Manning agencies told to intensify info drive on child porn, sexual violence

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THE Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) yesterday advised manning agencies deploying seafarers to cruise ships to strengthen their re-departure orientation seminars by including modules on issues of child pornography and sexual violence.

The DMW said it received reports of increasing incidents of arrest and detention of Filipino seafarers working aboard cruise ships in the United States due to child pornography and sex-related offenses.

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“The DMW is an active member of the IACAT and we do not tolerate any forms of exploitation of children, much especially if the circumstances involve our Filipino seafarers,” Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Cacdac said in a statement.

Last May, several Filipino cruise ship workers were arrested and detained in Florida in the US for possession and transport of child pornography.

The DMW said US federal and state laws criminalize the production or promotion of child pornography and prosecute individuals, who possess, view, transport, and distribute child pornography even if committed within private areas.

The DMW also stressed that sexual violence toward minors and adults including rape, touching of private parts, voyeurism, exhibitionism, and undesired exposure to pornography, among others, are considered felonies under US laws.

Manning agencies and principals, it added, are mandated to cooperate with law enforcement authorities that are investigating allegations of child pornography and other sex-related offenses.

The Department said all Filipino seafarers are expected to conduct themselves in the most professional, responsible, and ethical manner during their employment, and that they are duty-bound to respect host country mores, customs, traditions, and laws.

The DMW also reminded seafarers to not download, possess, view, transport, distribute, nor sell child pornography, as well as subscribe to child pornography sites.

It also said Filipino seafarers should never involve themselves in a situation that may lead to commission of sexual violence.

“The DMW is an active member of the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT), and we do not tolerate any forms of exploitation of children, much especially if the circumstances involve our Filipino seafarers,” said Cacdac. 

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