Tuesday, January 10, 2006 (Philippines)

A group of Muslim women walk past a Moro Islamic Liberation Front combatant armed with anti-tank rocket in Mindanao. The MILF has bared its rehabilitation plan in anticipation of a final peace deal with Manila. (Sunnex photo/Al Jacinto) SOME 50 participants, composed of barangay officials and volunteers, local and retained social workers, police and Department of Interior and Local Government personnel, and the chief of the Philippine Center for Transnational Crimes, attended a forum on "Anti-Human Trafficking and Violence Against Women and Children" held last December 28, at the Jardin La Viña Hotel, Zamboanga City. The forum was aimed at intensifying information and advocacy efforts through RA 9208, otherwise known as the "Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003," so as to crack down on cases of human trafficking and RA 9262, otherwise known as the "Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children Act of 2004," to prevent incidents of violence against women and children. The resource person was Atty. Bienvenido Morillo of the City Prosecutor's Office. [full story]