CHILD VICTIMS OF TRAFFICKING

Children Who are the Victims of Trafficking

Extract from Attacking Child Labour in the Philippines (ILO)

The most disadvantaged regions of the country, where poverty, unemployment, underemployment, landlessness and armed conflict combine to deny many children and their families the prospect of a secure future, are natural target areas for unscrupulous recruitment agencies. These agencies operate particularly in Samar-Leyte, Negros, Bicol, Cebu Province and Mindanao. They use a combination of deception, false promises and cash incentives to win over the parents or the child directly...The agencies are well organised: they have a network of local contacts and receive assistance in moving their human cargo; they have good connections with government authorities and fabricate contracts to attest to the lawfulness of their operations....

.... direct action aimed at assisting the victims of child trafficking is still in its infancy in the Philippines. There is a need for more effective and new approaches to detection, intelligence and rescue, and for a collaborative effort by national and local government agencies and non-governmental organisations. Studies should be undertaken to identify the geographical areas where recruitment take place and efforts made to mobilise the communities. Approaches should also be developed for action aimed at detecting and rescuing child victims of trafficking ... at combating the recruiters and syndicates involved in trafficking of child victims for prostitution. Improved efforts at enforcement - which must be supported by measures to maintain and protect the victims who will act as witnesses and by rehabilitation and reintegration services - should go hand in hand with reconsideration of judicial processes and development of child inspectors and other government officials and the judiciary, a communication programme and a public declaration of commitment at the highest levels to tackle the problem decisively. Finally, there is a pressing need to assist with the training of service providers, to improve planning, monitoring, evaluation and coordination, and to strengthen peoples' organisation which can play a major role in this struggle...

Areas of Action, Instruments and Partners

Areas of Action

Activities

By whom/with whom

Prevention

Public declaration of commitment at the highest level against trafficking in children

Initiate and intensify information campaign and publicize through media and various fora

Establish mechanisms to monitor and control movements of children in groups at embarkation/disembarkation ports

GOs, LGUs, Church, Unions, Employers

GOs, NGOs, POs, Church, LGUs, Unions, Employers

DSWD, NGOs

Protection

(Removal)

Establish and improve intelligence network and methods of detection. Improve methods for collection of information on victims and for verifying and validating

Form rescue teams

Review existing laws as regards applicability to child trafficking; revise or enact laws as necessary

Strictly enforce legislation:

> Quick and strict prosecution

> Provide protection to victims by ensuring support and maintenance

Streamline judicial process by establishing special courts to handle speedily child labour cases

GOs, NGOs, POs, LGUs,

DOJ, DOLE, NBI, PNP, DILG

DOJ, DOLE, DSWD, Legislature

DOJ, DOLE, PNP,NBI

DOLE,DSWD,DOH,DECS,LGUs,NGOs, Church

Supreme Court, DOJ

Rehabilitation

Attend to the immediate needs of freed victims through provision of food, shelter, medical attention, legal protection and counselling

Design services and facilities for integration

NGOs, POs, Church, GOs, Unions, Employers

GOs, NGOs, POs, Church, LGUs

Capacity Building

Training of service providers to improve planning, documentation, monitoring and evaluation

Strengthen networking/coordination mechanisms

GOs, NGOs, Church

GOs, NGOs, Church

Source: Attacking Child Labour in the Philippines - International Labour Office (ILO)

Glossary

DECS - Dept. of Education, Culture & Sports	GOs - Government Organisations
DILG - Dept. of Interior & Local Govt.	LGUs - Local Government Units
DOH - Dept. of Health	NBI - National Bureau of Investigation
DOLE - Dept. of Labour & Employment	NGOs - Non Govt. Organisations
DOJ - Dept. of Justice	PNP - Philippine National Police
DSWD - Dept. of Social Welfare & Development	POs - People's Organisations

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Areas of Action	Activities	By whom/with whom
Prevention	Public declaration of commitment at the highest level against trafficking in children Initiate and intensify information campaign and publicize through media and various fora Establish mechanisms to monitor and control movements of children in groups at embarkation/disembarkation ports	GOs, LGUs, Church, Unions, Employers GOs, NGOs, POs, Church, LGUs, Unions, Employers DSWD, NGOs
Protection (Removal)	Establish and improve intelligence network and methods of detection. Improve methods for collection of information on victims and for verifying and validating Form rescue teams Review existing laws as regards applicability to child trafficking; revise or enact laws as necessary Strictly enforce legislation: > Quick and strict prosecution > Provide protection to victims by ensuring support and maintenance Streamline judicial process by establishing special courts to handle speedily child labour cases	GOs, NGOs, POs, LGUs, DOJ, DOLE, NBI, PNP, DILG DOJ, DOLE, DSWD, Legislature DOJ, DOLE, PNP,NBI DOLE,DSWD,DOH,DECS,LGUs,NGOs, Church Supreme Court, DOJ
Rehabilitation	Attend to the immediate needs of freed victims through provision of food, shelter, medical attention, legal protection and counselling Design services and facilities for integration	NGOs, POs, Church, GOs, Unions, Employers GOs, NGOs, POs, Church, LGUs
Capacity Building	Training of service providers to improve planning, documentation, monitoring and evaluation Strengthen networking/coordination mechanisms	GOs, NGOs, Church GOs, NGOs, Church