MUSCAT: The collaborative initiatives between the Omani government and the Philippine Embassy and the Department of Migrant Workers have played a pivotal role in making significant strides towards combating the scourge of human trafficking.
In an interview with Oman Daily Observer, labour law expert and Philippine Labour Attache to the Sultanate of Oman, Atty Gregorio T Abalos Jr, provided invaluable insights into the progress achieved and the challenges encountered in this joint endeavour.
As elucidated by Atty Abalos Jr, human trafficking "is the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of people through force, fraud or deception, with the aim of exploiting them for profit.” This definition, taken from the United Nations, "encompasses the exploitation of individuals through coercion, force, or deception, leading to various forms of abuse," Atty Abalos Jr said.
In most cases, companies or employers seeking Filipino employees can engage in partnerships with recruitment agencies authorised and accredited by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) to facilitate the hiring process.
The collaborative efforts between the Omani government and the Philippine Embassy and the Department of Migrant Workers have been anchored on principles of mutual cooperation, information exchange, and capacity enhancement to bolster the prevention, protection, and prosecution mechanisms essential in combating human trafficking effectively. Through concerted training programmes, victim support services, and extensive awareness campaigns, significant inroads have been made to counter the nefarious activities of traffickers and enhance the protection of vulnerable individuals.
Moreover, Atty Abalos Jr underscored the profound significance of diplomatic missions, governmental institutions, and the media in amplifying awareness and disseminating information regarding the anti- trafficking initiatives.
The role of public engagement and advocacy cannot be overstated in mobilising collective efforts and fostering a culture of vigilance in the community to ensure the success of anti- trafficking endeavours.
Despite the remarkable progress achieved, challenges such as coordination complexities, legal hurdles, and resource constraints have tested the resolve of the collaborative efforts.
To surmount these obstacles, stakeholders have resorted to enhanced communication channels, diligent training interventions, and concerted inter-agency collaboration including the Royal Oman Police, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Labour and others, to propel the fight against human trafficking towards a more effective and sustainable trajectory.
Looking ahead, the long-term aspirations of the collaborative endeavours aim to fortify bilateral partnerships, bolster victim-centric interventions, enhance law enforcement capacities, and ultimately eradicate the blight of human trafficking from the landscapes of Oman and the Philippines.
Atty Abalos Jr implored the international community to rally behind and champion these joint endeavours in the fight against human trafficking, underscoring the imperative of safeguarding the rights and dignity of all individuals affected by this heinous crime.
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