UNO-Recoletos delivered its commitment to campaign for public awareness against human trafficking in USAID supported Commitment Conference on March 15 at Crown Plaza Manila Galleria Hotel.
More than 200 leaders and personalities from various sectors including the academe attended the conference. Addressing the assembly included top Philippine officials headed by Vice-President Jejomar Binay and Justice Secretary Leila De Lima, the diplomatic leaders US Ambassador Harry Thomas, British Ambassador Stephen Lillie, Australian Ambassador Rod Smith, and Netherlands Charge d’ Affaires Ruth Emmerink, and VFF Chair and President Ma. Cecilia Oebanda.
Representing UNO-Recoletos was UCDO Supervisor Mely Flores, who delivered a commitment speech in behalf of the university to express its support for the campaign against trafficking in persons.
Human trafficking, the conference report said, is now the world’s third biggest illegal trade, next to gun and drugs, with a global profit of US$32B. Being so, it is considered as the greatest and gravest human rights challenge as it transcends borders and affects all ages, gender and race. The report also said that the Philippines, despite its notable success in its anti-trafficking efforts, is under Tier2 Watchlist as ranked by the US State Department.
As a modern form of slavery, its victims are duped into prostitution, forced and cheap labor, or drug trafficking. The latest case was that of the three Filipinos – Ramon Credo, Sally Ordinario-Villanueva, and Elizabeth Batain – who were executed in China yesterday, March 30, due to drug trafficking.
Organized by Visayan Forum Foundation, Inc (VFFI) and Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (AICAT), together with the Multi-sectoral Network Against Trafficking (MSNAT), the conference was also attended by representatives from Pres. Aquino’s cabinet, local government units, business sector, and socio-civic and faith groups. Among them were the DILG, Commission on Filipinos Overseas, Microsoft- Philippines, Bishops-Business Conference, Ateneo de Manila University, Manila International Airport Authority, Philippine Ports Authority, WADAH Foundation, US Peace Corps, British VSO, and MTV-EXIT. #msf