, lawmakers have since urged their administrations to ban the industry entirely, as operators have, in the words of Philippine senator Risa Hontiveros,  made countries like the Philippines “a playground” for “criminal activities.”

As the gambling sector expands, its associated risks with transnational crime and human trafficking will impact U.S. engagement with the region. Previously, the United States  warned that casinos could be a front for human trafficking in the infamous “Golden Triangle” region (encompassing parts of Myanmar, Thailand, and Laos), spurring the growth of an underground economy. The United States has a responsibility as a global leader to engage with the region’s concerns in an action-oriented manner. By understanding the regulatory landscape of the sector and investigating its consequences in Cambodia and the Philippines, the United States can endeavor to engage with ASEAN member states’ concerns amid an era of rising Chinese influence.

Online Gambling in the Philippines

The Duterte administration  encouraged the growth of Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs) as part of a desire to forge closer relations with Beijing by attracting Chinese business, investment, and tourists. However, lax oversight  facilitated legal loopholes for these operators,  culminating in shared concerns from Chinese and Filipino government officials of gambling’s illegal recruitment methods and operations.

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s pivot toward the United States, amid heightening tensions with China in the South China Sea, has shifted the regulatory landscape catered to the POGO sector. In his annual State of the Nation address on July 22, Marcos officially  banned all offshore gambling operators, culminating in praise from local lawmakers and a standing ovation in Congress. However, questions  remain on the ban’s implementation, which would trigger a massive outflow of Chinese capital.

Prior to Marcos’ announcement, emerging bills in the House and Senate  restricting POGO operations were already making significant headway. The proposed Anti-POGO Act of 2024, led by the House’s minority lawmakers,  would outlaw POGO operations, while a filed Senate bill sought to  repeal the taxability of offshore gaming. However, a difficult balancing act existed for local policymakers, who weighed the sector’s economic contributions against its associated criminal acts. Reports of torture, prostitution, human trafficking, and suspicions of Chinese espionage associated with POGOs have  dominated local headlines. Most recently, a POGO raid in Pampanga province  yielded suspected Chinese military uniforms and pins, as well as equipment used for scams, torture rooms, and illegal drugs.

At their peak, POGO operations resulted in significant dividends. During Duterte’s tenure, the industry  generated $1.8 billion in 2019, making the POGO sector an indispensable player in generating foreign investment. However, the sector’s economic benefits are well in decline, now only accounting for 0.31 percent of the country’s GDP. Further, a government agency  flagged suspicious cash flows from POGO transactions, marking PHP 14 billion (out of PHP 54 billion) as suspicious. To lend further credence to these concerns, issues surrounding local  employment and rising  real estate prices raise questions about the industry’s impact on the host country – particularly given that the sector results in the growth of a closed business loop that accommodates itself exclusively to Chinese users.

Online Gambling in Cambodia

Similarly, Cambodia is notorious for its thriving online gambling sector, concentrated in the coastal city of Sihanoukville. The area’s coastal location and proximity to a special economic zone allowed Sihanoukville to transform into a hub for online gambling. In 2016, the country’s improved access to 4G networks  allowed Chinese investors to direct funding to Cambodia’s online gambling industry. Cambodia’s lower tax rates and affordable cost of living compared to the Philippines  places it in an advantageous position for the sector’s growth. While salaries of Chinese workers are roughly the same between both countries, Cambodia’s other areas of operations are financially  advantageous (including housing costs, tax rates, and labor certifications).

Hence, Cambodia’s regulatory landscape has  transformed Sihanoukville into prime breeding ground for scam operations and human trafficking. Speculative real estate investments, referring to casinos and hotels emptied by the Covid-19 pandemic, have been  repurposed for scamming operations under the guise of the seemingly legitimate online gambling sector. Directly linked to online gambling, Cambodia has become the source, transit, and destination country for human trafficking victims,  ranked as the second highest country for organized crime in the region.

The influx of Chinese capital as a result of online gambling has triggered economic unrest. The sector has exacerbated Cambodia’s wealth disparities due to the growing cost of living in major Cambodian cities – a trend that benefits local elites with links to land ownership and foreign capital to the detriment of non-elites. Cases of land grabbing, linked to Chinese-funded infrastructure to house criminal operations, have similarly risen in prominence. The sector’s negligible contributions to Cambodia’s local economy or workers mean that locals are  excluded from its profits. Instead, they suffer from rising unemployment, exacerbated by the decrease in tourist numbers from elsewhere as the country increasingly caters to Chinese nationals.

To mitigate the social unrest and crime fueled by the sector, Cambodia has partnered with China to reform its online gambling environment – a vastly different approach than the Philippines. Cambodia formally banned online gambling in 2019 and  passed a comprehensive framework governing the country’s gambling activities under then-prime minister Hun Sen. Now, under Prime Minister Hun Manet, Cambodia says it hopes to  transform Sihanoukville into a business hub for shipping, manufacture, and finance, further supported by China’s global infrastructure project, the Belt and Road Initiative.

Reassessing Regional & National Online Gambling Regulations 

While Philippine and Cambodian legislation each seek to ameliorate their gambling sector’s woes, difficulties remain in constructing policy to effectively crack down on online gambling. Notably, gambling operators could easily move to nearby countries with looser controls, such as  Myanmar, Palau, or Nepal .

ASEAN has indirectly sought to mitigate the sector’s related concerns with cyber scams and human trafficking, namely through a high-level  dialogue with the United Nations and a dedicated  center to combat transnational crime. However, these initiatives have demonstrated little progress, with no concrete efforts toward reform. Despite ASEAN’s organizational norms of nonintervention and emphasis on consensus-based decision making, such a transnational issue requires a comparatively interventionist approach that frames online gambling as an issue of national security and criminal justice—collective issues that  extend beyond national borders.

Online gambling’s negative consequences in countries like the Philippines and Cambodia should be an important concern for policymakers as they involve issues the United States has an active stake in defending against, including human trafficking, transnational crime, and cybersecurity (through the sector’s scam operations). Particularly as countries like Cambodia turn to China to mitigate online gambling’s presence within their borders, it is imperative for the United States to step up and engage with the region in a substantive manner.

U.S. engagement may be helpful in strengthening cross-sectoral cooperation and information sharing. The United States can play an integral role in collaborating with ASEAN to engage in capacity building with the bloc’s divisions for cyber cooperation and human trafficking. The United States can further support regional efforts by emphasizing a victims-oriented approach to the sector’s victims of cyber-scams and human trafficking, distributing assistance and support to effectively prosecute perpetrators and compensate victims. Through joint programming efforts, the United States can encourage collective engagement across ASEAN in resolving concerns with the online gambling sector.

Further, current regulations for online gambling are inadequate in effectively cracking down on the industry, contributing to a thriving underground network at the national level. Enforcing stricter oversight, particularly of local politicians’ connections to the online gambling sector, is key. Greater efforts should also be  made to alleviate poverty – an interlinked cause of the growth of online gambling – including through social welfare programs, minimum wage laws, and employment laws.

As countries weigh the sector’s economic merits against its social costs, it is clear that online gambling poses severe risks to individual countries and Southeast Asia overall. While emerging legislation seeks to restrict the industry’s operations, a careful reassessment of existing national and regional regulations is paramount in reversing the damage caused by the explosion in online gambling.

This article was originally published on New Perspectives on Asia from the Center for Strategic and International Studies and is reprinted with permission

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