According to a news report of Philstar last March 2011, Cebu City Councilor Lea Japson, the vice chairperson of the Cebu City Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking said that orientations about human trafficking awareness are already done in every barangay. Authorities plan to include night entertainment spots and the public utility vehicle operators in the orientation. But the real question is, has these been effective throughout the years? The International Justice Mission (IJM) report revealed that there were 524 victims rescued from sex trafficking in the Metro Cebu area from 2004 to 2013. IJM is a non-government organization that describes itself as a “human rights agency that secures justice for victims or slavery, sexual exploitation and other forms of violent oppression.” Because of Cebu’s booming tourism, this also attracts sex tourism. Also according to an article of Philstar, “when an area’s tourism is booming, sex tourism comes right next to it like a magnet.”,this can be the reason why the rate of human trafficking in Cebu continues to rise. The government may be happy of the booming tourism but not so sure about the boom of sex tourism. In February of 2013, President Aquino signed into law the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act (RA 10364), which is said to give “more teeth” to its predecessor. This new law penalizes even the accomplice and accessory to the crime, and those who are about to carry out the crime (Sec. 4-A. Attempted trafficking in persons).

 

It is said that every 30 seconds, another person becomes a victim of human trafficking. There is an estimated 20.9 million people that are victims of forced labor. There is an estimated 35.8 million people enslaved in the world (The Global Slavery Index 2014) and still counting. Millions of lives are being sold for pleasure. When did money become so powerful that it can afford a life that shouldn’t even cost anything? How could people tolerate this kind of wickedness?

 

Human-trafficking is the modern slavery. It is a violation towards human rights and thus it should be put to an end.  It is reported that human trafficking is the third largest international crime industry (behind illegal drugs and arms trafficking). It reportedly generates a profit of $32 billion every year. Of that number, $15.5 billion is made in industrialized countries.  This cost so much money for a life that shouldn’t even be sold. A person should not be sold because he/she is born free. We are all born free and equal. Nobody should be above or below anyone. We humans, imperfect as we are, are the ones putting these “labels” and thinking about hierarchies in the community. We are all born with equal rights and we are all obliged to obey the laws, regardless of wealth and popularity.  

 

Look around you, do you think everyone appears to be the way you think they are? Maybe some of them are victims of human-trafficking. Do you hear their cries in lingering silence? Do you see their tears flowing from their heartbreaking stares? Do you feel their longing for hope to be saved from their misery? If not, maybe it’s time. It’s time to break this cruel practice, it’s time to BREAK THE CHAINS. IT’S TIME TO STOP HUMAN TRAFFICKING! Be against human-trafficking and help make the world a better place.