Sex trafficking in the Philippines is human trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation and slavery that occurs in the Republic of the Philippines. The Philippines is a country of origin and, to a lesser extent, a destination and transit for sexually trafficked persons.[1]
Filipino citizens, primarily women and girls, have been sex trafficked to the various provinces of the Philippines, as well as other countries in Asia[2] and different continents.[3][4] Some are trafficked using student, intern, and exchange program visas. Children[5][6][7][8] [4][9] and people in poverty[10][11] and with low education levels are vulnerable. Other vulnerable groups include indigenous peoples and those displaced by typhoons[6] and conflict and violence.[4] Sex trafficked victims are deceived[12] and forced into prostitution,[6] marriages,[11][7] pregnancies, and unfree labour.[4] Their documents, including passports, are often confiscated.[4] They are threatened[5] and tied or locked-up[8] and experience physical and psychological trauma.[4] Many suffer from post traumatic stress disorder and nightmares.[8] They contract sexually transmitted diseases from rapes,[8] and abuse, malnutrition, and poor living conditions,[13] including rooms with little ventilation,[14] are common.[4] Cybersex or online sex trafficking and victims being in pornography is a significant problem.[13][10][7][8] Sex trafficking victims are sometimes forced to perform sex acts on live webcams.[4][9] Some have been coerced into bestiality.[8] Traffickers use many different internet and social media sites and apps, as well as email, to lure victims.[4][11]
Officials and police have been complicit.[4] A number of traffickers are members of or facilitated by criminal syndicates.[6][4] Some government officials and workers, as well as foreigners, have profited from sex trafficking in the Philippines. The perpetrators are sometimes the victims' family members and friends.[9][7] Pedophiles travel to the country for child sex tourism.[14][4][7]
The scale of sex trafficking in the Philippines is difficult to know because of the dearth of data.[10] Corruption is pervasive.[3][4] The government has been criticized for poor anti-sex trafficking law enforcement in some areas and not providing enough victim protections and rehabilitation services.[3][6]
- ^ "Philippines 2018 Trafficking in Persons Report". U.S. Department of State. Archived from the original on July 30, 2018. Retrieved July 30, 2018.
As reported over the past five years, the Philippines is a source country and, to a lesser extent, a destination and transit country for men, women, and children subjected to sex trafficking and forced labor.
- ^ "New ways to help Hong Kong's human trafficking victims". CN Monitor. October 22, 2015.
- ^ a b c "Philippines meets 'minimum standards' in eliminating human trafficking — US report". PhilStar Global. June 22, 2019.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Philippines' fight against trafficking". CNN Philippines. September 23, 2016. Archived from the original on December 24, 2019. Retrieved April 16, 2020.
- ^ a b "SEA Games: foreign tourist surge to Philippines sees rising risk of sex trafficking". South China Morning Post. December 10, 2019.
- ^ a b c d e "Human trafficking prevalent in post-typhoon Philippines". Devex. January 2, 2014.
- ^ a b c d e "Victims of human trafficking in PH spike to over 700,000 – Global Slavery Index". UNTV. December 6, 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f "Victims endure lives degraded by traffickers". CNN. May 16, 2013.
- ^ a b c "Facebook used to kidnap girls for sex slaves". Standard-Examiner. October 29, 2012. Archived from the original on July 29, 2020. Retrieved April 16, 2020.
- ^ a b c "Philippines targets cybersex trafficking but young victims are often left in limbo". South China Morning Post. May 6, 2019.
- ^ a b c "UN envoy warns about human trafficking in PH". Rappler. November 9, 2012.
- ^ "3 minors rescued from human traffickers in Bulacan". Rappler. June 23, 2013.
- ^ a b "Cyber-sex trafficking: A 21st century scourge". CNN. July 18, 2013.
- ^ a b "Saving child sex workers". Rappler. December 29, 2019.