FILIPINO Catholic bishops have joined the international war against human trafficking, including predatory sexual abuse online victimizing Filipino children.
In a statement, the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) designated today and every first Sunday of February of the year, as the National Day of Prayer and Awareness Against Human Trafficking.
“We continuously commit ourselves to journey and collaborate with the survivors who are involved and would be involved in promoting and protecting their dignity by helping to eradicate, if not reduce this syndicated crime against humanity,” the CBCP Cluster Against Human Trafficking said in a statement.
Filipino children abused online
The CBCP noted that during the pandemic, cases of human trafficking have “sharply increased” and spread to digital platforms.
It cited government data that 784,000 Filipinos were victims of human trafficking, including 60,000-100,000 children in labor or sex trafficking. Of this number, the CBCP stressed, 5,000 children aged below 15 years.
“We are the largest known source of online sexual exploitation of children (OSEC) in which traffickers are often parents or close relatives operating from home to sexually exploit children in live internet broadcast in exchange for compensations wired from overseas.
“In 2020, 1.2 million OSEC cases have been reported to IACAT, the inter-agency body mandated to address trafficking, an increase of 265% cases reported from 2019, many of the children are reported to be less than 12 years old,” the CBCP said.
republicasia had earlier reported a series on sex abuse involving minors, many of them perpetuated openly in social media websites.
Poverty drives people to sell own children
The Catholic leaders acknowledged that poverty and vulnerability are forcing people to be victims of sexual exploitation. Aside from sex trafficking, many were victims of labor exploitation, early or forced marriages, begging, selling of organs and children being recruited as child soldiers.
Political, cultural, spiritual and environmental crises also contribute to these rampant abuses, which Pope Francis called “crimes against humanity.”
“We sympathized and journeyed with the survivors to flee to safety and security, and hopefully outwit the fascination of the business due to huge resources of syndicates that can buy or bribe state securities and can use high-level technologies for recruitment and exploitation of victims,” they said.
1st Sunday of Feb as Day vs Trafficking
Designating the National Day of Prayer and Awareness Against Human Trafficking every Sunday of February, the Church hopes that the faithful would be more aware about the dangers and protect their families and communities against trafficking.
This noon, Pasig Bishop and CBCP Vice President Mylo Vergara led a mass at Archdiocesan Shrine of Mary, Queen of Peace (EDSA Shrine). Anti-human trafficking advocates also attended.
All dioceses nationwide were also expected to celebrate the NDPAHT.
Materials such as reflection, suggested prayers, candle lighting, short liturgy, and post-communion prayer have been sent to bishops in all dioceses so priests can include them in the masses in their parishes today, February 5, the CBCP said.
More action vs human trafficking
Aside from conducting the NDPAHT celebration, the Philippine Catholic Church will also be increasing its action programs against human trafficking. It called on all dioceses to form a Diocesan and Parish Committee Against Human Trafficking.
The CBCP Cluster Against Human Trafficking will also engage in research to trace and track down areas where human trafficking is rampant.
“We aim to develop capacity and structure in dioceses, in the spirit of respect for human dignity and human rights, and journeying in inter-ministeriality, to respond to the situation that the local communities face,” the CBCP said.
As bishops reach out to more communities against human trafficking, it also called on:
- President Marcos Jr, Philippine lawmakers and state securities to support and strengthen the IACAT in providing the “necessary services and assistance to victims and survivors, to be protected from any form of exploitations and address the social impact of human trafficking;”
- all people to actively participate in any education-seminar activity to increase awareness on the issue.
“Let us be together in this journey to protect the dignity of humanity, especially the people that God loves, the poor and the vulnerable,” the CBCP said.
