Members of the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (Iacat) aim to conduct coordinated advocacy against human trafficking in Davao Region.
This is the message of member organizations under Iacat-Davao Regional Office, whose office was inaugurated inside Davao International Airport on July 14.
Iacat aims to oversee and monitor the implementation of anti-trafficking responses.
Based on its briefer, the Department of Social Welfare and Development-Davao Region (DSWD-Davao) catered to 341 clients in the region, most of them are females at around 13 to 35 years old.
Iacat, meanwhile, recorded 63 active cases of trafficking, which are under investigation or on trial.
Iacat clients are either experiencing and/or victims of sexual exploitation, prostitution, pornography/ OSAEC, illegal recruitment, and forced labor.
In response, Iacat-Davao aims to beat human trafficking by giving clients legal protection, protective custody through Home for Girls and RSCC and other LGU facilities, free legal assistance, right to privacy and confidentiality, Witness Protection Program, and Victim Compensation Program.
"There's really a need for us to reactivate our regional office because that will be convenient not only for our members here inside operating but also for our victims... They will have privacy," Iacat-Davao chairperson Janet Grace Dalisay-Fabrero said.
Meanwhile, Iacat-Davao chief of operations and deputy prosecutor Barbara Flores emphasized the need to put anti-trafficking desks and offices within airports.
She emphasized that airports serve as the last chance where the authorities can intercept human traffickers, so it is important to guard airports.
"Airports may be our last chance to intercept possible travel victims kaya importante na meron tayong help desk or protection area," Flores said.
The event was attended by officials from the Department of Justice , National Bureau of Investigation, DSWD, Civil Aviation Authority, Police Regional Office-Davao Region, among others.
Iacat is composed of 27 government agencies, police, and non-government organizations. ICE