DFA JOINS 1^ST NATIONAL ANTI-HUMAN TRAFFICKING CONFERENCE 

18 September 2006 — The Department of Foreign Affairs, through the DFA Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs (DFA-OUMWA), joins other Government agencies which are part of the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) in organizing the “First National Conference on Anti-Human Trafficking” on 20-22 September 2006 at the Manila Pavilion.         

Around 180 key players and stakeholders in the Government’s national anti-trafficking program are expected to participate. At this event, they will assess and determine initial progress in the implementation of the national strategic action plan, identify priority activities/ measures for the next four years, and facilitate the sharing and exchange of success stories and practical experiences in addressing trafficking in persons, and document them as good practices. 

Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs Esteban B. Conejos, Jr. underscored the importance of participating in the activity, on account of the more than eight million Filipinos working and living overseas. “OUMWA continues to be actively involved in IACAT programs in pursuit of its mandate to protect the welfare and provide protection for migrant Filipino workers and other nationals in distress abroad,” Undersecretary Conejos said. 

“Through the IACAT – the body created by law to coordinate and monitor the implementation of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003 (Republic Act 9208) – the country has made modest yet significant achievements in combating trafficking in persons and in protecting the rights of trafficked persons,” Conejos added. 

Undersecretary Conejos further noted that human trafficking is a negative consequence of international migration, which is perpetrated by syndicated transnational groups operating within and outside geographical boundaries. Human trafficking is one of the most abhorrent transnational crimes. 

“This first national conference seeks to sustain, improve and hasten the implementation of Republic Act 9208, both at the national and local levels,” the Undersecretary remarked. “We look forward to a more systematic, coordinated and synchronized approach, as well as generate commitments from various sectors including funding organizations in fast-tracking the implementation of anti-trafficking initiatives.”  END

/jay

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