Child Sex Trafficking continues....

The island of Mindanao has become one of the trafficking hot spots because of armed conflict. Children are trafficked to major cities and neighboring countries, particularly Malaysia.

Trafficking victims are promised jobs such as domestic helpers or entertainers. Unaware of the dangers ahead, children often have their own aspirations of wanting to see the big cities, helping their siblings and family, acquiring material gains, going to Japan as “entertainers”, and improving their physical appearance.

Children are commonly trafficked for exploitation in the sex trade - an estimated 60,000 to 100,000 children in the Philippines are involved in prostitution rings. There is a high incidence of child prostitution in tourist areas. An undetermined number of children are forced into exploitative labor operations.

Among the main causes of child trafficking in the Philippines are poverty, low economic development in communities of origin, gender inequalities, limited employment opportunities, existence of and access to public infrastructure (roads, schools, health centers, etc), large family sizes, inadequate awareness among families, and sex tourism.

The Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act was enacted by the Philippine legislative in May 2003. The law mandates the establishment of the National Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking in Persons, which is now charting the national course to combat trafficking.

The island of Mindanao has become one of the trafficking hot spots because of armed conflict. Children are trafficked to major cities and neighboring countries, particularly Malaysia.

Trafficking victims are promised jobs such as domestic helpers or entertainers. Unaware of the dangers ahead, children often have their own aspirations of wanting to see the big cities, helping their siblings and family, acquiring material gains, going to Japan as “entertainers”, and improving their physical appearance.

Children are commonly trafficked for exploitation in the sex trade - an estimated 60,000 to 100,000 children in the Philippines are involved in prostitution rings. There is a high incidence of child prostitution in tourist areas. An undetermined number of children are forced into exploitative labor operations.

Among the main causes of child trafficking in the Philippines are poverty, low economic development in communities of origin, gender inequalities, limited employment opportunities, existence of and access to public infrastructure (roads, schools, health centers, etc), large family sizes, inadequate awareness among families, and sex tourism.

The Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act was enacted by the Philippine legislative in May 2003. The law mandates the establishment of the National Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking in Persons, which is now charting the national course to combat trafficking. The establishment of similar councils at the provincial and city levels is ongoing.

(excerpt from UNESCO)

Is globalization the main cause of this social issue - modern day slavery ? Is there any assistance from the local government to prevent or identify the perpetrator? How can we help these children?  I'd welcome your thoughts maybe we can help each other to combat child trafficking in our country. 

An email was sent to me just this morning about this issue it says " Hello-- i have been reading your blog and i can relate to your passion to help the victims, you live in America, the land of milk and honey, people there eat a lot of burgers and parties on weekend and mind you --YOU HAVE VICTIMS IN YOUR BACKYARD, dont look far, he/she is your neighbor"  signed " reader from Russia.

Scary isnt it......i checked my audience stat and yes, i have a couple of readers from Russia. 

She or he might be right, i have somebody near who need help.  Next blog will be about  on "How can we identify the victims of human trafficking?"