Through its Recovery and Reintegration Program for Trafficked Persons or RRPTP, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) makes sure that victim-survivors of trafficking, sexual abuse, and exploitation are able to recover, heal, and be reintegrated with their families and their communities.
As part of these efforts, a senior official of the DSWD recently stated that in 2023, the department assisted and provided various interventions to 2,024 victim survivors of abuse and trafficking.
2K Victims of Abuse, Trafficking Helped by DSWD Last Year
“We at the DSWD reaffirm our commitment to protect the welfare of these vulnerable children,” DSWD Spokesperson and Assistant Secretary for Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG) Irene Dumlao declared, as cited by a DSWD press release.
“We recognize the urgency of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to implement a comprehensive and intensive action plan to combat Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children (OSAEC) and Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Materials (CSAEM),” she said.
Out of the 2,204 clients served in the different DSWD Field Offices last year, majority or 59.14 percent (1,197) were female, and 40.7 percent (824) were male.
Of these, 320 were minors rescued from OSAEC, CSAEM, and trafficking. In cases involving children, 16 came from the 0 to 6-year age group, 101 from the 7 to 12 year age group, and 203 from the 13 to 17 years old.
Services for Victim-Survivors
The DSWD provided victim-survivors with various services, such as: temporary shelter; transportation assistance; medical assistance; educational assistance; logistical support during and after rescue operations; skills training, livelihood assistance, and financial assistance for employment.
“These services were also provided to the families of victim-survivors,” Asst. Sec. Dumlao stated.
Capacity Building for Field Offices
At the same time, the DSWD also provides capacity building workshops for its Field Office personnel. This way, they are better equipped to implement the department’s programs and respond to the needs of victim-survivors.
Likewise the DSWD the department continue to improve its existing policies and conduct advocacy activities to help prevent people from becoming victims of human trafficking.
“As the Co-Chair of the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT), and a member of the National Coordination Center Against OSAEC and CSAEM, the DSWD commits to intensify our efforts for the prevention, advocacy, protection, recovery, rehabilitation and reintegration of trafficked persons,” Asst. Sec. Dumlao stated.
Final Thoughts
Thanks to the efforts of the DSWD and other government offices, victim-survivors of abuse and trafficking can fully recover and look forward to a safer and brighter future ahead!
As part of its role in combating trafficking and abuse, the DSWD also operates several facilities for victim-survivors. One of these is The Haven: Natural Center for Women. Check out this article to learn more about it!