ON the occasion of its 10th anniversary, the Blas F. Ople Policy Center and Training Center, in participation with International Justice Mission and the Visayan Forum Foundation, is hosting the first of three regional and sectoral summits against human trafficking this Aug. 28-29 at Traders’ Hotel, Pasay City.
This summit is in partnership with the Embassy of The Netherlands and the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) where around 80 participants from non-governmental organizations are expected to attend.
Other summits shall also be held in the cities of Iloilo and Cebu where, like the first summit, technology companies have been invited to showcase their knowledge products and services so that anti-trafficking advocates can see how these can be used to advance their cause.
These summits are expected to enhance and strengthen cooperation among CSOs dedicated in preventing and combating labor, women and child trafficking not only through referrals and exchange of information on best practices, but also, in discussing future projects and possible collaboration with IACAT and the Dutch Embassy.
Representatives from member-agencies of IACAT which is mandated to prevent and combat trafficking are also expected to attend the summits in order to give the participants updated reports on the national government’ program on trafficking in persons.
The first summit focuses on how technology can help prevent and detect human trafficking, particularly among overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who often fall victims of trafficking in persons and illegal recruitment.
BFOC President Susan “Toots” Ople described this first CSO summit for the migrant workers’ sector as a “fusion of technology and anti-trafficking sectors for a common good – the protection of Filipino workers from trafficking syndicates an expert from the Dutch government, Arjan Verhagen, who serves as Thematic Liaison Officer of the Dutch National Police, will share his country’s experience in dealing with online child exploitation, while technology firms have been invited to showcase their products and services so that anti-trafficking advocates can see how these can be used to advance their cause.
Justice Undersecretary Jose Vicente Salazar, in-charge of IACAT, said the CSO summits once again highlight the Philippine’s relentless anti-human trafficking campaign which is anchored on a multi-sectoral approach involving partnerships with other countries like The Netherlands, collaboration with other government agencies, and tie-ups with non-government organizations.
Technology firms, such as Viber, Microsoft, Orange Apps, and social advocacy movement, Change.Org, among others, have been invited to participate in the technology and anti-trafficking summit.
The two other summits will be hosted by IJM and VFFI on October and November 2014 in Iloilo and Davao, respectively. IJM focuses on child trafficking while VFFI represents the women’s sector in IACAT.
In each summit, renowned experts in the field have been invited to shed light on the situation of human trafficking in the Philippines to keep advocates abreast on emerging trends and challenges. GLOCAL PINOY/FJ Maglalang
.. Continue: Remate.ph (source)
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