http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/314406/pinoyabroad/news/anti-human-trafficking-awardee-to-ofws-report-sexual-harassment-cases
June 25, 2013 1:30pm
Migrant workers' advocate Susan Ople, who was recently honored by the United States for her efforts to stop human trafficking, urged overseas Filipino workers to report incidents of sexual harassment.
Ople, former labor undersecretary and president of the Ople Policy Center, said two former OFWs intend to file complaints of sexual harassment against certain labor personnel.
Ople, former labor undersecretary and president of the Ople Policy Center, said two former OFWs intend to file complaints of sexual harassment against certain labor personnel.
In a news release on Tuesday, Ople said the two OFWs were willing to share their stories so that other OFWs seeking refuge in half-way houses abroad would be spared from sexual harassment..
"One of them had already met with our lawyers while we expect the second victim to come forward anytime this week. Though they are not involved in the "sex-for-flight" controversy, their traumatic experiences at these shelters are important to underscore the urgent need for reforms," said Ople.
The center is named for Ople's late father, who held high-ranking positions in the Philippine government, such as the posts of Senate president, Labor Secretary, and Foreign Affairs Secretary.
Ople was one of those who received the Trafficking in Persons (TIP) heroes award for 2013 from US Secretary of State John Kerry in a ceremony at the US State Department in Washington D.C. on Tuesday.
The OFW advocate called on overseas Filipinos who have stayed or continue to stay in embassy premises and OWWA-run shelters to share their experiences with the staff of the Blas F. Ople Center.
The center is named for Ople's late father, who held high-ranking positions in the Philippine government, such as the posts of Senate president, Labor Secretary, and Foreign Affairs Secretary.
"This is your chance to help others. Share what you know and we will do our best to document your experiences and convert all of these into a confidential report as basis for justice and reforms," Ople said.
The Ople Center can be reached via 833-5337 and 833-9562 or through blasoplecenter@hotmail.com.
"Sexploitation"
Accusations against embassy officials and personnel are varied:
running a sex ring, where Filipino wards are forced into prostitution;
sexual molestation; and
the so-called “sex for flight” scheme where female Filipino workers under the embassy’s custody are reportedly being offered immediate repatriation in exchange for sex.
The issue about the sex-for-flight scheme erupted even though return tickets to the Philippines are actually given out for free by the Philippine government to distressed Filipinos.
Awardee
"Sexploitation"
Accusations against embassy officials and personnel are varied:
running a sex ring, where Filipino wards are forced into prostitution;
sexual molestation; and
the so-called “sex for flight” scheme where female Filipino workers under the embassy’s custody are reportedly being offered immediate repatriation in exchange for sex.
The issue about the sex-for-flight scheme erupted even though return tickets to the Philippines are actually given out for free by the Philippine government to distressed Filipinos.
On Monday, at least three alleged victims, including one who accused a Philippine labor attaché of sexual molestation, in the "sex for flight" scandal in Philippine diplomatic posts in the Middle East have come forward in a sweeping government investigation, Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario said.
The official, whom Del Rosario did not identify, was the first embassy personnel to have been tagged in the scandal outside Kuwait, Syria and Jordan.
These three posts were earlier named by party-list Rep. Walden Bello as having the most number of incidents of sexual abuses committed by Philippine officials against distressed Filipinos staying in embassy shelters.
These three posts were earlier named by party-list Rep. Walden Bello as having the most number of incidents of sexual abuses committed by Philippine officials against distressed Filipinos staying in embassy shelters.
Del Rosario explained that the Philippine investigation into the scheme has been expanded to include its diplomatic posts in Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia, where a large concentration of Filipinos working mostly as domestic helpers are based.
Awardee
The awards were handed out alongside the release of the 2013 TIP report, which ranks countries according to their efforts to fight human trafficking.
When United States Ambassador to the Philippines Harry Thomas congratulated Ople, he called her a "nanay" for her advocacy.
"Her strong advocacy for the welfare of OFWs has made her a 'nanay' in the truest spirit of the word," Thomas said in a statement released by the US Embassy. - VVP, GMA News
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