December 12 Campaign Photos

Dec. 12 Sta. Rosa Poster Making

 Photos of the December 12 campaign are now uploaded at our official Multiply website! Visit http://antichildtrafficking.multiply.com/ to view the photos from each participating area, or click the individual links below.

Cavite; Cavite 2nd Album

Bulacan

Bahay Tuluyan

Iligan

Sultan Kudarat

Sta. Rosa Preparation ; Sta. Rosa Motorcade ; Sta. Rosa Poster Making

PLAN

Davao City

Nueva Ecija

Bukidnon

PACT Press statement on December 12 Day Against Trafficking

Schools, barangays lead the campaign against trafficking

Quezon City, 8 December 2011 –Communities must play a more active role in the campaign against child trafficking by conducting awareness raising activities in the barangays, schools, churches, factories, and streets and wherever there are people who may be possible targets of traffickers.

This was the call of the Philippines Against Child Trafficking (PACT) – with 43 nationwide chapters – during the annual observance of International Day Against Trafficking. More than 16,000 students, barangay officials and residents will be taking part all over the country in a week-long series of activities from December 5-12 themed “Komunidad Palakasin, Child Trafficking Sugpuin,” [Empower Communities to Combat Child Trafficking] and conducted in partnership with the Inter Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT).

PACT-Bukidnon conducts school-based anti-child trafficking education in commemoration of the December 12 International Day Against Trafficking.

According to Maria Salome Ujano, PACT national coordinator, children are often at risk of being exploited and trafficked because of circumstances in the community. “Trafficking lurks in our family, our schools and our community, when there are no income opportunities and people live in poverty, when men consider it their privilege to buy children and women for sex and when people especially children are sold for exploitative labor, when people are ignorant of their rights and of laws that affect them and when government does not establish mechanisms to effectively implement the law,” she added.

Children living in abusive or violent families are also vulnerable. Ujano also warned children and their parents to be cautious in using the internet and other modern technology which traffickers may use this to lure or deceive their victims.

Ujano called on “Parents to fill their homes with love and support their children’s needs, especially education. If parents need to migrate for work, they must ensure that their children are under the care of trusted and responsible adult caregivers. For their part, schools should discuss the issue of child trafficking and other forms of abuse and exploitation among their students so they can protect themselves and provide scholarships opportunities for children so they can continue their education uninterrupted.

Finally, barangays are responsible for raising the consciousness of parents on the issue, and supporting local livelihood opportunities so that their children will not be forced to work. They should mandate recruiters to register with the barangay, monitor recruitment activities in the community and activate their Barangay Council for the Protection of Children (BCPC) or the Barangay Violence against Women and Children (VAWC) desk for the implementation of programs for children and against all forms of violence”.

The school and barangay based campaign anti-trafficking activities being held nationwide are supported by the Department of Education and the Department of Interior and Local Government. Among some of the activities being held are motorcades, parades, school film showing, lectures and fora, barangay education sessions, press conferences, and radio hopping, academic contests on slogan and poster making, essay writing, song writing contests, extemporaneous speech on anti-trafficking and interfaith prayer.

The December 12 International Day Against Trafficking is held annually in observance of the signing by majority of the countries of the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress, Punish Trafficking in Persons Especially Women and Children, Supplementing the UN Convention on Transnational Organized Crime, also known as the Palermo Protocol.

Iwasan ang Child Trafficking! Palakasin ang Komunidad Upang Labanan ang Child Trafficking

Ang child trafficking ay isang negosyo  kung saan ang pangunahing produkto ay ang mga bata at kababaihan. Sila ay nire-recruit at binebenta para sa prostitusyon o pornograpiya, sapilitang pagtatrabaho, pang-aalipin, pati na ang pagbebenta ng mga bahagi ng katawan (organ trade). Ang mga bata ay kadalasang nare-recruit dahil sila ay na-enganyo, nakumbinse, nalinlang, nasuhulan, isinama nang sapilitan sa pamamagitan ng pagkidnap o paninindak. Sila ay dinadala sa ibang lugar o inilalabas ng bansa. Ang mga gawaing ito ay labag sa karapatan ng mga bata at ipinagbabawal ng batas laban sa trafficking o RA 9208, ang Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003.

Bakit nangyayari ang Child Trafficking?

