US cites Philippines gains vs human trade
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
MANILA — Malacañang on Tuesday welcomed the removal of the Philippines from the United States human trafficking watchlist.
It also welcomed US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s statement that cited the Philippines’ improved efforts in battling human trafficking.
The State Department’s annual Trafficking in Persons Report, posted at the US Department website Tuesday, elevated the Philippines, Singapore and Laos off the watchlist to so-called Tier 2, which means that the countries do not fully meet standards on human trafficking but are making efforts to do so.
In the Report, the State Department praised an “intensified effort” by the Philippines.
It said the Philippines convicted 25 trafficking offenders, compared with nine the previous year, including first-ever convictions for forced labor.
The report has become increasingly sensitive for Southeast Asian governments, which face a cutoff of US assistance if they are found to be unresponsive in fighting trafficking.
Indonesia and Cambodia stayed at Tier 2, but Brunei, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam remained on the watchlist. The only Asian jurisdictions on Tier 1, meaning full compliance, were South Korea and Taiwan.
In releasing the report, the State Department said millions of people around the world remained trapped in modern-day slavery for sexual exploitation or labor and called on governments around the world to take action.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton wrote in a forward to the report: “It “embodies the United States” continued dedication to fighting traffickers no matter where they may be, because fighting slavery and standing up for human rights is part of our national identity.”
The United States gave itself a Tier 1 ranking but offered details about problems at home, including allegations of exploitation by federal contractors.
“I don’t think it’s fair for us to rank others if we don’t look hard at who we are and what we’re doing,” Clinton said at a launch event for the report.
Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda was pleased to note that Clinton cited in an interview with CNN that the Philippines as among “the countries that have made a lot of progress in the global campaign against human trafficking.”
“Look at what the Philippines has done in the change of administration. The Philippines probably export more people, their citizenry, than nearly any other country in the world. They go all over the world to work in many different settings and until the administration of President Aquino, we didn’t really have a level commitment we were seeking. We do now and we see a sea-change of difference,” Lacierda said quoting Clinton.
Lacierda said President Benigno Aquino III was elated over the upgrade and vowed to continue the government’s efforts to curb human trafficking in the country.
“In response, the Aquino administration expresses its appreciation on these citations and emphasizes our continuing campaign against human trafficking,” the Palace spokesperson said.
Lacierda also noted the efforts of several government agencies involved in fighting human trafficking such as the Department of Justice.
“We’d like to thank also the Secretary of Justice, Leila de Lima’s efforts on curbing trafficking as well as all the other agencies involved in the fight against human trafficking. And certainly the President is very appreciative of the upgrade made by the State Department,” he said.
Lacierda said the Philippines will then try to get to Tier 1 after reaching Tier 2.
“We’re certainly going to improve our efforts at curbing human trafficking. Whatever Tier that we are required to be taken out, we’re certainly going to do that — that’s been a promise of this administration,” he said.
Upgrade saves $250 million in Philippine funding
For his part, Deputy Speaker Lorenzo Tañada III called on his colleagues to aid the government in cracking down agencies that practice human trafficking.
“It is a clear indication that we are on the right track in protecting the welfare of our Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs). However, this must not trigger any sort of complacency on the part of the government,” Tañada said in a statement.
He noted that some dubious agencies are still able to secure accreditation from the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration.
Last year, the House leader exposed a specific case of human trafficking in Biloxi, Mississippi involving eleven OFWs who were allegedly duped by their recruitment agency.
In a separate report, the Blas F. Ople Policy Center and Training Institute on Tuesday said that the Philippines’ improved standing allowed it to save an estimated $250 million in non-humanitarian assistance.
“With this improved rating, the Philippines managed to avert the loss of an estimated US$250 million in non-humanitarian assistance from the US government while sending a strong signal to human traffickers around the world,” Ople Center President Susan Ople said.
Earlier, it expressed concerns about a possible downgrade, which will disqualify the Philippines from receiving the non-humanitarian assistance from the US government.
The improved standing should now encourage the Aquino administration to aim for a higher goal, which is to be included in the list’s Tier 1.
“The upgrade should inspire the government to aim for a Tier 1 ranking, by trying to obtain more convictions and cleaning up the local recruitment process,” said Ople.
The upgrade also encouraged the Bureau of Immigration (BI) to double its efforts against human trafficking syndicates.
Since August 2010, the bureau has prevented 54,076 suspected victims of human trafficking from leaving the country, BI spokesperson Attorney Antonette Mangrobang said.
“This was a result of our implementation of our strict departure formalities. Many of these victims were undocumented Filipino workers who posed as tourist workers,” she said. (Jill Beltran/Kaecee Alvarez/AMN/FP/Sunnex)
Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/manila/local-news/2011/06/29/us-cites-philippines-gains-vs-human-trade-163831
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