Help fight human trafficking

Published by the Visayan Daily Star Publications, Inc.

NINFA R. LEONARDIA Editor-in-Chief & President

CARLA P. GOMEZ Editor GUILLERMO TEJIDA III Desk Editor PATRICK PANGILINAN Busines Editor NIDA A. BUENAFE Sports Editor RENE GENOVE Bureau Chief, Dumaguete MAJA P. DELY Advertising Coordinator

CARLOS ANTONIO L. LEONARDIA Administrative Officer

Human trafficking and the prostitution of children is a significant issue in our country, especially in the rural areas that are often controlled by organized crime syndicates.

In our country we have laws that deal with the problem, such as Republic Act No.9208, the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003, the Anti-Child Pornography Act of 2009, that are against human trafficking, sex tourism, sex slavery and child prostitution.

Our country is the fourth in the world with the most number of prostituted children. There are estimated to be 375,000 women and girls in the sex trade in the Philippines, mostly between the ages of 15 and 20, though some are as young as 11 (Wikipedia).

A spokesperson for the U.N.S. International Labor Organization’s Manila Office, Minette Rimando said about 60,000 to 100,000 children in the Philippines are involved in prostitution rings. Statistics provided by the Visayan Forum Foundation show that most victims are between the ages of 12 to 22.

We welcome the efforts of the Provincial Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking in Persons in involving the heads of local transport groups, drivers associations and representatives from the Land Transportation Office orientation in fighting and stamping out human trafficking in the province.

The people in charge of the council believe that the public transportation sector plays a key role in the campaign of the province against human trafficking, as traffickers generally take rides on them while transporting would-be victims.

We must take this orientation in fighting against human trafficking very seriously. The human being whose sanity and future you save could be a member of your family.*