Wednesday, September 27, 2006 Group formed v. child commercial sex exploitation By Roberto L. Bacasong
PRIVATE and public sectors including the non-government organizations (NGO) have banded together to address problems on the commercial sexual exploitation of children.
Sol Ebarle, International Labor Organization-International Program on the Elimination of Child Labor (ILO-IPEC) field coordinator, said since the year 2000, at least 105 cases have been recorded in Bacolod City.
He added that some of the victims were found to be minors and were out-of-school youth.
"The support of the local government unit is needed to implement some basic programs for the protection of the exploited children," said Ebarle.
We need partners from the different NGOs to make their program effective, he added.
City Councilor Jocelle Batapa-Sigue, chairman of the committee on women and gender, said the Bacolod City government is seriously addressing the commercial sexual exploitation victims.
She added that the city formed the Local Council for the Protection of Children chaired by Mayor Evelio Leonardia and Councilor Ana Marie Palermo, as vice chairman.
Sigue said the complexity of the problem has led to a need for a strong multi-agency effort capable of addressing child prostitution and commercial exploitation.
The action program entitled: "Combating Commercial and Sexual Exploitation of Children in Bacolod City Direct Action and Capability Building," was organized last Monday.
The seminar was attended by social workers, health workers and officials from pilot barangays, organizations and government agencies.
She said the ILO-IPEC Action Program on child labor has partnered with the City through the Gender and Development and the Department of Social Services of Development.
ILO-IPEC is an international body aimed at eliminating the worst forms of child labor in the Philippines.
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