Kahirapan ang pangunahing dahilan kung bakit marami ang nagiging biktima ng trafficking. Dahil sa kagustuhang makahanap ng trabaho o anumang mapagkakakitaan, marami sa mga mahihirap ang nagiging mapusok at pumapasok sa kahit anong uri ng sitwasyon na sa tingin nila ay mayroon silang kikitain. Sa ganitong sitwasyon o kondisyon nagaganap ang trafficking.

Negosyo ng pagbebenta ng mga tao ang isa sa pangunahing dahilan kung bakit patuloy na maraming tao – kabilang ang mga bata – ang nirerekrut at ibinebenta para sa para sa iba’t ibang anyo ng pagsasamantala tulad ng prostitusyon, pwersadong pagtatatrabaho, pagbebenta ng mga bahagi ng katawan ng tao tulad ng bato, at iba pang mga anyo ng pagsasamantala.

Kakulangan sa edukasyon at impormasyon  ay lalong naglalapit sa mga mamamayan sa posibilidad na ma-traffick. Marami sa mga hindi nakapagtapos ng pag-aaral ay kulang sa skills para sila ay makahanap ng trabaho na nangangailangan ng sapat na kaalaman o kasanayan (skilled labor). Kasama na rin dito ang mga batang wala sa paaralan dahil sila ay tumutulong sa paghahanap-buhay para sa pamilya o dahil hindi sila kayang pag-aralin ng mga magulang. Dahil walang sapat na impormasyon at kasanayan upang maging mapanuri, nalilinlang sila ng mga recruiter.

Gender Discrimination ang pagsasamantala sa pamamagitan ng pagbebenta sa kababaihan at kabataan para sa murang sex at lakas paggawa. Ang pagiging katanggap-tanggap sa ating lipunan ng pagbili ng mga kalalakihan sa sekswal na serbisyo ng mga babae at bata ay  pangunahing dahilan din kung bakit lumalago ang industriya ng trafficking. Ang  mababang pagtingin sa kababaihan at kabataan  ay makikita din sa pagpapatrabaho sa kanila bilang mga kasambahay at sa iba pang mga labor intensive o mabusising mga gawain, at sa sapilitang pagpapakasal sa kanila sa  mga taong nangangako (laluna ang mga “foreigners”) na sasagutin ang kanilang  pag-aaral at/o makakapagbigay sa kanila ng magandang buhay.

Armadong labanan at mga disaster dala ng pagkasira ng kalikasan ay nagreresulta sa pagkasira ng tirahan, ari-arian, sakahan, at negosyo. Ang ganitong kawalan ng  oportunidad at seguridad sa paghahanapbuhay at pamumuhay ay madaling nakakahikayat sa mga tao na pumayag at sumama sa mga recruiter upang dalhin ang biktima sa lugar na may mapagkakakitaan.

Internet at modernong teknolohiya tulad ng cellphone, bagamat malaki ang naitutulong sa ating pag-unlad, may kasama rin itong panganib dahil ang internet at cellphone ay nagiging daan para magamit ang mga bata para sa pornograpiya, cybersex at sex tourism. Nagiging madali na rin para sa mga traffickers ang kumontak at manloko sa mga biktima sa pamamagitan ng internet at cellphone.

Magulong sitwasyon ng pamilya lalo na kung may pang-aabuso (pisikal o sekswal). Ang mga batang nakaranas ng pang-aabuso ay mas nakakaisip maglayas. Sila ay pikit-matang sumasama sa mga nag-aalok ng trabaho o nangangako ng magandang hanapbuhay nang hindi napag-iisipan ang mga panganib. Ganito rin ang pag-iisip ng mga batang napabayaan dahil sa migrasyon (pag-alis ng magulang para magtrabaho sa ibang lugar o bansa) at walang responsableng tao (adult) na nag-aalaga sa kanila.

Ano ang magagawa?

Bawat isa – Dagdagan ang kaalaman tungkol sa trafficking. Magbasa. Makinig sa mga forum. Alamin ang tamang impormasyon mula sa pamahalaan at mga mapagkakatiwalaang organisasyon tulad ng PACT.

Magulang – Sikaping mapanatiling mapayapa at puno ng pagmamahalan ang tahanan.

