Saving our youth
FRIENDS from the Department of Justice (DOJ) recently informed me that various organizations involved in the fight against human trafficking are set to hold the Third Manila Dialogue sometime this month.
The event, I was told, will once again bring together the diplomatic community, nongovernmental organizations, government agencies, and other stakeholders. The activity will be the culmination of a year-long series of meetings among the front-liners in this fight in a bid to pool resources and keep the focus on their shared mission.
At the helm of the Dialogue are two Filipina lawyers: Prosecutor Darlene Pajarito who now steers the Inter-agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) and Jennifer Buan Robles, erstwhile DOJ lawyer who now works with the international diplomatic community.
I have had a chance to shake the hands of these two Filipina lawyers several years ago as the City of Antipolo opened its doors to victims of human trafficking, providing them a haven where they can rebuild their lives.
By sharing in the advocacy against human trafficking, Antipoleños came face to face with the cruelty of this crime. Here’s how I would describe this form of evil: it’s a war against our children. As such, it is a blatant effort to damage the very foundation of our community’s future.
Human Trafficking syndicates have, for the longest time, preyed on our countrymen dreaming of a better life. These criminal elements lure them with promises of jobs overseas – as domestics, care-givers, entertainers, seamen, laborers.
Many of those promised such jobs end up in involuntary servitude or prostitution. Their dreams – as well as their bodies – end up ravaged. The perpetrators of the crime end up richer.
Recently, human trafficking syndicates have focused on an even more vulnerable sector – our children. Based on reports and statistics, many of our children are being peddled by these syndicates to an international market of perverted beings who find pleasure in online child pornography.
Every form of human trafficking is cruel, but I would place online child pornography at the top of the list. It has been called “digitized rape” and I can only agree with the appropriateness of that term.
It has also been described as an act of “perpetuated cruelty.” This is because the image of a minor portrayed in a sexual act and launched in the Internet could be there to stay permanently. These images will be passed on hundreds, maybe even thousands of times. Every pair of eyes that ogle at the image with malice and perverted desire means one more occasion of virtual rape on a child.
There have been numerous studies on the effect of child pornography on its victims.
According to a study by the State University of New York:
“In one study, 100 victims of child pornography were interviewed about the effects of their exploitation—at the time it occurred and in later years. Referring to when the abuse was taking place, victims described the physical pain (e.g., around the genitals), accompanying somatic symptoms (such as headaches, loss of appetite, and sleeplessness), and feelings of psychological distress (emotional isolation, anxiety, and fear).
However, most also felt a pressure to cooperate with the offender and not to disclose the offense, both out of loyalty to the offender and a sense of shame about their own behavior. Only five cases were ultimately reported to authorities.
In later years, the victims reported that initial feelings of shame and anxiety did not fade but intensified to feelings of deep despair, worthlessness, and hopelessness. Their experience had provided them with a distorted model of sexuality, and many had particular difficulties in establishing and maintaining healthy emotional and sexual relationships.”
No doubt, the evil effects of this crime are long-lasting. The children-victims will most probably carry the wounds the rest of their lives.
This is a war being waged against our children. This is a war being waged against our very future.
I take the opportunity to express once again our support to the efforts of the participants in the Manila Dialogue against Human Trafficking. Every Filipino who values our Youth and the future of our country has a stake in the success of this event.
After all, the National Hero after whom our province was named had called them “bella esperanza de la Patria mia”.
Yes. The “fair hope of our Fatherland.”
On behalf of my fellow Rizaleños and Antipoleños, I wish the Third Manila Dialogue unqualified success.