Previously published last August 2, 2024
By Reann Mantilla
The European Union in the Philippines through its GOJUSTII Program supported the Zamboanga City Justice Zone in the conduct of Writeshop on the Enhancement of Anti-Trafficking in Person Ordinance for Zamboanga City last July 29-30, 2024,in line with the celebration of World Day Against Trafficking with the theme "Leave No Child Behind in the Fight Against Human Trafficking".
The activity is participated by the members of the Zamboanga City Justice Zone, LGU of Zamboanga City, other government agencies from the Bureau of Immigration Region IX, and the Women and Children Protection Center-Mindanao Field Unit.
The opening message of the Convenor Peter V. Eisma emphasizes and to quote “The protection that we may afford for the victims of trafficking in person, especially for the women and children, shall be our northern star, for us not to waiver our efforts to save, one soul at a time”. Zamboanga City being the gateway to the island provinces of Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi, and the proximity of these island provinces to other Asian countries such as Malaysia, make our City Vulnerable to human trafficking, thus we have this activity as the backbone to come up with a well though-policies and ordinance to address trafficking in person.
The enhanced draft ordinance was presented to Hon. COUNCILOR AL-JIHAN EDDING the Committee Chair on Women and Children and committed to provide her full support on the passage of the said ordinance.
A Justice Zone (JZ) brings justice actors and law enforcement institutions together to work jointly on improving criminal justice at the local level. In Zamboanga City Justice Zone prosecutors, judges, and law enforcement are also teaming up with city authorities and CSOs to ensure that communities are protected against trafficking in person.