• ·Gawing pantay ang pagtingin, pagpapahalaga at pag-aalaga sa bawat anak.
• ·Gawing prayoridad ang edukasyon at patuloy na pagpasok sa paaralan ng mga bata hanggang sila ay makapagtapos.
• ·Sa mga pagkakataon na kailangang malayo sa ibang lugar o bansa, ihanda at ipaliwanag nang mabuti ang sitwasyon sa mga anak. Pumili ng taong mapagkakatiwalaan na makakasama at kakalinga sa mga anak.

Guro at paaralan – Bigyan ng extra skills o karagdagang kaalaman ang mga bata at school personnel upang tumalas ang kanilang mapanuring pag-iisip. Ito ang magbibigay sa kanila ng kakayanan na protektahan ang kanilang sarili sa pagtukoy at pag-aksyon laban sa trafficking.

• ·Tumulong na mapanatili sa paaralan ang mga bata: alamin ang mga scholarship at tulong pinansyal na inaalok ng mga sumusunod: iba’t ibang ahensya ng pamahalaan, mga opisyal ng pamahalaan (senador, kongresista), lokal na pamahalaan (mayor, kagawad, barangay captain), mga pribadong organisasyon at indibidwal. (Ngunit i-monitor din ang mga indibidwal na nag-aalok ng tulong o sponsorship dahil isa rin itong paraan ng pagsasamantala sa mga bata.)
• ·Alamin ang Alternative Learning System ng pamahalaan sa pamamagitan ng Department of Education (DepEd).

Komunidad – Kumbinsihin ang mga magulang na maghanap pa ng ibang paraan upang kumita maliban sa pagpayag na lumayo ang kanilang anak – bata man o adult – upang magtrabaho.

• ·Palakasin ang komunidad sa pamamagitan ng paglinang sa kakayanan ng mga tao, pagkakaroon ng mga community-based alternative livelihood programs, at pagsuporta sa agrikultura at lokal na mga negosyo. Ito ang mag-aangat sa kalidad ng kabuhayan ng mamamayan. Sa gayon, hindi mapipilitan ang mga bata na magtrabaho at mapipigilan na sila ay ma-traffick.
• ·Alamin sa barangay kung mayroong mga libreng training na maaaring makatulong at makapagbigay ng karagdagang kaalaman at skills sa mga residente.
• ·Ingatan at alagaan ang kapaligiran at kalikasan, alamin ang mga paraan ng waste management (reduce, reuse, recycle) ayon sa batas.

Barangay at lokal na pamahalaan – Patuloy na ipalaganap ang impormasyon tungkol sa trafficking at makiisa sa kampanya laban sa trafficking kabilang na ang pagbabantay sa komunidad para maiwasan/mapigilan/masugpo ang insidente ng trafficking.

• ·Patuloy na i-monitor kung may nagaganap na recruitment sa komunidad. Maaaring gumawa ng ordinansa na ang mga recruiter ay dapat nakarehistro sa barangay bago sila payagang mag-recruit ng mga residente.
• ·Maaari ring ipa-rehistro sa barangay ang lugar na paglilipatan ng mga residente
• ·Bumuo ng Barangay Child Protection Council o Barangay VAW desk (o kung maaari ay pareho), na siyang tutugon sa pag-iwas, pagsugpo at hahawak sa mga kaso ng trafficking sa barangay.
• ·Magkaroon ng mahigpit na ugnayan sa mga iba’t ibang ahensiya ng pamahalaan tulad ng inter-agency council against trafficking (IACAT), o local councils for the protection of children (LCPC) o gender and development councils sa mga munisipyo o siyudad para sa mabilis na paghingi ng tulong para sa mga biktima at para rin sa mga programa laban sa trafficking na maaaring ilunsad sa inyong barangay.
• ·Dapat tiyakin ng mga opisyal ng lokal na pamahalaan na ang mga serbisyo at oportunidad ay nakararating sa komunidad, lalo na sa mga pinakanangangailangan nito (grassroots level). Kasama rito ang mga serbisyo tulad ng: micro-credit o suporta para sa maliliit na negosyo, skills training o karagdagang kaalaman at kakayanan upang makahanap ng trabaho.
• ·Tumulong sa pagpapalakas at pagpapatupad ng batas laban sa trafficking sa pamamagitan ng pagpasa ng mga ordinansa na makakatutulong sa bawat barangay upang maiwasan at masugpo ang trafficking.
• ·Patuloy na makipagtulungan sa mga iba’t ibang organisasyon – NGO’s, people’s organizations, civic organizations at mga organisasyon ng simbahan – na nagbibigay ng impormasyon ukol sa trafficking.
• ·Para sa mga pamahalaang panglunsod at pambayan, ang pagbubuo o pagpapalakas ng LCPCs sa pamamagitan ng pagsasama ng isyu ng trafficking sa kanilang gawain o kung wala pa, ang pagbubuo ng lokal na inter-agency council against trafficking at violence against women and children (LCAT-VAWC) para sa epektibong pagtugon sa trafficking sa kanilang lugar.

