04 February 2016 — The Philippine Embassy in Baghdad and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) will intensify their efforts to assist Filipino workers who are subjected to human trafficking and support the authorities in Iraq to enhance their capacities to effectively combat this crime.

During a meeting at the IOM offices in Baghdad yesterday, Philippine Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Elmer G. Cato and IOM Chief of Mission for Iraq Dr. Thomas Lothar Weiss agreed to further strengthen their collaboration, particularly in protecting distressed Filipinos and other migrant workers in Iraq.

“As we start another year, we look forward to strengthening our active partnership with IOM, particularly in helping the Iraqi Government build its capacities in addressing migration and trafficking-in persons issues,” Chargé d’Affaires Cato said.

Saying human trafficking will be a priority issue in 2016, the Filipino envoy told Dr. Weiss the Embassy is ready to work with IOM in reinforcing the positive steps that the Iraqi Government has been taken during the past several years to address this concern.

In their meeting, Chargé d’Affaires Cato highlighted the successful cooperation between the Embassy and IOM in 2015 that led to the rescue and repatriation of 10 Filipina trafficking victims in Kurdistan. He also cited the joint campaign with IOM in raising public awareness on the issue of trafficking in persons.

“We would not have successfully carried these out without IOM,” Chargé d’Affaires Cato said as he thanked Dr. Weiss for the support extended by the organization, which shouldered the repatriation and reintegration of the 10 Filipina victims.

For his part, Dr. Weiss assured Chargé d’Affaires Cato that the Philippine Government can count on the full support of the IOM in helping the Iraqi Government and the Kurdistan Regional Government build their respective capacities to respond to migration and trafficking issues.

“We thank the Philippine Embassy for collaborating with IOM in 2015 and we also look forward to further strengthening our partnership in 2016,” Dr. Weiss said as he commended the Philippines for being an important IOM member-state known for its global best practices in migration management. END