THE Department of Justice-led Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) yesterday launched a grassroots-level campaign against human trafficking in the country.
Aside from the DOJ, the other member agencies of IACAT are the Departments of Foreign Affairs, Interior and Local Government, Social Welfare and Development, Philippine National Police, National Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Immigration and various non-government organizations.
Dubbed the “Barangay IACAT 2.0,” the program was formally launched in Antipolo City, with Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla saying it is aimed at “informing, empowering and engaging communities to join the fight against human trafficking.
“This will also empower the community as a whole to prioritize prevention over reactive measures versus human traffickers, fostering a sense of collective responsibility among residents that they can make a difference,” Remulla added.
The program intends to utilize a community-based approach to fighting trafficking-in-persons and educating local officials and citizens on how to prevent or respond to human trafficking situations within their communities.
“The crusade to eradicate human trafficking starts with us, within the solitude of our own homes and communities. Through our unity, collective efforts and shared wisdom, we become the most formidable foes whom human predators shall never defeat,” Remulla added.
Earlier, the DOJ said a whole-of-nation approach is needed to combat the scourge of human trafficking, adding that while IACAT has been relentless in its campaign against human trafficking, especially those who exploit children, the elderly and other vulnerable persons, the government cannot do it alone.
The department said the whole-of-approach involves the citizenry, non-government organizations, business corporations such as telecommunication companies and international partners, working together to end modern-day slavery.
Last year, Remulla warned Internet Service Providers (ISPs) that if they refused to cooperate in tracking down human traffickers, particularly of minors, the government may go after and sue them for online sexual abuse and exploitation of children.
Under Republic Act 9775 or the Anti-Child Pornography Act of 2009, ISPs are required to install software that will block access to or transmittal of any form of child pornography on the internet.
This even as the country retained its Tier 1 ranking in the 2024 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report released by the US State Department.
Countries on Tier 1 ranking – the highest ranking – are those which meet the minimum standards for the elimination of human trafficking with the governments showing serious and sustained efforts to convict more human traffickers, identify victims and improve efforts to prevent more victims.
The Philippines has maintained its Tier 1 ranking since 2016.
The annual report “provides the world’s most comprehensive assessment of this abhorrent practice, as well as efforts by governments and stakeholders around the globe to combat it” with 188 countries measured.
