Ohio reports 30 human-trafficking cases

OHIO (28 June 2013) - The Ohio Attorney General's Office says local law enforcement agencies reported 30 human-trafficking cases in the state in the past year. The numbers were released Thursday as part of a new Ohio law requiring local agencies to collect data on human trafficking cases and report it to Attorney General Mike DeWine's office. According to the report, authorities identified 38 sex-trafficking victims, most of them between the ages of 18 and 29. Of those, 21 were identified as having alcohol or drug dependency issues, and 12 were listed as being oppressed, marginalized or impoverished. The 30 cases included investigation of 21 suspected traffickers, resulting in 15 arrests.

Also Thursday, the Ohio House approved a measure that increases penalties for human trafficking offenders and adds protections for victims. 
 

Full account available at:

http://www.newsnet5.com/dpp/news/state/ohio-reports-30-human-trafficking-cases#ixzz2XZAWVpKw

Man convicted of human trafficking in B.C. Filipino nanny case

VANCOUVER (27 June 2013)- The British Columbia Supreme Court made history by ruling that a Vancouver man is guilty of human trafficking, a first for Canada. While Franco Yiu Kawn Orr was found guilty of the charged brought against him, his partner Oi Ling Nicole Huen was acquitted by the jury.

Leticia Sarmiento, a Filipino nanny, had worked for the pair by taking care of their children since 2007. She first was in Hong Kong, and later in Canada in September of 2008. The move to Canada resulted in a big change in working conditions for Sarmiento.

During the trial, Sarmiento testified that she was told by the couple that her working conditions would be the same as in Hong Kong, where she had two days off a week and regular hours, and that she would become a permanent resident in Canada after two years.

Sarmiento said that unlike in Canada, she was also allowed to socialize with other people, had her own cell phone to make frequent calls to the Philippines and took the children under her care out of the home on her own.

But she said all that changed when she arrived in Canada, where she was forced to work 16-hour days, seven days a week and also clean the house.

"When they see that the (other) nannies are talking to me, Mr. Orr would approach me and he would tell me there's no need for you to talk to the nannies,'' she said, describing her past experiences visiting a local community centre.

In June of 2010, Sarmiento called 911 and told responding police officers she needed help, testifying she called the police after an altercation over the type of milk she fed one of the children turned physical when Huen pushed her.

She packed her things under the watch of police officers and was then taken to a women's shelter, the trial heard, but the six-month work visa she travelled to Canada on had long-since expired.

Orr is expected to return to court July 10 to set a sentencing hearing.

Full account available at:
http://www.vancouversun.com/news/metro/Vancouver+convicted+human+trafficking+Filipino+nanny+case/8584298/story.html

Filipina is among US anti-trafficking heroes

MANILA (20 June 2013) – The United States hailed a Filipino migrants' rights worker as one of its 9 heroes against sex slavery, forced labor, and other forms of human trafficking.

The US State Department named Susan “Toots” Ople, founder and president of the Blas F Ople Policy Center and Training Institute, among its Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Heroes for 2013.

In its citation for Ople, the US State Department recognized the Ople Center's role in providing free legal assistance to trafficking survivors and helping them reintegrate into society.

“Ms Ople works tirelessly to reintegrate trafficking victims into Philippine society, believing that skills training combined with good job placement will empower these workers to secure safer employment. Through her leadership, the Ople Center has entered into partnerships with hotels, private sector companies, and legislative offices to secure jobs and training for trafficking survivors,” the US State Department said.

Full account available at: 

http://www.rappler.com/nation/31783-ofw-crusader-us-anti-trafficking-hero

US Report: Philippines failed to restrain human traffickers

MANILA (20 June 2013)–  According to the 2013 Trafficking in Persons Report issued by the US Department of State, the Philippines has retained its Tier 2 anti-trafficking rating for the second straight year. Tier 2 rating is given to countries whose governments do not fully comply with the Trafficking Victims Protection Act’s minimum standards but are making significant efforts to do so.

