The Philippine Embassy in Beijing joins the Philippine Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) and the whole international community in celebrating the World Day against Trafficking in Persons.

Trafficking in persons is a serious crime and a grave violation of human rights. Every year, thousands of men, women and children fall prey into the hands of traffickers, both in their home countries and abroad. Almost every country in the world is affected by trafficking.

The Philippines, after 5 years of being Tier 2* in the Global Trafficking in Persons (GTIP) Report, has finally been given top recognition by the US State Department as Tier 1* in its 16th GTIP report as a result of the country’s anti-human trafficking efforts and compliance to the minimum standards for the elimination of severe forms of trafficking as provided under the United States Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) of 2000.

July 30 is the United Nations World Day against Trafficking in Persons, a day established to raise awareness of the plight of human trafficking victims, and to promote and protect their rights.

On this day, let us take this opportunity to give hope to trafficking victims, pledge to do our part and help end this terrible crime.

* Tier 1 includes countries whose governments fully comply with the Trafficking Victims Protection Act’s (TVPA) minimum standards. Tier 2 includes countries whose governments do not fully comply with the TVPA’s minimum standards, but are making significant efforts to bring themselves into compliance with those standards. (Source: US Department of State)