Zonta Club of Cebu II hosts human trafficking webinar

The Zonta Club of Cebu II, Philippines, closed their 2021 18 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence on 12 December with a webinar observant of International Day Against Trafficking. The webinar is called A Cry for Help: Examining the Length and Breadth of Human Trafficking. It aimed to help everyone identify child trafficking, learn how to help prevent it and understand how it affects families and local communities.

The webinar commenced with club member attorney Elaine Bathan, who discussed Human Trafficking: Stories and Statistics of Modern-Day Slavery. The session aimed to engage and raise awareness among young people, helping them learn about the issues, root causes, extent and forms of human trafficking. Elaine also discussed the challenges that agencies face in the apprehension and eventual prosecution of the perpetrator. 

Next, attorney Therese Mina- Salomon from the International Hust Mission engaged the audience in discussing Online Sexual Exploitation of Children (OSEC), the most prevalent form of human trafficking today. 

The webinar ended with the Country Director of Paglaum Training International (PTI), Ms. Jonna Eleccion, who shared their best practices in the rehabilitation, restoration and healing of trafficked persons. 

More than 450 participants, the officers and members of the Sangguniang Kabataan of Cebu and Mandaue cities, the local offices of DSWD, PNP and Women and Children’s Desk officers, members of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP), School Heads, Guidance Counselors and faculty members, PTA Presidents, and parents from 3 public schools from both cities benefited from the discussions. Only by joining forces, pooling knowledge, expanding the scope and number of stakeholders and cooperating across borders can we hope to eradicate human trafficking.