Philippine E-Journals

Compliance with International Law on Trafficking by the Philippines: A Critical Analysis

Mariesther B. Vedaña

Discipline: Social Science, International Relations

 

Abstract:

Trafficking in persons refers to any kind of human exploitation with or without consent of the victim. Prior to the UN’s Trafficking Protocol in 2000 almost all of the States did not have a particular law specifically defining and addressing trafficking in persons. The paper aims to analyze how the Philippines has complied with the provisions of the UN Trafficking Protocol through the discussion of its provisions and the minimum standards stated in the related provisions of the US Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) and the pertinent provisions of R.A. No. 9208 Philippine Law on Trafficking. The effectivity of the implementation of the Philippine Trafficking law as shown in the reports of the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking in Persons (IACAT) in the Philippines and the reports of the US State Department shall also be discussed. The researcher analyzed descriptively the legal documents and data gathered. The results showed the Philippines has not been fully complying to the provisions and standards set forth in the UN Trafficking Protocol and the TVPA. It is therefore, necessary for the Philippines to show not just efforts to eradicate trafficking but also take further action on the same.