“USAID, private sector consortium launch ‘counter trafficking in persons’ project in Cebu”
By Minerva Newman
Photo retrieved from https://ph.usembassy.gov/us-government-launches-php-153-million-project-to-support-philippine-efforts-to-counter-human-trafficking/
CEBU CITY – The US Agency for International Development (USAID), in partnership with a local private sector consortium, launched Monday here the “Strength Counter Trafficking in Persons” (CTIP) project that aims to strengthen local systems and partnerships for more effective and sustainable implementation of the CTIP in the Philippines.
US Ambassador Sung Kim said in his keynote message that the US was re-affirming its commitment to end modern day slavery with the launch of the CTIP, adding that more than P150 million ($3 million) have been allocated for the project through the USAID in three years’ time.
Kim said working with the USAID and the Partnership for Development Assistance in the Philippines (PDAP), the US and the Philippine governments will support the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT), its counterpart councils at the local level, civil society organizations, and the private sector in providing interventions across the four counter-trafficking strategy pillars– prevention, protection, prosecution, and partnerships.
“The US government is among the largest donors in combating trafficking-in-persons worldwide,” Kim said. He added that, in January, US was commemorating the 20th anniversary of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act, which brought the full power and attention of the U.S government to bear in confronting global trafficking. Kim bared that the US has also created the annual congressionally-mandated Trafficking in Persons report, that serves as a call to action for governments around the world to better understand the trafficking within their countries and use best practices to eradicate this global scourge.
He congratulated the Philippines for maintaining the Tier 1 ranking in the report for the fourth consecutive time which acknowledges the Philippines’ strong commitment in addressing this problem.
According to the Ambassador the USAID’s Strength CTIP activity complements the ongoing assistance provided by the US Department of State and the Philippines government’s Child Protection Compact Partnership, as well as with the State Department’s Program to End Modern Slavery project.
“Our assistance through these three programs totals almost P510 million pesos or more than $10 million to combat trafficking in the Philippines,” Kim said, and he was also please to note that the Philippines has proactive civil society working on this important issue.
Kim encouraged the business sector partners to look and find ways to prevent their supply chains from indirectly supporting traffickers. Strong partnerships among stakeholders are critical to achieve results in the areas of protection, prosecution and prevention, he added.
The local private sector consortium in Cebu that will implement the CTIP project includes the partnership among the three civil society organizations namely, Children’s Legal Bureau (CLB), Bidlisiw Foundation, Inc. (BFI) and the Fellowship for Organizing Endeavors (FORGE) that work together to achieve results in protection, prosecution and prevention.
Source: Newman, M. (2020, January 28) USAID, private sector consortium launch ‘counter trafficking in persons’ project in Cebu. Retrieved from https://news.mb.com.ph/2020/01/28/usaid-private-sector-consortium-launch-counter-trafficking-in-persons-project-in-cebu/.
Official release from U.S. Embassy in the Philippines: https://ph.usembassy.gov/us-government-launches-php-153-million-project-to-support-philippine-efforts-to-counter-human-trafficking/