Gov’t vows stronger campaign vs modern slavery

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines has one of the worst modern slavery problems in the Asia-Pacific, but it also garnered the top spot in the 2014 edition of the Global Slavery Index (GSI) among countries “making comparatively strong efforts with limited resources” in the campaign against human trafficking.

Malacañang said the country’s ranking in the 2014 GSI by the Walk Free Foundation should encourage various agencies tasked to address trafficking and other related problems.

Based on the same report, the Philippines has the 19th largest estimated population enslaved through forced prostitution, forced labor, involuntary servitude, child soldiery or removal of organs.

“We are sure that this will serve as an encouragement... for the Inter-agency Council Against Trafficking or IACAT under the DOJ (Department of Justice) and the DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development) and many other agencies that are part of IACAT,” deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said. 

Vice President Jejomar Binay, IACAT chairman emeritus, thanked the international community for recognizing government efforts to address the issue of slavery.

“On behalf of the member-agencies of the IACAT and our partner non-government organizations, I wish to thank the Walk Free Foundation for acknowledging our efforts to stamp out human trafficking and modern day slavery in the country,” he said.

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, chairperson of the IACAT, lauded the government’s “frontliners” in the fight against trafficking.

She said the GSI is a “clear indication that the country is in the right direction in the bid to eradicate this global menace.”

“The report is something that every Filipino must be proud of and should serve as inspiration to the front-liners from the different government agencies to persevere and further improve,” De Lima said.   

The GSI is an annual report released by the foundation, an Australian-based human rights organization dedicated to ending modern-day slavery. The group has recognized the Philippine government’s efforts to curb modern day slavery, giving it the highest mark among Asian nations.

The GSI estimates that 261,200 Filipinos are subjected to a form of modern slavery.

The study released on Tuesday indicates that 0.26 percent of the country’s population of 98 million also makes it 103rd in the index in terms of prevalence of modern slavery.

The Philippines is also 19th in Asia Pacific in terms of vulnerability of its population to be trapped in slavery.

“Most countries in the Asia Pacific region exhibit a range of preconditions to modern slavery, including weak rule of law, corruption, high levels of poverty and crippling unemployment,” the study noted.

Countries are given a highest possible ranking of AAA to the lowest D.

The Philippines was given a BB rating in the latest report. The 2013 edition also cited the Philippines’ innovative approach to combat human trafficking and other forms of exploitation.

“The government has introduced a response to modern slavery, which includes short term victim support services, a criminal justice framework that criminalizes some forms of modern slavery, a body to coordinate the response, and protections for those vulnerable to modern slavery,” it said.

“There may be evidence that some government policies and practices may criminalize and/or cause victims to be deported, or facilitate slavery,” it added.

The report also noted the “innovative measures” introduced by the Philippines to protect its foreign workers after reports of abuse of Filipino workers in the Gulf states.

“This includes standardized employment contracts that require pre-deployment verification by the Philippine Labor Office and the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, a minimum monthly wage of $400 and holidays, among other measures,” the report read.

“In addition to victim support and protection, the government continued its efforts to implement the 2012-2016 National Strategic Plan on Trafficking in Persons Law, enforcement efforts increased from 2013 to 2014, with the government securing 31 sex trafficking convictions, two of which are from Pampanga, a province known to be a trafficking hotspot,” it added.

– With Janvic Mateo