In its report, the US State Department retained the Philippines’ Tier 2 status as it stressed that “the inefficient judicial system in the country posed serious challenges to the successful prosecution of human trafficking cases.”

 “Law enforcement officials’ complicity in human trafficking remained a problem in the Philippines, and corruption at all levels of government enables traffickers to prosper,” the report pointed out.

According to the report, government agencies that were tasked to enforce laws against human trafficking were reportedly the offices that permit trafficking offenders to conduct illegal activities, allowed traffickers to escape during raids, extorted bribes, facilitated illegal departures for overseas workers, and accepted payments or sexual services from establishments known to traffic women and children.

The report cited the cases of a judge who reportedly mishandled trafficking cases, and a city prosecutor, who allegedly accepted a bribe to downgrade a human trafficking charge to child abuse.

“There were ongoing allegations that police officers at times conducted indiscriminate or fake raids on commercial sex establishments to extort bribes from managers, clients, and female victims in the sex industry, sometimes threatening the victims with imprisonment,” the report said.

It also noted the dwindling number of human trafficking-related convictions in the Philippines – from 29 convictions to 24.

Full account available at http://mb.com.ph/News/Main_News/18316/US:_Philippines_retains_tier_2#.UcPD6uBOhAQ

FALDEF Offers Legal Assistance to Filipinos exploited by 7-Eleven

As reported in the Inquirer, GlobalNation, Several 7-Eleven convenience stores in Long Island, New York and Virginia are under investigation for allegedly exploiting Filipino immigrants under a scheme similar to that of a "modern-day plantation system" where their wages are withheld and their employment concealed under stolen identities.

In line with FALDEF's mission to provide pro bono  legal services to Filipinos who are victims of legal injustice and, in conjunction with the Philippine Embassies/Consulates' mandate to help "disadvantaged" Filipinos,  FALDEF would like to offer its legal services to any and all Filipinos - as well as to Non-Filipinos-   who have been or are currently employed by any of these 7-Eleven establishments located in the states of New York and Virginia.

FALDEF is most willing to work  with both the New York Philippine Consulate and the Philippine Embassy in rendering legal assistance to all Filipino 7-Eleven  victims  (former or current employees) in both the states of New York and Virginia.

 
If you know anyone who's a victim of this labor trafficking, please contact FALDEF President, Atty. JT Mallonga at (646) 399-6463 or email us at legalaid@faldef.org .

Full account available at http://globalnation.inquirer.net/77969/us-7-11-stores-rapped-for-exploiting-filipinos#ixzz2WfWbkceN

Legislator bares sexual exploitation of Filipinas by Philippine Embassy Personnel

MANILA (19 June 2013)- It's not just foreign employers who are abusing overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). Even Philippine Embassy officials are allegedly involved in the sexual exploitation of their countrymen- said Party-list Akbayan Representative Walden Bello.

Bello, who chairs the House committee on overseas workers' affairs, on Tuesday said three "predators" from Philippine overseas offices had been the subject of complaints from their coworkers. He said two of the officials-one a ranking member of the Philippine Overseas Labour Office (Polo) in Amman, Jordan, and the other a local hire of Polo in Kuwait-were allegedly involved in running sex operations in Amman, Jordan, and Kuwait that use Filipino women staying at OFW shelters.

The third official, who he said was a member of the augmentation team of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) staff in the embassy in Damascus, Syria, allegedly engaged in sexual acts with OFWs staying at the embassy's shelter for distressed workers.

Bello claimed this was apparently part of a scheme-dubbed by some as a "sex-for-fly" operation-where sexual favours were sought in exchange for helping an OFW get home to the Philippines.

Full account available at: http://globalnation.inquirer.net/77889/legislator-bares-sexual-exploitation-of-filipinas-by-ph-embassy-personnel#ixzz2WomPfxkH