10 February 2017 JAKARTA – The Philippines deposited with the ASEAN Secretary-General its Instrument of Ratification of the ASEAN Convention against Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children (ACTIP) on February 07.
With this submission, the Philippines becomes the sixth ASEAN Member State to ratify the Convention after Cambodia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and Myanmar. In accordance with the terms of the ACTIP, the Convention will enter into force on the 30th day upon the submission of the instrument of ratification of the sixth ASEAN Member State.
During her call on ASEAN Secretary General Le Luong Minh to deposit the Philippine instrument of ratification, Permanent Representative of the Philippines to ASEAN Ambassador Elizabeth P. Buensuceso emphasized that President Rodrigo R. Duterte places high importance to the fight against trafficking in persons, which he reiterated during the launch of the Philippine Chairmanship in Davao City on January 15, 2017.
Ambassador Buensuceso stressed that the ratification of the ACTIP is included in the “dream list” of deliverables during the Philippine Chairmanship of ASEAN this year.
Once the ACTIP enters into force, it will be implemented along with the ASEAN Plan of Action against Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children. As trafficking in persons requires multi-sectoral collaboration, the relevant ASEAN Sectoral Bodies and Organs are currently discussing measures to coordinate cross-cutting efforts in implementing the ACTIP and APA on both national and regional levels.
The Philippines as the lead shepherd for Trafficking in Persons within the ASEAN Senior Officials/Ministerial Meeting on Transnational Crime (SOMTC/AMMTC) process played a leading role in the development, signing and implementation of the ACTIP. END