Philippines stays in Tier 1 for anti-human trafficking for 5th year

June 26, 2020

The United States kept the Philippines on Tier 1 status for the fifth straight year, the State Department said in its report Thursday.

The Philippine Embassy in Washington said being in the US list of countries that comply with anti-human trafficking standards shows the country's seriousness in fighting the global scourge.

"We remain fully committed to working with domestic and international partners, including the US in addressing this global concern. In this context, the Philippines shall continue to engage with both labor-sending but more importantly labor-receiving countries in promoting the welfare and protecting the rights of migrant workers everywhere," an embassy statement said.

In its annual report released in Washington, the US State Department said the Philippines' efforts ''included improving the coordination of services for returning Filipino migrant workers who were victims of trafficking overseas; convicting and punishing traffickers, including an official complicit in sex trafficking and labor traffickers; increasing assistance to survivors who provide testimony; and increasing the use of prosecution procedures that reduce the potential for further harm to trafficking victims."

But the report said "it did not vigorously investigate and prosecute officials allegedly involved in trafficking crimes, consistently criminally prosecute fraudulent recruiters and other labor traffickers."

The Philippines also fell short of giving specialized protection and assistance services for child victims of cyber-facilitated sex trafficking.

Community reintegration services, including trauma-informed care, employment training, and job placement for survivors  remained inadequate, it added. DMS