Activities implementing US-PHL child protection
compact launched
BUTUAN CITY, Oct. 24 – The United States (US)
Embassy in Manila and the Philippines’ Department of Justice Inter-agency
Council Against Trafficking (DOJ-IACAT) announced the launch of activities to
implement the US-PHL Child Protection Compact (CPC) partnership, signed in
Manila earlier this year 2017 by US ChargΓ© d’Affaires Michael S. Klecheskiand,
and DOJ Secretary Justice Vitaliano N. Aguirre II.
The State Department’s Office to Monitor and Combat
Trafficking in Persons (TIP Office) led the negotiations for the US and awarded
$3.5 million (P175 million) to two implementing partners: International Justice
Mission (IJM) and The Salvation Army World Service Office. The IACAT led the
CPC partnership negotiations for the Philippine government and intends to
provide $784,000 (P40 million) to support the partnership’s objectives. The TIP
Office will continue to work with IACAT and other participating departments
during the partnership’s four-year implementation period. Activities will focus
primarily in the National Capital Region (Manila) and Central Visayas.
The CPC Partnership is the first of its kind in the
region and will support sustainable improvements in the capacity of the
Philippine government and civil society to combat online sexual exploitation of
children and child labor trafficking, to expand specialized child protection
services and prevention efforts, and to improve coordination among duty bearers
in responsible agencies.
“Ending the threat of child trafficking is a
priority for our government and we are committed to further enhancing
inter-agency coordination to investigate and prosecute this crime and expand
comprehensive services for child trafficking victims through this partnership,”
commented Prosecutor Darlene Pajarito, Executive Director of the Department of
Justice’s IACAT.
As CPC partnership implementing partners, IJM and
The Salvation Army have begun working collaboratively with the government of
the Philippines and other civil society organizations to support the
government’s efforts to investigate, prosecute, and convict child traffickers;
provide comprehensive, trauma-informed care for child victims of these crimes;
and prevent online sexual exploitation of children and forced child labor from
occurring.
For instance, IJM will build on the model it has
developed alongside the Philippine government for investigation and prosecution
of online sexual exploitation of children and increased protection for
children. Activities will focus on geographical hotspots for online sexual
exploitation of children and will result in strengthened criminal deterrence
and protection for vulnerable children in the target regions and nationally.
In addition, IJM and other implementing partners
will work closely with the government to expand sustainable long-term care for
child victims of online sexual exploitation by investing in foster care systems
for recovering survivors. IJM and its partners will also provide technical
support to local government units and other partners to strengthen existing
community-based mechanisms for preventing, identifying, and protecting child
victims of online sexual exploitation and labor trafficking.
The Salvation Army and local implementing partners
will develop and strengthen systems for comprehensive care of child survivors
of online sexual exploitation in Manila and Central Visayas. Its work will
include supporting social workers and other stakeholders to identify child
victims of online sexual exploitation and strengthen comprehensive service
delivery for survivors, with a focus on enhancing psychosocial care and legal
services. The program will increase the availability of much needed shelter and
comprehensive services for child victims of online sexual exploitation.
“This partnership represents a unique opportunity
for the United States to partner with the government of the Philippines on an
issue of highest importance – building a better future for vulnerable Filipino
children,” said US Ambassador Sung Kim. (U.S. Embassy/PIA-Caraga)
