IACAT Launches 3-Day Anti-Human Trafficking Information Campaign in Antipolo City

The Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) launched an information campaign in the barangays (villages) of Antipolo City on Thursday, August 22, “to motivate and engage communities in the fight against human trafficking.”

The IACAT, led by the Department of Justice (DOJ), said the information campaign in Antipolo City, dubbed “Barangay IACAT 2.0,” will last until August 24.

“The crusade to eradicate human trafficking begins with ourselves, in the solitude of our own homes and communities,” said Attorney General Jesus Crispin C. Remulla, President of IACAT.

“Through our unity, collective efforts and shared wisdom, we become the most formidable enemies that human predators will never defeat,” he also said.

In a statement, the Justice Department said that “the This activity, which will take the form of video presentations, lectures, Q&A sessions, rallies, columns, and other learning activities, aims to use a community-based approach to combating human trafficking by teaching local officials and citizens how to prevent or address human trafficking situations that occur within their communities.

“This will also enable the community as a whole to prioritise prevention over reactive measures against traffickers, fostering a sense of collective responsibility among residents that they can make a difference,” the report said.

The Department of Justice noted that “the Philippine government has been recognized globally for its tireless efforts in the fight against human traffickers and online child sexual abuse or exploitation (OSAEC), as evidenced by the country maintaining its Tier 1 status in the U.S. Department of State’s Trafficking-in-Persons (TIP) Report for the ninth consecutive year.”