US raps RP anti-human trafficking efforts
WASHINGTON D.C - (UPDATE) United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton urged countries with serious human trafficking problems, including the Philippines, to work harder to overcome what the US sees as a growing menace from modern-day slavery.
The Philippines landed in the Tier 2 watch list, precariously close to falling to the Tier 3 category which lumps countries that fail to meet the minimum standards of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA).
Secretary Clinton released here today (June 14) the US State Department’s 2010 Trafficking in Persons report.
Tier 2 countries, according to US definition, “do not fully comply with TVPA minimum standards but are making significant efforts to bring themselves into compliance with those standards.”
However, they place certain Tier 2 countries in a “watch list” because the number of victims is “very significant or is significantly increasing”, failure of governments to demonstrate improving efforts to curb human trafficking, or where “significant efforts” to comply with the TVPA are at the moment, just promises.
“Although progress has undoubtedly been made against this global phenomenon, there is more work to do,” said Secretary Clinton.
“While trafficking victims include men and boys, today, the majority of human trafficking victims worldwide are women and girls, and that number is growing,” added Undersecretary of State for Democracy & Global Affairs Maria Otero.
No proof RP gov’t is doing enough
In the Philippines, up to 70 percent of victims are reportedly women. Various estimates show their numbers range from 300,000 to 400,000 – about 100,000 of them children. They are reportedly trafficked for labor and sexual exploitation to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Malaysia, Hongkong, Singapore, Japan, South Africa, North America and Europe.
The Philippines has been classified a Tier 2 country since 2007, but this was the second straight year it’s been on the watch list. The State Department has been coming out with the report since 2000 (for only the first time, the US included itself in the list – a Tier 1 that means it’s in full compliance with TVPA’s minimum standards).
The State Department was critical of the Philippine performance in all three benchmarks--prevention, protection and prosecution.
“Though the government filed several labor trafficking cases for prosecution, it has never convicted any offenders of labor trafficking,” the report noted.
“Despite overall efforts, the government did not show evidence of significant progress in convicting trafficking offenders, particularly those responsible for labor trafficking,” it concluded.
However, it did acknowledge the 2009 conviction of a policeman who was first arrested in 2005 after he was found employing minors in his Manila nightclubs, and subsequently sentenced to life imprisonment, but that lone conviction paled amid the enormity of the problem,
“Law enforcement agencies referred 228 alleged trafficking cases to the Philippine Department of Justice of which prosecutors initiated 206 cases, a significant increase from the previous year. However, only eight individuals in five sex trafficking cases were convicted during the year, including two individuals who remain at large.”
Corruption, poor courts blamed
“Widespread corruption and an inefficient judicial system continue to severely limit the prosecution of trafficking cases,” the report said.
It noted that 380 trafficking cases are pending or still locked in litigation in various Philippine courts.
“Corruption remained pervasive in the Philippines, and there were reports that officials in government units and agencies assigned to enforce laws against human trafficking permitted trafficking offenders to conduct illegal activities, either tacitly or explicitly,” the report said.
“While the government encouraged victims to assist in the investigation and prosecution of trafficking crimes, extreme poverty, fear of retaliation by traffickers and the government’s lack of victim and witness protection through the lengthy trial process caused many victims to decline cooperation and recant testimony. Some applications for witness protection were still pending with the Department of Justice more a year after being filed.”
Noynoy to inherit problem
The US wants the Philippine government – a problem the Arroyo administration bequeaths to incoming President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III – to work harder at “efficiently investigating, prosecution and convicting both labor and sex trafficking offenders involved in the trafficking of Filipinos in the country and abroad.”
The report also recommended the Philippines gets tougher on throwing more illegal traffickers in jail, especially government officials who may be in cahoots or coddling illegal traffickers; invest more in victim and witness protection, including providing shelters; increase efforts to engage foreign governments where Filipinos go to find work in the investigation and prosecution of trafficking offenders; review its program to address domestic labor trafficking; and, boost the education of law enforcers, social service officials, prosecutors and judges on the use of the 2003 Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act.
“Slavery,” said Undersecretary Otero, “is the most extreme form of depriving a person of the ability to pursue his or her God-given potential. But as horrible as this human rights abuse may be, there is hope yet.
For a country like the Philippines, which receives millions of dollars in aid from the US every year, failing to make the grade could have repercussions on its ability to continue to avail of this help.
But even without US prodding, the Philippines needs to address the growing crisis of labor and sexual trafficking, both at home and abroad where over 10 million of its citizens live and work, and are often vulnerable.
Secretary Clinton stressed that “ending this global scourge is an important policy priority for the United States.”
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Jake-assJaloslosjosjos PALOS
Sus ginooo grabe kabati sa imong nawong murag unggoy. Kun mag komento dinhi murag kabalo tanan pero hungaw ang utok bakukang ang sulod. Hoy bisdak sugbuanon pag-uban mo si Teban ug Goliat. Maayo ka lapdosan ug init nga mantika HAHAHAHA....