Sa pamamagitan ng mga gawaing nabanggit, ating mapapalakas ang mga komunidad upang epektibong matigil ang trafficking, kasama na ang child trafficking, sa ating mga komunidad.

Ang child trafficking ay isang krimen. I-report ang mga kaso ng trafficking sa barangay, pulisya, DSWD o tumawag sa Action Line 1343 (Metro Manila); (02) 1343 (probinsya).

Philippines Against Child Trafficking (PACT)

Rm 316 Philippine Social Science Center Bldg.

Commonwealth Ave., Diliman, Quezon City 1101

Tel: (632) 929-0347; (02) 355-4773

Mobile: 0999-3055006

Email: philippinecampaign@gmail.com

December 12 2011 International Day Against Trafficking

I.  DECEMBER 12 THEME

This coming December 12, PACT members, partners and other anti-trafficking advocates will again conduct nationally coordinated campaign activities in celebration of the International Day Against Trafficking.

PACT celebrates this year’s campaign with the theme “Komunidad Palakasin, Child Trafficking Sugpuin!”The campaign is conducted yearly in commemoration of the signing of the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children Supplementing the United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime, also known as the Palermo Protocol.

PACT will conduct various activities all over the country also in support of the Inter Agency Council Against Trafficking’s (IACAT) Day Against Trafficking campaign with the theme, Laban Kontra Human Trafficking, Laban Nating Lahat!

Significant developments occurred for the year 2011 in the campaign against trafficking. The country was elevated from Tier 2 watchlist to Tier 2 ranking by the US State Department Trafficking in Persons Report in 2011.

The hard work of civil society organizations and the resolve of government agencies and local government units to improve the implementation of RA 9208 made such an accomplishment possible.

Children are often at the risk of being exploited because of circumstances in the community. We must continue to intensify our anti-trafficking campaign to give attention to the root causes of trafficking such as globalization and poverty, culture, gender discrimination, lack of education, breakdown of families and natural and man-made disasters among others. These problems impact on both the family and the community and its intensification threaten to make children more vulnerable to trafficking.

We all need to be concerned and intervene at these levels – family and community – to address the root causes, reduce vulnerability and begin to explore a more sustainable response to child trafficking.

II.  2011 INTERNATIONAL DAY AGAINST HUMAN TRAFFICKING CAMPAIGN

In 2009, PACT reiterated that the campaign to stop child trafficking is the collective responsibility of each and every member of society through the campaign theme, “Proteksyon ng Bata, Responsibilidad Nating Lahat.”  In 2010, the call was for improving access to Justice and Protection for Children Victims of Trafficking. The call was timely as the country needed to lift itself from Tier 2 watchlist by improving the prosecution of cases, strengthening law enforcement, supporting trafficking victims by making services accessible to trafficked children and in general, effectively implementing the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003.

This year, we stress the important role of the community in creating an environment that will help to prevent child trafficking including ensuring that child protection mechanisms are in place.

In support of the theme, PACT supports the following calls:

1. Encourage the political participation of stakeholders and dutybearers at the community level toward creating local mechanisms that address trafficking and other forms of child exploitation and abuse;  Specifically:
1. Work toward the implementation of laws and policies specifically through lobby/cooperation with the LGU in coming up with anti-trafficking ordinances and other related measures in their area and monitor the implementation of such;
2. Call for the functionalization of the Barangay Child Protection Council and/or the Barangay VAW desk to work toward preventing trafficking and responding to trafficking cases;
3. Create monitoring and quick reaction teams at the community level;
2. Build the capacity of the community to raise public awareness
1. Empower communties/barangays to raise awareness on the abovementioned issues, on child trafficking,  gender and on children’s rights;
2. Continuously address at the community level cultural perceptions and practices that abet the sexual exploitation and abuse of women and children, including family violence, consumerism, etc…
3. Enhance the economic self sufficiency of communities to contribute in the prevention of child trafficking;
1. Particularly bring into the community various interventions that will help to alleviate poverty;
2. Work in an integrated and concerted manner so that people’s projects and services can create an impact at the grassroots level.
3. Coordinate with other government agencies and civil society groups that could assist children and young people in getting education including vocational and technical skills;

Allot human and financial resources for the above-mentioned prevention and intervention programs for child trafficking.

