Interfaith summit in the Philippines calls for stronger action against human trafficking

By LiCAS News

The two-day Southeast Asia Interfaith Summit, organized by the Philippine Interfaith Movement Against Human Trafficking (PIMAHT), brought together representatives from major Christian, Muslim and Buddhist communities to combat modern slavery and online sexual exploitation of children.

PIMAHT, which comprises the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), the National Council of Churches of the Philippines (NCCP) and the Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches (PCEC), is at the forefront of the fight against human trafficking. human beings for over a decade.

Bishop Noel A. Pantoja, national director of PCEC, opened the summit by highlighting the progress made and the challenges ahead.

“Recent years have seen various human trafficking challenges, including online child sexual exploitation,” he said.

The prelate highlighted that PIMAHT has prioritized addressing issues such as labor trafficking, including providing support and referrals to survivors.

He also expressed gratitude for the government’s collaboration in advocacy efforts, which led to important milestones such as the passage of the Expanded Anti-Trafficking Law and the Online Anti-Sexual Abuse and Exploitation (OSAEC) Law. in 2022.

Deputy Secretary General of the CBCP, Fr. Bryand Restituto drew attention to the evolution of traffickers’ methods, particularly the misuse of technology.

“Embracing the present means being fully aware of the current trends in human trafficking that accompany online child sexual exploitation, widespread online fraud in different modes of operation that have been provoked by the illegal and illicit operations of Philippine online gaming operations or POGO victimizes both Filipinos and Asians here and abroad,” he said.

Fr. Restituto strongly condemned individuals and groups who exploit vulnerable populations, including unscrupulous businesses and even religious leaders who prey on people’s vulnerabilities.

He criticized those who make false promises, ultimately subjecting their victims to degrading and inhumane conditions that strip them of their dignity.

NCCP Secretary General Minnie Anne Mata-Calub envisioned a day when PIMAHT would no longer need to exist.

“PIMAHT which is stopping little by little. Not because we are tired of doing this work, but because we have already achieved our goal, ending human trafficking. What we ultimately want is to end human trafficking, so that everyone can be freed from this modern slavery,” she said.

Ms. Mata-Calub emphasized the need for the summit’s discussions and collaborations to inspire concrete actions beyond the event.

She emphasized that the networks, stories and strategies shared at the meeting are expected to lead to meaningful change, creating widespread impacts.

She called for a collective effort to build a future where human trafficking will no longer exist, where freedom will be recognized as a universal right and where the dignity of each person will be respected.

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