Friday, March 14, 2008 Government agencies told to intensify fight v. trafficking
FEARING a gradual breakdown of family values that could result into a culture of sexual exploitation, government agencies were challenged yesterday to increase efforts against human trafficking.
The increase in the number of children brought into sex slavery pushed agencies to fight trafficking by raising public awareness, prosecuting victims, and bringing to trial and convicting public officials who earn from the trade.
Records from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) show that human trafficking is on the rise and more female children are becoming victims of the commercial sex trade, forced labor and sale of organs, among others.
10,000 girls
In Cebu alone, the latest survey showed that at least 10,000 young girls are trafficked into sex slavery. Some 70 percent of the victims are children.
In a recent rescue operation of the National Bureau of Investigation and the International Justice Mission, a non-government organization, DSWD was able to save 96 trafficking victims in the region, 66 of whom were children.
More than 300,000 women and 60,000 children are trafficked annually within the country. About 1.62 million out of the 7.41 million Filipinos who are either living or working abroad are also suspected to have been victims of human trafficking.
The International Labor Organization estimated that at the global level, at least 2.45 million were trafficked from 1995 to 2004, and 40 percent of the victims are children.
DSWD 7 Director Teodolo Romo Jr. presented the figures to members of the Association of Government Information Officers 7 during their general assembly yesterday.
“These figures may not be conclusive but it gives us a picture that several families today are no longer front line protectors of their children who are very vulnerable to trafficking. There is a breakdown in family ties and values; children will eventually be driven by the value of survival. If our families will become like this, I dread the time when Cebu’s image will be of a culture of exploitation,” said Romo.
He also described trafficking as a “downside” of tourism and a violation of human rights that will eventually lead to social breakdown, formation of organized crime groups, deprivation of countries of human capital, a threatening to public health and the weakening of governments.
Younger children
Romo also cited a trend in human trafficking that might explain why younger children are brought into sex slavery.
“There is a shift in the market and the shift is leaning on superstitious beliefs. Some tourists prefer to pay P50,000 to P60,000 a night with a child because they believe they can achieve long life. If I’m a trafficker, I’d rather trade a child from whom I can earn more,” Romo said.
He also cited a United Nations report saying that human trafficking is the third largest criminal enterprise worldwide, generating at least US$9.5 billion in annual revenue. (NRC)