@JakeJalosjos
Kinsay Isug! Asa sa Cebu, tsuy? Lisud ning estoryahon ang uban nga kabayan....mga utok murag bulinaw...lol.
@Psylom
You don't have to be white or black to be an American. It's the principles that they believed that makes you one from any race or nationality. Such is why they have their own internal issues since not all can agree, but it's democracy. No one is perfect......but as Joe Bidden stated once....it's not perfect but it's the best thing we have ( the Constitution).
Laughable...there is nothing wrong with the Ozone layer silly. Whoever sold you that pitch? Al Gore...hahaha! And true that there are American citizen who are involve in trafficking, however your argument is moot since the point that the US is making is none has been prosecuted, where in the US they will be paying a high price if they get caught.
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"They promote themselves as the champion of freedom and democracy. But there is nothing democratic about invading a sovereign country like Iraq with a pitiful excuse such as possesion of WMD which until now has not been found."
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Saddam use it on the Kurd's, dummy. Get your facts right if you are going to criticize someone. Were you there to say it's pitiful when we ousted Saddam Hussein? Maybe you should look through my eyes. What about Kuwait's liberation from Iraq? Here is a list of countries the US has liberated from oppression:
Eastern China
Indochina (even though it went back to the french)
Thailand
Burma (British played a major role in this)
Japan itself who was being run by an emporer
Indonesia(even thought it went back tot he Dutch)
Soloman Islands
New Guiniea
Morocco
Germany
France
Algeria(even though french took it back)
Kuwait ( even though many nations invovled no one would have done it if the US has not been involved
Iraq (coalition but as the liberals keep saying the US has taken 90% of the costs and the war wouldnt have happened if the US had not decided to do it. PS i dont remember seeing any other troops taking part in the capture of Baghdad)
Afghanistan (same case as Iraq)
Panama (we removed a dictator enough said)
Texas, when it was independent and occupied by Mexicans
In Korea the UN would not have fought without US troops
Cuba in Span-Amer war because it was given rights of a US territory
Peurto Rico(same as above)
Philippines(same as above)
Most Eastern Europeans credit the fall of Communism to Ronald Reagan but i know you all probably find that statement "outrageous"
With this info, do you know how many Americans have died liberating other countries just because no one has the balls to do it? Sure there will always be some discrepancy in the manner of how it's done, but it's always been corrected. Why? because we are ruled by law and we understand of these. I don't think the US particularly like to assert our beliefs in force, however we do promote it since the great experiment has been a great success, I think.
Here is an excerpt of foreign economic aid; For example, U.S. foundations gave more -- in money, time, goods and expertise -- than 11 of the 22 developed-country governments each gave in 2005, and U.S. private voluntary organizations totaled more than the governments of Japan, the United Kingdom, Germany and France each.
Washington — The United States is the single largest donor of foreign economic aid, but, unlike many other developed nations, Americans prefer to donate their money through the private sector, according to a new report published by a Washington research organization.
Of the $122.8 billion of foreign aid provided by Americans in 2005 (the most current data available), $95.5 billion, or 79 percent, came from private foundations, corporations, voluntary organizations, universities, religious organizations and individuals, says the annual Index of Global Philanthropy.
Read more: http://www.america.gov/st/foraid-english/2007/May/20070524165115zjsredna...
All these because someone has to do it. Noooo, I don't think the US wants to dictate to anyone in how to live their lives or how to govern, it would be unconstitutional for the US to do so and contradictory to our beliefs. However, in my opinion, they would like to see the rest of the world to stand up to the responsibility and to be counted. After all, We The People can't be the sole provider forever. Teach them how to fish my friend....that's all. And for the main time, someone has to do the dirty work so we all could live peacefully with our differences. Else, if you live in the US and don't like it........you always have the option to leave.
@ Psylom
Wow! you really are in denial.. I’m not an American you dumb f*ck. I live in Cebu and I’ve never been to the U.S.
I could care less about what the U.S. has done. So, spare me the history lesson cause I just don’t care. Again, I just don’t care about what the Americans have done in their history. What they have done in their history and what you’re rambling about what they did to the Ozone (China has the higher Carbon emission by the way – so check your facts stupid), or in Iraq is irrelevant to the issue of human trafficking and corruption in the Philippines. The issue here is not about U.S. history. The issue and the question is, IS THERE A HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND CORRUPTION PROBLEM IN THE PHILIPPINES? YES, OUR COUNTRY IS INFESTED BY CORRUPT OFFICIALS. What’s your answer to that? Yes, it’s real. If you think otherwise, then you’re just another ignorant prick.
Our government doesn’t listen to us the ordinary citizens when we call them out of issues like corruption. When foreign countries especially a powerful ally calls our government out for being corrupt, our government gets embarrassed and is likely to do something. A LOT OF TIMES PEOPLE DON'T SEE THROUGH THEIR OWN PROBLEMS UNTIL SOMEONE TELLS THEM THEY HAVE A PROBLEM!
