Program to address seafarers’ trafficking bared
The technical working group formed to address the trafficking of fishers and seafarers has recommended to the recently-concluded 8th Manila International dialogue on human trafficking the development of indicators to facilitate victim identification.
The presentation was made after 19 foreign governments, through its missions in the Philippines and the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking chaired by Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin "Boying" Remulla as well as multilateral organizations, and other international and local civil society organizations signed the Manila declaration to Enhance International Cooperation to Combat Trafficking in Persons.
The fishers and seafarers TWG cited in its report that the lack of established international and domestic law indicators for trafficking of fishers has led to challenges in victim identification.
In its report, the TWG cited a case wherein Filipino fishers found in precarious situations in territories outside the Philippines are assisted by the relevant Philippine embassy or consulate.
The report cited a recent case of a missing Filipino fisher who was found afloat at sea by a Vietnamese fishing vessel. The Philippine embassy in Hanoi also provided welfare and repatriation assistance to the fisher.
It was disclosed that the information on the missing Filipino fisher was first received by the Philippine embassy from the Philippine Coast Guard.
Likewise, the second recommendation of the TWG was to capacitate and train Philippine government agencies that will act as primary responders to potential trafficking-of-fishers cases.
These include social welfare workers, immigration officers, embassy and consulate officials, and prosecutors among others.
Third, develop a streamlined government referral mechanism for trafficking-of-fishers cases.
Fourth, based on the indicators developed, capacitate the National Prosecution Service on how to build a trafficking-of-fishers case and include modules on evidence gathering and admissibility.
For cross-border cases, explore partnerships with ASEAN states relative to victim protection, legal aid, cross-border prosecution, and information sharing, and coordination, such as police to police coordination, when responding to potential cases of trafficking of fishers.
Lastly, explore partnerships with the Philippine Judical Academy to discuss nuances of the trafficking of fishers cases.