DILG’s Año calls for stronger Asean cooperation against human trafficking
DEPARTMENT of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo M. Año urged delegates of the recent Asean Consultative Meeting in Bohol to strengthen regional and international cooperation and coordination “in crushing all instances of human trafficking and modern slavery.”
This, as the DILG chief joins the Asean senior officials who have affirmed their commitment to combat human trafficking “head on.”
At least 78 senior officials from the 10 member-countries of the Asean have pledged “to work more aggressively and decisively” in implementing the Bohol Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Work Plan.
“Let us be the victims’ voices, saviors and protectors. Together, let us send the message to everyone that human trafficking has no place in Southeast Asia,” Año, who is also Asean Ministerial Meeting on Transnational Crimes Leader-Philippines, said in a news statement.
“For every success that we achieve, one family will be happier and safer,” he added.
The meeting was attended by Asean Senior Officials Meeting on Transnational Crime (SOMTC) delegates from Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam, and representatives from other Asean sectoral bodies.
According to Año, trafficking in persons remain one of the toughest transnational crimes yet to be solved.
“It is a somber thought that as we speak, victims of human trafficking are left at the mercy of their captors, and rendered completely incapable to defend themselves,” he said.
Año said the Philippines has been “ardently trying to put an end to the TIP problem” by doubling its efforts against human trafficking incidents related to the illegal recruitment of overseas Filipino workers and child labor.
“With the leadership of a President who is famous worldwide for his stand and passion to battle illegal drugs, corruption, insurgency and criminality, the Asean may rest [be] assured that the Philippines will not be deterred in this fight against TIP,” he said.
The Bohol TIP Work Plan 2017 to 2020 or the Asean Multi-Sectoral Work Plan serves as the guide to all nine sectoral bodies to implement anti-trafficking initiatives in the Asean region.
According to the 2018 index, there are about 40.3 million victims of human trafficking worldwide, with one in 10 victims thought to be within Asean member-states. Asean region has the second highest global prevalence rate with 6.6 victims of human trafficking for every 1,000 population.
SOMTC Philippines Chairman and DILG Undersecretary Bernardo C. Florece Jr. said that the annual figure of human trafficking cases may be high but it is actually possible to bring it down by a significant level.
“When we break down this enormous number to bite size figures, we will realize that this transnational crime of human trafficking can be lowered down through stronger collaborations, international cooperation, and closer ties between and among the Asean member-states and sectoral bodies,” Florece said.
He said that while there had been tremendous accomplishments on anti-human trafficking in the region, there is still much to be done especially on the justice system to further strengthen the efforts of all Asean member-states in combating TIP-related offenses.
During the two-day event, they took turns sharing their best practices on anti-human trafficking efforts. They also crafted a mechanism to move forward as one Asean family in taking actions against human trafficking.