Philippines: Girls as a Commodity

At the age of 12, Sara (not her real name) was employed as a helper in a neighboring household, where she met her trafficker. When her trafficker offered to send her to school and pay for her board, lodging, and daily needs, Sara agreed to move to Manila. She stayed in a house with the trafficker and other children — and while the promises made to her were kept, she was eventually forced to work as a cybersex model and meet customers for personal sexual services.

This photo shows one of seven girls intercepted by the Bureau of Immigration before boarding a flight to Saudi Arabia. The child, trafficked to work as a domestic worker, awaits psychological intervention at a processing shelter. Along with the other six girls, she was recruited by job recruitment agency and was discovered to be a minor. According to the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) policy, only women aged 23 and above are eligible to work abroad as household service workers.

A trafficking victim gazes out a window at the Manila International Airport Halfway Shelter. She was rescued by the Bureau of Immigration before her flight to Saudi Arabia, where she would have been forced to work as a child domestic worker. Many victims experience shock, as job agencies lead them to believe they will start a better life in a new country. When asked to lie about their age to immigration officers, they realize they are being pushed into forced labor. This victim felt fortunate to have been rescued. (Manila, September 2019)

Elizabeth sweeps outdoors at a shelter for survivors of human trafficking. Before coming to the shelter she was child domestic worker (CDW), working an average of 15 hours a day and on call at all times. For this, she received the minimum wage of PHP800 (US$16) a month. Working away from home, Elizabeth was separated from her family for extended periods of time and under the complete control of her employer. She has not seen her family for over a year. Many Child Domestic Workers like Elizabeth are not even allowed to go beyond closed doors, except when the employer sends them on errands or brings them along when their services are needed. Isolated from family and peers, they rarely leave even when they suffer abuse. Child domestic workers are expected to do adult work and suffer extreme physical, verbal, and sometimes sexual abuse. They are deprived of opportunities for schooling and self-development. Their vulnerability is consistently exploited, and they have no immediate outside contact or support network.

Ramey (a pseudonym) is a victim of child domestic work. Ramey was rescued from an abusive situation where she was on call 24 hours a day without a wage. She worked tirelessly, performing domestic chores including washing dishes, cooking, cleaning the house, and looking after young children. In the Philippines alone, there are an estimated one million domestic workers, most of whom are children, with some as young as nine years old.

A teen trafficking survivor brushes her teeth under supervision of the long-term living facility's house mother traumatized in Manila, Philippines. Many survivors of human trafficking suffer from post-traumatic stress, depression, and experience thoughts of suicide following their extreme trauma.

Mary-Anne (not her real name), age nine, combs her hair at a long-term living facility run by a local non-governmental organization (NGO) for human trafficking survivors in Manila, Philippines. She was admitted to the facility under protective custody after reporting that she was sexually exploited by her father. Mary-Anne is pursuing the legal case against her father and remains courageous testifying in court hearings. She is currently receiving counseling sessions with a psychologist and attending school. She loves to draw and has a beautiful singing voice.

Two of the seven girls intercepted by the Bureau of Immigration before their flight to Saudi Arabia, where they would have been forced to work as domestic servants, await psychological intervention at a temporary shelter. All the girls were recruited by a job agency and were found to be minors.

A victim of child trafficking takes an emotional moment.

Rose (a pseudonym) was just 10 years old when she was rescued from online exploitation. She said, living at the shelter provided her with a sense of safety.

Ann (a pseudonym) was rescued from online sexual exploitation in Cebu City. She shared that having her sister living with her and the other girls at the home is a great support. "You never feel alone here, and you feel cared for. My hope is to finish school and to continue waiting for my court case. Both of these goals are important to me."

Three victims of child trafficking are learning life skills, such as doing laundry. At the shelter, they receive comprehensive support, including psychological services, child welfare case management, education, life skills lessons, legal protections, advocacy support, and group wellness activities such as art, karate, and tennis.

Human trafficking case worker Karen Navera and a teen trafficking survivor review investigation records before a preliminary hearing at the Office of the City Prosecutor, Manila City Hall, Philippines. According to Navera, survivors endure a wait time of up to 2-6 years for a court date to convict their trafficker.

A 16-year-old survivor of child trafficking gazes out the window after an emotional day waiting for a preliminary hearing at the Office of the City Prosecutor, Manila City Hall, Philippines. She hoped this hearing would bring her trafficker to justice, but later learned her case had been postponed. She responded, “It’s exhausting and I feel defeated.” Delays are common due to judicial inefficiencies, a nationwide shortage of prosecutors, and the reduction in prosecutors assigned to anti-trafficking task forces. As more human trafficking cases involving online sexual exploitation of children reach the courts, delays occur due to difficulties in obtaining timely search warrants, inadequate resources for operational logistics, lengthy analysis and investigation of cybercrime leads, forensic analysis of computer evidence, and long waits for courtroom equipment required to present videotaped evidence and testimony.

Survivors of child trafficking spend time writing in journals as part of their trauma therapy. Writing helps them process their experiences and heal from trauma. One girl shared, "Each day we feel more connected and pray for restoration."

A group of child trafficking survivors take part in the Home Study Program, sitting together as they work on a formal exam. This program caters to poor out-of-school children, youth, and even adults who are determined to complete their elementary and secondary education in Manila, Philippines. The human trafficking organization prioritizes education for each of the girls, ensuring they have the opportunity to rebuild their lives and secure a better future. On this day, the NGO transported them into Manila for their exams.

Human trafficking survivors engage in a tennis group wellness activity session in Manila, Philippines. This activity is part of a holistic treatment approach to recovery.

Teen trafficking survivors participate in a peer counseling session with a psychologist. This highlights the urgent need for trauma-focused group therapy to support their emotional healing and recovery.

Cleofe Layacan, a Subject Matter Expert from Voice of the Free (VF), speaks at an iFIGHT Movement event at St. Jacques Siena College in Taytay, Philippines. She says that by educating the public about human trafficking and sharing her story, she hopes to prevent others from being exploited.