Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla has urged more countries to participate in the joint efforts of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) of holding dialogues to discuss the fight against human trafficking.

During the 8th Manila International Dialogue on Human Trafficking held last Dec. 13, Remulla thanked the governments of the United States, Australia, Britain and the Netherlands for supporting the dialogues over the years.

He noted that during the 8th Manila Dialogue, the ambassadors from the four countries served as co-chairs in the technical working groups.

Also, during the dialogue, he said the government of Finland, through its ambassador, signed the declaration for cooperation to combat human trafficking.

“It is our fervent hope that more countries become a part of the declaration and more missions in the Philippines become involved in the technical working group,” he also said.

“Southeast Asian countries share a common trafficking in persons reality as source, destination and transit countries,” Remulla said.

“Our connectedness as a region means that successes and gaps in one affects the others,” he pointed out.

In the Philippines, the fight against human trafficking is spearheaded by the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) which the DOJ heads. Remulla is the chairperson of IACAT.

“Southeast Asian nations and the greater international community stand to benefit from a regionally connected group of national oversight committees in continuing conversations on counter-trafficking,” Remulla said.

“If we, national mandate holders, can work together the way the Royal Malaysia Police, the Royal Thai Police, and the Philippine National Police proactively, harmoniously and efficiently work together through available channels both formal and informal, I am confident that we can make progress and put an end to human trafficking,” he explained.

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