Victim-Centered Counter-Trafficking Project is launched in Tacloban City
IOM Philippines and the US State Department rejoin forces to combat human trafficking On Monday 20 October, IOM launched a new joint project called “Victim-Centered Counter-Trafficking Awareness in Typhoon Haiyan Affected Areas in the Visayas” in cooperation with the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT), and the United States State Department Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons (J/TIP) through the US Embassy in Manila. The key objective of this project is to improve access to referral channels for people affected by the typhoon. IOM will conduct awareness-raising campaigns in Tacloban City, Ormoc and Cebu, in order to strengthen the technical and operational capacity of key service providers. Through these activities, they will gain skills to identify and assist victims of trafficking and enhance direct assistance The launch event was attended by several government representatives such as the Mayor of Tacloban City, the Regional Director of Department of Social Welfare and Development, and a representative from the Bureau of Immigration, amongst others. The US Ambassador Philip S. Goldberg highlighted the importance of the partnership with IOM and the Philippine Government in the fight against human trafficking and he is thankful for the collaboration of local civil society, government agencies and IOM in responding quickly to this challenge in the aftermath of the super Typhoon Haiyan. IOM Philippines Chief of Mission Marco Boasso commented on the importance of working in partnership against human trafficking, especially in Haiyan affected communities, where IOM has already served over 1,600 individuals with psychosocial support and over 60,000 individuals with information and education on the expanded law and available services Over the past nine years, IOM has supported more than 450 projects including law enforcement training, comprehensive victim services, and raising public awareness. In the Philippines, IOM is an active member of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee Gender-Based Violence-Area of Responsibility, and the IACAT-Advocacy and Communications group.
Map of Tacloban© IOM 2014
Left to right, Tacloban’s City Mayor, US Ambassador and IOM’s Chief of Mission© IOM 2014
PREVENTION: AWARENESS RAISING
CT AND GBV ORIENTATION
32, 916
Individuals Oriented
Community Advocacy Event
6,470
Participants from the community
IOM’s protection activities for Haiyan affected areas as of 15 October 2014 © IOM 2014
IOM Philippines | Tel: +63 2 230 1999 | E-mail: iomphilippines@iom.int| Website: Http://philippineresponse.iom.int |Twitter: @IOM_Philippines
Issued 21 October 2014