PHL stresses responsibility of all states in fight vs. trafficking



Curbing the threat of human trafficking is a “joint responsibility" of all member-states of the United Nations, the Philippines declared this week in its fresh international appeal for unity against human trafficking.

The Philippines made the appeal during the 4th Ministerial Meeting of the Group of Friends United Against Human Trafficking in New York through Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) undersecretary for policy Evan Garcia.

"(Garcia) underscored that fighting human trafficking is a joint responsibility of member states – whether these be countries of origin, transit or destinatio," the DFA said in a news release posted on its website over the weekend.

The Group of Friends United Against Human Trafficking held its fourth ministerial meeting last September 26 at the sidelines of the UN General Assembly 68th session in New York.

Garcia said fighting human trafficking is a core advocacy of the Philippines as the protection of overseas Filipino workers is a pillar of Philippine foreign policy.

He urged those in the meeting to advocate universal, human rights-based policies in tackling trafficking in persons, enhanced distribution of information and technical assistance, and a continuation of cordial relationships between nations.

The Philippines also promoted the ratification of the Palermo Protocol, a pact obliging UN members to “Prevent, Suppress, and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children.”

Philippine policy against human trafficking has stepped up in recent months, yet remains at Tier 2 in the US’ 2013 Trafficking in Persons Report. Tier 2 is a list of countries with governments falling short of, despite significant efforts, the standards of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act.

Present at the event were foreign ministers and deputy ministers belonging to the Group of Friends, as well as heads of UN agencies of the Inter-Agency Coordination Group against Trafficking (ICAT). -- Rie Takumi/KBK, GMA News

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