31 July 2015 - The Philippines joined 21 other United Nations member states in calling on all countries to use the occasion of the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons to “ensure an effective prevention and anti trafficking response” at all levels.

Philippine Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva, Ambassador Cecilia B. Rebong, said that “linking hands with other like minded states in an effort to strengthen coordination and galvanize actions against human trafficking is continuing priority advocacy of the Philippines.”

Aside from the Philippines, the Geneva Group of Friends United Against Human Trafficking is composed of Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Bolivia, Ecuador, Egypt, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Laos, Libya, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Qatar, Russia, Singapore, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, UAE, Uzbekistan, and Venezuela.

This year also marks the 5th anniversary of the Global Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons. Under the Global Plan of Action, UN member states resolved to improve their coordination and strengthen the capacity of the UN Inter Agency Coordination Group Against Trafficking in Persons (ICAT). The Global Plan of Action also created the UN Trust Fund for Victims of Human Trafficking.

At the Human Rights Council, the Philippines partnered with Germany in co-sponsoring annual resolutions on human rights and trafficking in persons, especially women and girls.

July 30 is the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons.  END