Gatchalian bats for stronger crackdown on human trafficking despite Tier 1 status

Though the Philippines has retained its “Tier 1 Status” by the US State Department for meeting the minimum standards on the elimination of trafficking, Senator Win Gatchalian reiterated the need for a stronger government crackdown on all forms of human trafficking, including the online sexual exploitation of children (OSEC).

The US State Department’s 2021 Trafficking in Persons Report for the Philippines revealed that the government convicted 73 traffickers under the anti-trafficking act and related laws, most of which subjected children to sex trafficking, including 25 who sexually exploited children online, the senator noted.

The report said that the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) served 1,205 trafficking victims, including 157 victims of OSEC, according to Gatchalian.

‘The report also identified other challenges such as slow moving courts, the need for additional training on handling digital evidence in hearings and trials, and too few prosecutors for timely prosecution of trafficking crimes,” he said.

During the lockdowns from March to May 2020, the Department of Justice Office of Cybercrime (DOJ-OOC) reported receiving a 264 percent increase in Cybertipline reports of alleged OSEC cases compared to the same period in 2019.

Gatchalian also recalled instances when some students resorted to selling lewd videos and images to raise funds for distance learning.

In 2020, Gatchalian filed Senate Bill 1794, which strengthens Republic Act 9208 as amended by Republic Act 10364 or the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2012.

The proposed measure seeks to provide standards and guidelines on surveillance, interception, investigation, and prosecution of different forms of human trafficking, including sexual exploitation, prostitution, and pornography.

“Sa pamamagitan ng isinusulong nating batas na layong patatagin ang ating mga batas kontra human trafficking, hangad nating maligtas ang ating mga kabataan sa ganitong uri ng pang-aabuso at karahasan,” said Gatchalian.

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Source: Latest Politics News Today (Politics.com.ph)