DFA co-hosts human trafficking forum at UN General Assembly

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), together with Bahrain and Nigeria, led a forum on combatting human trafficking at the United Nations General Assembly in New York City.

On September 27, the DFA held the forum titled “Combatting Trafficking in Migration Contexts: Best Practices, Challenges, and the Global Compact for Migration” at the sidelines of the 74th session of the UN General Assembly.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. highlighted the Philippines’ whole-of-society approach in which all sectors contribute in addressing human trafficking.

“We started by getting all agencies involved in the fight—foreign affairs, justice, social welfare, the military, the police, education, immigration, the Central Bank, and the local governments,” he said.

President Duterte’s Special Envoy to the UN Children’s Fund Monica Teodoro underscored the call to action against human trafficking.

“We are all here because we are determined to eradicate child trafficking,” she said.

Meanwhile, Justice Undersecretary Emmeline Villar reaffirmed the Philippines’ commitment to combatting human trafficking in collaboration with other nations.

“The Philippines stands ready, and stands with you all, in the fight against trafficking. Against a transnational scourge such as human trafficking, we will succeed together, or not at all,” Villar said.

The Philippine representatives to the event shared best practices and lessons in combatting trafficking. — BAP, GMA News