On the other hand, why do I expect so much of you knowing you have a very very tiny brain that you don't see the real picture of the problems in the Philippines. YOU BASHING CLINTON AND THE AMERICANS DOESN’T SOLVE AND HIDE THE FACTS THAT HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND CORRUPTION IS A PROBLEM PLAGUING THE PHILIPPINES. INSTEAD OF RANTING ABOUT THE AMERICANS, WHAT YOU SHOULD DO IS SHARE YOUR OPINION ON HOW THE PROBLEMS IN OUR COUNTRY CAN BE SOLVED. Again, your rant against Clinton doesn’t hide the problems in our country nor does it solve it.
Wake up and smell the smoky mountains dude. If you can smell the stench of the streets of country, you know we have a big f*cking problem. And you’re talking about being proud? Proud of what? The Philippines being corrupt? I just hope Aquino is not like you who's in denial and refuses to listen and accept facts of a real problem in our country.
@JakeJalosjos you RETARD!
Your beloved race, the Americans has a knack of meddling with the affairs of other countries and Filipinos are always ready to believe them. That is my point.
Who destroyed the Ozone layer? The Americans of course, what will all those Atomic testing since the 50's.
Are American citizens not involved in human trafficking? You'll be a moron if you think otherwise.
They promote themselves as the champion of freedom and democracy. But there is nothing democratic about invading a sovereign country like Iraq with a pitiful excuse such as possesion of WMD which until now has not been found.
Do you see my point @JakeJalosjos? The Americans does not do what they preach. They can only see the faults of others but they don't see theirs. And yet Filipinos will believe everything they say. A lot of Filipinos will even kiss the ground they walk on.
On the other hand, why do I expect so much of you knowing you have a very very tiny brain that you don't see the bigger picture. Dumb f*ck you call me? I call you TANGA! I call you GAGO! I call you ULOL! I call you TARANTADO!
Go to your beloved Americans ASSHOLE! And stay THERE!
I wont repeat what JakeJalosjos said...hehee
by Psylom on Tue, 06/15/2010 - 08:45
5
To Clinton,
How're you doin with the oil spill? Got any luck sealing it? You see the problems of other countries but you fail to see your own.
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@JakeJalosjos
Well said....lol
@Psylom
We don't assist the situation in the US, but they certainly help us in our hour of needs. You see how ungrateful we are? In addition, many Americans have ways of making things right the wrong in any situation. In which we in another hand are just starting to realize what a Du...F....we are...lol....as JakeJalosjos....said. Hahaha!
She's my President and she is a very smart and calculative woman....I will always admire her zeal. Although I question her support for the current puppet......but I supposed there's a price for loyalty to the party. Where I feel that country must come first.
This is a wake up call. And
This is a wake up call. And it's not just a random statement that came out of nowhere without any practical, real-world implication. The report came from our OWN government's report to the US Department of State. We have to report because billions of dollars of aid are tied-up with this report. This is our second consecutive year in Tier 2 Watchlist, next year if we don't improve, we will fall into Tier 3.
Falling into Tier 3 means that all non-humanitarian aid will be cut off. So it means no roads in Mindanao, no more funds for schools, no more start-up capital for small businesses - people have NO IDEA how much money is tied up with this report.
And trafficking is really a major problem. I'm not even sure why there are very few people and institutions devoted to combating this menace. Read the report and you will see that our government does not allocate any funds to fight trafficking. ZERO. NADA. And it affects thousands of Filipinos every year (In Zamboanga, hundreds of Flipinos are being shipped WEEKLY our of Malaysia treated as criminals where in fact they are victims of trafficking).
For more info about human trafficking, go to www.visayanforum.org
@Psylom
She's the Secretary of State you dumb f*ck. That's what she does... Foreign Affairs..
A foreigner calls the Philippines out on human trafficking, so what? It is a real problem in the Philippines. Does it make a difference if it was American that said it? What if it was British diplomat that said what Clinton said? Does it make a difference for you?
If you think the Philippines doesn't have a problem with human trafficking, you're more delusional than an acid tripper. Seriously dude.
Pride and loyalty for our countrymen? Do you mean like corrupt politicians and government officials who aren't doing anything on human trafficking and all the problems plaguing our country? There is nothing to proud about that stupid.
I'm glad we have foreigners calling us out because our government seem to be immune when we the Filipinos call it out. Face it our government doesn't listen to us.
So how's your beloved government officials doing with corruption problems that we have? Got any luck stopping it?
Wake up to reality dude.
Can we at least have a little
Can we at least have a little loyalty, a little pride for our countrymen? Why do we have to believe everything these foreigners say? The Americans themselves are not immune to these problems. They got their own human rights violations starting way back Vietnam War and recently in Iraq.
The U.S even supported a chemical warfare back in the Iran Iraq war where they were still friends with Saddam Hussein.
And now they're telling us to step up the effort?
At times like these, nakakahiyang maging Pilipino dahil tayo mismo, nakikinig agad sa dayuhan at sinisiraan ang kapwa natin.
To Clinton, How're you doin
To Clinton,
How're you doin with the oil spill? Got any luck sealing it? You see the problems of other countries but you fail to see your own.