A high number of minors have fallen victims of human trafficking cases this year, according to the Department of Social Welfare and Development in Region 11.
Alma Acera, DSWD11 project development officer, from January to present this year their office serves a total of 67 human trafficking cases, 25 are new cases. 42 of the victims were females while the rest were males.
She said the victims are exploited sexually or through forced labor, cyber pornography and illegal adoption and recruitment.
“Most of the recorded cases of human trafficking in the region this year had minors and women as victims, who were lured into “sex entertainment” because of immediate prospect of money,” said Acera.
DSWD- 11 noted new 20 cases of trafficking among children aged 1 to 17 years in the region.
Acera pointed out that poverty and peer pressure is the primary driving force behind this illegal human trade. Online adaption and recruitment, she added, has also become common and worsened the situation.
The record reveled that were 155 cases in child or cyber-pornography and sexual exploitation, followed by forced labor with 88 cases, and illegal recruitment with 56 cases.
Acera said DSWD-12 continues to monitor the “alarming” number of cases of abuse and exploitation of children and women in the region.
“We are closely working with various agencies to raise more awareness regarding the campaign to address issues as well as cases of abuses and exploitation among children,” she added.
Acera meanwhile, said the government continued to provide programs for protection and recovery, integration program for trafficked persons, financial and transportation assistance, temporary shelter of prostitution victims, livelihood assistance, family reintegration and assistance in filing the cases.
