Interfaith community holds prayer rally for Int’l Day Against Trafficking

December 12 marks the International Day Against Trafficking (IDAT). In response to this growing threat, the Philippine Inter-Faith Movement Against Human Trafficking (PIMAHT), an assembly of the three largest church councils in the country, is taking steps to raise awareness and combat trafficking from a grassroots level with a prayer rally to be held at the Quirino Grandstand on December 12, Thursday, from 3 – 6 pm. It is free and open to the public.

Attenders are encouraged to wear white shirts to show their solidarity at the event. This will be a day of prayer, reflection, awareness and advocacy. The prayer rally in Manila is part of a series of prayer rallies with the aim of uniting people against trafficking. On December 1, Sunday, a prayer rally was held in Ayala Center, Cebu, and another prayer rally will be held in Davao City on the morning of December 12 as well.

Human trafficking has been called the crime within a crime and never has this been truer than today, as Filipinos who are trafficked become victims of prostitution, violence, and all kinds of abuse. Especially vulnerable are women and children in disaster-stricken areas, such as those affected by the recent Typhoon Yolanda.

“Most of these cases (of trafficking) happen within the barangay, or vicinity. It’s important to be vigilant, especially the Church. They can give guidance and counselling and more often than not, victims need reintegration, which I think churches are well equipped to provide,” explains Prosecutor Jed Ng of the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT). This group is working in conjunction with PIMAHT for the Manila prayer rally, and will provide updates on the country’s fight against trafficking during the event.

The Philippines has been identified as a source country for trafficking, with numerous Filipinos going overseas for decent jobs, only to be trapped in a nightmare of sex trafficking and forced labor. This happens within the country as well.

According to the 2013 US Trafficking in Persons Report released in June, “Trafficking of men, women, and children within the country also remains a significant problem. People are trafficked from rural areas to urban centers including Manila, Cebu, the city of Angeles, and increasingly cities in Mindanao, as well as within other urban areas and tourist destinations such as Boracay, Olongapo, Puerta Galera, and Surigao.”

Now, more than ever, Filipinos need to rise up and protect those who would be exploited within their borders. PIMAHT urges everyone in the Philippines to be vigilant, participate in advocacy work, help in giving aftercare to trafficking survivors and unite in praying against human trafficking. – Rappler.com