PHILIPPINE EMBASSY IN KUALA LUMPUR CONDUCTS

WORKSHOP ON ANTI-HUMAN TRAFFICKING

18 October 2007 - The Philippine Embassy in Kuala Lumpur conducted a Workshop on Anti-Human Trafficking for Embassy Personnel at the Chancery on 06 October 2007.  Forty-one embassy personnel, including those from the attached agencies, participated in the Workshop.  The head of the Student Council of the Filipino Workers Resource Center-Skills Training Program (FWRC-STP) was the guest participant.

The workshop aimed to:  (1) enhance embassy procedures in dealing with cases of trafficking in persons; (2) identify areas of improvement and recommend measures to improve the provision/delivery of assistances/services to victims of trafficking; and (3) review salient points of R.A. 9208, otherwise known as the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003.

In his welcome remarks, Philippine Ambassador to Malaysia Victoriano M. Lecaros said that the workshop was envisioned to promote further awareness of trafficking issues and to provide participants the opportunity to brainstorm and suggest ways to curb and address the problem of trafficking in persons, particularly in the course of performing their duties in assisting overseas Filipinos in distress.  The workshop was also in response to the increasing number of trafficking cases that the embassy encounters.

The workshop consisted of:  (1) An Overview of the Law on Anti-Trafficking by Atty. Josephus B. Jimenez, Labor Attaché; (2) Briefing on the Inter-Agency Task Force on Trafficking by Mr. Theodore I. Libardo, Second Secretary; and (3) An Overview of Other Relevant Laws on Anti-Trafficking and on the General Protection of Migrant Workers by Atty. Shirlene C. Mananquil, Third Secretary and Vice Consul.  Group discussions and role-playing exercises followed the presentations.

Among the courses of further action the workshop generated were the creation of a “case reception desk” that will facilitate handling of cases, the development of a comprehensive standard interview form and case referral procedures, and enhanced coordination with immigration and other local authorities.  END

/esgret