One of the recommendations of the interviewed respondents is to continue rescuing abused
children. This huge responsibility is expected from law enforcement agencies in coordination
with social workers and other anti-trafficking partners to create an environment that will
encourage victims to report trafficking cases. Moreover, the manner of rescue and through
governmental and non-governmental efforts shall be assessed and improved, especially in
reducing the feeling of fear and insecurity of the child survivors who may have been separated
from their parents temporarily during the rescue. Improvement of rescue protocols shall also
be considered.
Conducting anti-trafficking awareness-raising activities such as seminars and trainings are
deemed useful by the respondents in preventing more trafficking cases among children. It
must be noted that some respondents revealed that their lack of knowledge over the crime
of trafficking and their inherent vulnerabilities as minors were identified as root causes of
trafficking.
Sustainable livelihood assistance, as recommended by some respondents, may be included in
the programs catered to trafficking survivors. Considering that most survivors come from lowincome families, it will help the survivors and their families to cope effectively during the
pendency of their cases.
Coordination with foreign jurisdictions, including the identification of suspected traffickers,
shall continue because of the continuing demand of digital or online sexual content of Filipino
children by foreigners. Considering that Philippines has been tagged as the global epicenter
of livestream sexual abuse trade and that most identified suspects or perpetrators are
foreigners, this matter shall be taken seriously. In the past, Children’s Legal Bureau has
worked with foreign authorities such as the Australian Police, the U.S. Federal Bureau of
Investigation, among others.
Similar to the prioritized recommendations under the latest Trafficking in Persons Report by
the U.S. State Department, there must be increased support to government and NGO
programs that provide specialized care for trafficking victims. Amendments to the domestic
ATIP law shall also boost recovery and reintegration programs, provide focus on specialized
care for survivors, and other forms of assistance.
There must also be a need to address the concerns of rescued children while they are placed
at government or accredited private shelters, including visitation rights of families, mental
health programs for children, and more child-sensitive handling of rescued children.
Support must also continue to pour in programs initiated by NGOs in assisting trafficking
survivors, including those that provide legal services, education, shelter, and recovery and
reintegration.
Multi-sectoral efforts to address trafficking shall continue, including the collaborative efforts
of the so-called five pillars of justice- prosecution, corrections, courts, law enforcement, and
the community, including non-government organizations.
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