Address: Unit A 2295 Roberts St., Pasay City, Philippines
landline: (02) 7004-8404
Hotline: +63 917 777 9564
E-mail: main@blasoplecenter.org
ADVOCACY AND PARTNERSHIP
ADVOCACY AND PARTNERSHIP
The Coalition Against the Trafficking of Overseas Filipino Workers (CAT-OFW) that was organized under the PROACT Project held a Coalition Meeting and Study Session last October 31, 2023. Members of the CAT-OFW from various CSOs, NGOs, PRAs, Academic Institutions, and Government Agencies gathered together at the Blas F. Ople Center Office and via Zoom for updates on the group's accomplishments and to discuss proposed activities and ways forward for the next phase of the project.
Coalition Meeting and Study Session
REINTEGRATION TRAININGS
Preparatory Meeting for the 16th ASEAN Forum on Migrant Labour (AFML)
On October 10, 2023, the Philippine Migrants Rights Watch (PMRW) hosted and gathered together various representatives from the government, association of OFWs, CSOs, migrants rights advocates, and international and regional organizations for the Preparatory Meeting for the 16th ASEAN Forum on Migrant Labour (AFML) which will be held in Jakarta Indonesia on October 25 to 26, 2023. With this year’s theme of “Enhancing the Effectiveness of Legal Pathways for Labour Migration in ASEAN,” the dialogue will center on pressing issues and concerns on the Philippines' measures for legal pathways for migrant workers in the ASEAN region.
The Ople Center emphasized the need for a regional referral mechanism in response to emerging trends such as cyberscam hubs. Part of which is a suggestion to also improve the legal pathways in
terms of application and deployment. This is because social media sites such as TikTok
makes it easier for victims to fall prey to illegal recruitment but accessing justice is difficult for them. Another suggestion raised is for the neighboring ASEAN nations to recognize the capacities and skills of our OFWs.
Together with all of our funders, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID Philippines), the Partnership for Development Assistance in the Philippines ( PDAP Strength CTIP ) Inc., AWO International Southeast Asia , the ASEAN Australia Counter Trafficking (ASEAN ACT), and the Global Alliance Against Traffic in Women (GAATW) , we aim to continue the fight against illegal recruitment and human trafficking in service of our Filipino migrant workers.
On September 28, 2023, the Department of Justice-Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT), in collaboration with the Thailand Office of the Attorney General and the Department of Special Investigation, and with support from the ASEAN-Australia Counter Trafficking, held a Regional Knowledge Exchange Between Thailand and the Philippines on Emerging Concerns in Trafficking in Persons.
The Ople Center presented its services to the invited guests—Thai prosecutors, law enforcement officials, and officials at the Thai Embassy—in response to these new trends and discussed effective practices and challenges in protecting victims of trafficking, as well as handling cases involving foreigners.
REINTEGRATION TRAININGS
Regional Knowledge Exchange Between Thailand and the Philippines on Emerging Concerns in Trafficking in Persons
National Multistakeholder Consultation Workshop on Migration, Business, and Human Rights (MBHR)
Last September 22, 2023, the International Organization for Migration (IOM Philippines) conducted a National Multistakeholder Consultation Workshop on Migration, Business, and Human Rights (MBHR) wherein Ople Center was a part of it as an NGO and CSO collaborator.
The activity aimed to generate insights to help shape the IOM's future MBHR engagement in the Philippines, in line with the Protect-Respect-Remedy framework pillars under the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. The event emphasized the growing number of victims of forced labor, which has recently increased to 28Mn. Of which, 15Mn in Asia Pacific are migrant workers who are three times more likely to be vulnerable to forced labor. The event was an opportunity to network and establish collaboration, bringing to the table pertinent discussions on what businesses should prioritize, especially for high impact sectors.
On September 28, 2023, the Department of Justice-Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT), in collaboration with the Thailand Office of the Attorney General and the Department of Special Investigation, and with support from the ASEAN-Australia Counter Trafficking, held a "Regional Knowledge Exchange Between Thailand and the Philippines on Emerging Concerns in Trafficking in Persons."
The Ople Center presented its services to the invited guests—Thai prosecutors, law enforcement officials, and officials at the Thai Embassy—in response to these new trends and discussed effective practices and challenges in protecting victims of trafficking, as well as handling cases involving foreigners.
Coalition Meeting and Study Session
REINTEGRATION TRAININGS
“KITES FOR PEACE” LAUNCHED
Multi-sectoral groups were all set to release a giant kite to celebrate the historic signing of the Bangsamoro peace agreement with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front during the launching of the “Kites for Peace” held at the Luneta Park, Manila today. Also present during the event were members of the multi-sectoral groups led by Kites Association of the Philippines President Orlando Ongkingco, National Youth Commission Commissioner Earl Saavedra, who represents the youth sector in Mindanao, Young Moro Professional Network Co-Convenor for Peace Committee Arman Disomimba and Mr. Elso Cabangon and Mr. Jun Aguilar of the OFWs for Peace.
