International Cooperation Crucial in Combating Sex Trafficking of Women and Children

Strategic Insights -

Manila 6th District Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr. has expressed support for the extradition of Kingdom of Jesus Christ leader Apollo Quiboloy, citing the importance of international cooperation in the global fight against sex trafficking of women and children. Abante emphasized that while the Philippines has made progress in strengthening laws against trafficking, crimes that are transnational by design cannot be fully addressed without coordination among other governments. He pointed out that the Philippines' ratification of the UN Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, also known as the Palermo Protocol, in 2002, obliges signatory states to cooperate in investigating and prosecuting trafficking cases.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Philippines has made progress in strengthening laws against trafficking, but transnational crimes require international cooperation to be fully addressed.
  • The ratification of the UN Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children (Palermo Protocol) in 2002 obliges signatory states to cooperate in investigating and prosecuting trafficking cases.
  • International cooperation, including extradition, is crucial in combating sex trafficking of women and children.
  • Rep. Abante supports the extradition of Pastor Quiboloy as a step in upholding justice, fulfilling international obligations, and protecting women and children from exploitation.
  • The Philippines has a responsibility to protect its citizens from crimes that are designed to violate the most vulnerable, and there should be no safe havens for perpetrators.
  • Rep. Abante is the chair of the House of Representatives Committee on Human Rights and has expressed support for the extradition of Pastor Quiboloy.

Statistics:

  • The Philippines ratified the UN Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children (Palermo Protocol) in 2002.
  • The Philippines has jurisdiction over trafficking cases, but international cooperation is necessary to ensure that offenders do not elude justice by crossing borders.
  • The number of trafficking cases investigated and prosecuted in the Philippines is not specified in the source material.

Sources:

  • News release from Manila 6th District Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr. (no date specified)
  • United Nations (UN) Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children (also known as the Palermo Protocol) (1994)
  • United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (2000)