02 June 2015 - The Philippine Embassy in Oslo held a one-day seminar for Embassy personnel on anti-trafficking in persons (TIP), consular re-tooling and i-Rehistro on May 30. This activity is part of the Embassy’s human resources development program aimed at equipping its personnel with the necessary information and skills to enable them to render enhanced delivery of services to Filipinos in Norway, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, and Sweden.
The module on anti-trafficking in persons was composed of two parts. During the first session, Philippine Minister and Consul Maria Louella C. Duarte and Assistance-To-Nationals (ATN) officer Theresa Bantolo-Heikkilä presented highlights of the “DFA Regional Anti-Trafficking in Persons Workshop for Foreign Service Posts in Europe” held in Vienna from March 16 to 20. Specifically, they discussed the international legal framework on trafficking in persons, and shared information from the Departments of Justice, Labor and Employment, and Social Welfare and Development on identifying modus operandi in trafficking, procedures for handling trafficking complaints, and best practices in handling TIP victims.
The Embassy officers and staff, led by Philippine Ambassador to Norway Bayani S. Mercado, signed a pledge against trafficking in persons.
In the second session, resource speakers from Norway focused on the country’s anti-TIP experience. In particular, National Police Directorate and the National Coordinating Unit for Victims of Trafficking Senior Advisor Atty. Julie Platou Kvammen, and two lawyers specializing in anti-TIP laws, Atty. Gunhild Vehusheia and Atty. Marit Vik, presented the Norwegian legal framework on TIP; procedures; available assistance for victims, which includes Norway’s free legal aid system; how the Embassy could handle TIP cases in cooperation with the police and lawyers; and specific cases involving Filipino victims.
The seminar on consular re-tooling conducted by Philippine Minister and Consul General Charmaine Rowena C. Aviquivil focused on recent Department issuances on passports, visas, authentication/notarial/legalization of documents, civil registration and dual citizenship, in order to keep all Embassy personnel abreast of new developments, policies and regulations on consular services.
To cap the day-long event, Mrs. Theresa Bantolo-Heikkilä, the Embassy’s representative to the “Regional i-Rehistro Seminar” in Madrid, briefed Embassy personnel on the COMELEC’s online system for accomplishing forms related to voter registration processes. END