CEBU CITY, Cebu (PIA) — Sexual exploitation cases in Central Visayas remain a primary concern with more cases recorded in 2023 compared to previous years.
According to Xhelxea Francesca Lerios, secretariat of Inter-Agency Council on Anti-Trafficking 7 (IACAT 7) Violence Against Women and Children (VAWC), the number of cases involving sexual exploitation for 2023 is twice as high as the data in 2022 and 2021.
“For 2023, in DSWD alone, we have rescued 58 survivors of Anti-Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children (OSAEC), most of them minors. Their average age is 10 to 14, with the youngest being 4 years old,” said Lerios during the Kapihan sa PIA interview on July 31.
She said the increase in the number of cases may also be attributed to increased public awareness on OSAEC, resulting to more people reporting cases to authorities.
“I believe it’s on the reporting system kay karon naa na’y nagpakabana, nagreport na sa barangay or sa police station women’s protection desk kay saona more on referrals ra sa abroad. Karon naa na’y moreport sa DSWD so, ang challenge na ron kay ang unreported,” she said.
(I believe it’s due to the reporting system. Now, people are more proactive, reporting to barangays or police station women’s protection desks, whereas before, most referrals came from abroad. Now, more reports come to the DSWD, so the challenge now is the unreported cases.)
DSWD provides psycho-social counseling to the victims, temporary shelters, and protective custody.
The psycho-social counseling assesses the extent of the child’s trauma to ensure that proper treatment and support are given.
Labor trafficking
Aside from sexual exploitation, labor trafficking also continues to be a concern in the region occurring both locally and abroad.
DSWD 7 catered to five cases of labor trafficking as reported by the Department of Migrant Workers and 146 cases as reported by the Bangsamoro Ministry of Social Services and Development.
Lerios said DSWD has the Recovery and Reintegration Program for Trafficked Persons (RRPTP), which provides a comprehensive package of services, including temporary shelter, psycho-social counselling, skills training, and various forms of assistance such as transportation, financial, medical, and educational for the trafficking victims.
Livelihood assistance is also provided.
World Day Against Trafficking
World Day against Trafficking is observed on July 30 to raise awareness on human trafficking and to advocate for the protection and rights of trafficking victims.
She emphasized that the observance is a call for everyone to be involved and be proactive, especially in reporting cases of trafficking and exploitation.
This year’s theme, “Leave No Child Behind in the Fight Against Human Trafficking,” emphasizes raising awareness of the causes and vulnerabilities related to child trafficking.
Lerios explained that human trafficking could be through sex trafficking, forced labor, domestic servitude, and even organ trafficking.
“In simple terms, mao ni ang pampamaligya sa tao for exploitative purposes. Common example is imu gidala ang tao from one place to another para pahimuslan,” said Lerios.
(In simple terms, it is the selling of people for exploitative purposes. A common example is when a person is taken from one place to another to be exploited).
DSWD serves as the co-chair of the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking. (MYP/PIA7 Cebu)
