First fact-finding mission to the Philippines of the Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially in women and children

The aim of her visit was to examine the situation of trafficked persons and the impact of anti-trafficking measures in the country based on her Human Rights Council mandate to advocate the prevention of trafficking in persons in all its forms and to encourage measures to uphold and protect the human rights of victims.

During the mission, in addition to Manila, the Special Rapporteur travelled to Cebu and Zamboanga. She met with His Excellency, the Vice President, the Honourable Secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), officials from the Departments of Justice, Social Welfare and Development, Labour and Employment and Health, as well as the other members of the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT), including the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, Overseas Workers Welfare Association, Bureau of Immigration, National Bureau of Investigation and the Philippine National Police. She also interacted with the IACAT Airport Taskforce in Manila, MCIAA Taskforce and the Cebu RIACAT Officers, as well as the Sea-based Anti-Trafficking Taskforce and the newly-created Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Council Against Trafficking in Zamboanga. Also, she had the opportunity to meet with the Philippine Commission on Human Rights, the Director of the ARMM Commission on Human Rights as well as civil society organisations in Manila, Cebu and Zamboanga.

At the end of her mission, the Special Rapporteur shared her preliminary findings with the Government and the media.

The relevant documents in connection with her mission to The Philippines can be accessed below:

• National and International print media coverage
• Electronic media coverage of the press conference