through Tiktok, Facebook, dating apps such as Badoo, Tinder, Filipina Dating
(Filipino2Meet), Foreigners Dating Filipina, as well as through cellphone. After technologyfacilitated contact, they are physically/sexually exploited. Exploiters go to their house or pick
them up (during lockdowns) or arrange for meet up. Rape or other forms of sexual violence
follows.
The victims-survivors are also harassed or blackmailed by abusers to continue to succumb to
their pressure for continued sexual exploitation, such as by threatening to post their nude
photos or videos.
Impact to Victims-Survivors:
Twenty-five of the victims-survivors are HIV positive. All of them contracted the infection
during sexual exploitation. Many suffer from complications including tuberculosis and
cancer. At least two of them had children who are also HIV positive.
Others were diagnosed with various sexually transmitted infections.
The women tell their peer facilitators of their worries, fears, and other difficulties. The
comprehensive response program of CATW-AP and partner organizations, including direct
interventions on safety, health, education of themselves and their children, livelihood, and
most especially the continuing support group healing conversations address these needs as
the victims-survivors feedback are documented.
Comprehensive Empowerment Program: Interventions
As we know, victims of violence, especially sexual violence are still silenced by the stigma
they suffer from coming out with their experience. The peer facilitators, however, prove to
be accessible to the victims-survivors, as they exude trust and respect, other than being
strategically located in the three major islands of the Philippines: Buklod in Luzon,
Empowered Women Survivors Collective and Bagong Kamalayan as nationwide
organizations, Sowing Legacy Movement in the Visayas, Lawig Bubai in Mindanao.
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