Anti-human trafficking group in Baguio pushed
>> Sunday, May 3, 2020
By Dexter A. See
BAGUIO CITY – The City Council approved on first
reading a proposed ordinance mandating the Baguio Character Council and other
organizations to form an anti-human trafficking network for the city.
The
ordinance states the city mayor shall mandate the creation of the AHTN to be
included in the program of the Baguio Character Council with the Baguio
Character Council as chair, city human resource officer as vice chair and
members to include the city legislative body, volunteer organizations working
on children’s concerns, representative from the Baguio-Benguet ecumenical group
or any faith organization, the PNP Women and children protection desk, and a
representative each from the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), the
Integrated Bar of the Philippines–Baguio-Benguet chapter, Medical Association
of the Philippines, business sector and other city government departments.
The
ordinance said members of the network shall have a term of not more than three
years, but they can serve on holdover capacity until another set of members
will be appointed and convened by the city mayor.
The
ordinance stipulated the AHTN will assist victims of human trafficking in
seeking medical, protection and legal means for peace of mind and justice
to include advocacy programs, seminars
and teaching media, and other means of promoting anti-human trafficking;
protection programs.
Medical and legal assistance the local law said, will be given to
victims of human trafficking in coordination with other stakeholders like those
conducting research on human trafficking in the city.
The groups will also recommend closure of businesses involved in human
trafficking and related activities.
The
ordinance shall be promoted widely to reach as many as possible for compliance
and awareness of the people in the city’s 128 barangays.
According
to the proposed measure, the business sector should be made aware, discourage
and prevent any business that leads to or promotes human trafficking and that
they commit not to violate anti-human trafficking laws and regulations in the
conduct their business.
The
ordinance stipulates the funding of the activities of the network shall be
sourced out by the network from activities on a co-sharing basis, however, for
the first 2 years of operation, the network may present a one-year project to
be co-funded by the city government of not more than 100,000 pesos to be part
of the Character City fund of the City Human Resource Management Office.
The
ordinance notes it is the policy of the State to penalize human trafficking and
human prostitution under Republic Act (RA) 9208, otherwise known as the
Anti-Human Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003.
RA 7610
or the Anti-Child Abuse Act specifically states that child prostitution and
sexual abuse is punishable by law.
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