About The Philippines Against Child Trafficking (PACT)

The Philippines Against Child Trafficking (PACT) is a network of child rights advocates committed to building communities that protect children against trafficking. Its members include non-government organizations and people’s organizations as well as individuals from government, who believe it is the moral responsibility of the government, business sector, academe and faith-based organizations, people’s organizations and families to create such a community.

PACT remains steadfast in its advocacy to promote children’s rights and protect children against trafficking. It is committed to the principles upholding the inherent worth of every individual as well as harmonious interpersonal and productive relationships within the families, communities and its members.

PACT’s Programs

Network Building. PACT is continually working towards the establishment of a fully functional network of organizations and individuals working for child protection against trafficking. Members and supporters are actively involved in the institutionalization of the campaign and share in the organization’s culture of openness to diversity and collaboration.

Community Educators’ Training. Regarded as one of the best practices of PACT since 2002, Community Educators’ Trainings seek to increase the public’s awareness about the child trafficking phenomenon. This program engages law enforcers, local governments, NGOs and other community groups to become trainers and helps sensitze both the public and private sectors on the problem of child trafficking through community-based sessions.

PACT’s training modules include: (1) Community Educator’s Training on Anti-Trafficking, (2) Strengthening the Child Protection Network and (3) Philippine Guidelines for the Protection of Trafficked Children in the Philippines.

December 12 Campaign. PACT is actively involved in the annual commemoration of the adoption of the “Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children,” signed in Palermo, Italy in December 12, 2000. PACT members conceptualize child-driven activities and link with other stakeholders for the anti-child trafficking campaign in their respective areas.

Capacity Building of Members.

PACT provides opportunities for individuals and service providers to strengthen their work through agency personnel development and stress management trainings, provision of Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials and other support .

Child protection is both a strategic priority and a universal imperative. The active involvement of the communities in planning, implementation and decision-making can be realized once they are empowered. One way to empower the people to build, reactivate and/or strengthen themselves is to help them develop their capabilities and skills in the documentation of cases, lobbying for local ordinances, budget and formation of local coordination mechanisms.

Exploitative Purposes

Exploiation is the core element of trafficking. Children are trafficked for various exploitative purposes such as:

- sexual exploitation/prostitution

- forced labour

- illegal adoption

- begging

- forced marriages

- drug trafficking

- removal & sale of organs

- slavery

- servitude

Trafficking is a continuing crime; therefore, close coordination between and among local groups /agencies is very important.

Push and Pull Factors of Trafficking

The following are some of the primary factors that cause the environment of trafficking to flourish in the Philippines:

- Poverty

- Globalization

- Modernization & Development Schemes

- Out-migration networks

- Corruption & Collaboration

- Breakdown of Families

- Lack of Education & Information

- Aftermath of War

- Culture

The interplay of these factors, with increasing poverty as the major catalyst, results in conditions favorable to trafficking of children within the country and across borders.

PACT History

Philippines Against Child Trafficking (PACT) is a network of advocates for child protection against trafficking from non-government organizations, the government and academe, among others. It was formed in 2002 as part of the Regional Campaign Against Child Trafficking, also known as Asia ACTs against Child Trafficking, with ECPAT Philippines as Focal Point.

The Philippine Campaign first launched its weeklong campaign against child trafficking in 2003. Since then, PACT has been actively conducting regionwide consultations, national conferences, public media events, development of IEC materials, action research, People’s Caravan (parades, motorcades, programs and concerts, television and radio guestings) local mobilization activities, and theater training for young people, participated actively by various sectors.

The enactment of RA 9208 or the “Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003” gives credence to the intensification of the campaign.

As a preventive measure, PACT is now raising the awareness of the public, especially the grassroots, on this law and works with other various stakeholders for its effective implementation.