Child-trafficking education in communities pushed

DAVAO CITY, Dec 16 (PIA) Convenors of the Philippines Against Child Trafficking cited the need to clarify the information campaign on child-trafficking on the community level.

Janette Ampog, director of the children’s center Talikala and convenor of the PACT said children need to know the indicators of child-trafficking for them to be aware and to report individuals behind the crime.

She observed that even if the awareness level is increased incidents of child-trafficking are least reported because people on the barangay level do not know how the crime manifests.

“They cannot identify child-trafficking even if it is happening before them,” Ampog said.

She said three elements like acts of maintaining, transporting and harboring; the means of luring the child through threats or coercion and the motive or reason for bringing the child, have to be established to be sure that child trafficking occurs.

Ampog said a total of 103 cases are being investigated by the Justice Department in Davao Region, wherein 90 of the victims are women, and fifty percent of them are children.

She said five convictions are the impact so far in pursuing cases against child-trafficking in Davao City alone.

“Community-education targeting the children as audience must be enhanced.  If we care for our environment, we must also give outmost attention to our children,” Ampog said.

She stressed that the PACT will push for all mechanisms under the law to work in preventing the occurrence of child trafficking.  (PIA 11-Joey Sem G. Dalumpines)