National Alliance of Filipino Women in Canada
Media Release

Human trafficking linked to globalization, urges Filipino women's alliance

August 22, 2005

A national alliance of Filipino women’s groups
participated in a roundtable discussion on the
trafficking of persons hosted by the Department of
Justice and attended by Irwin Cotler, Minister of
Justice and Attorney General of Canada on August 11,
2005. The roundtable discussion updated the various
stakeholders in attendance the status of the Ministry’s Criminal Code amendments “anchored in the
three P’s – prevention, protection and prosecution.” The proposed amendments have completed its first
reading in the House of Commons.

Cecilia Diocson, national chairperson of the National
Alliance of Filipino Women in Canada (NAPWC) who
attended the roundtable discussion, stated “policy
discussion on human trafficking must be raised to a
political level and connected to the present situation
of globalization.” The NAPWC, representing women’s
organizations in BC, Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, and
Quebec, asserted that trafficking is inextricably
linked to the present crisis of capitalism where it
forces people, mainly women from the Third World, to
migrate abroad, mainly to countries of the First
World, where they face exploitation, oppression, and
abuse. There have been anecdotal reports presented in the media that employment agencies have been involved in trafficking women into Canada.

“Human trafficking is a political issue. We must go
beyond enforcement and legislation,” continues
Diocson. Nearly 100 000 Filipino women have entered
Canada under Canada Immigration’s Live-in Caregiver
Program (LCP). The workers under the LCP are forced
to work as domestic workers and 24-hour home-support
caregivers to children, people with disabilities and
the elderly. 96% of workers under the LCP are from
the Philippines. “The LCP is a form of modern-day
slavery in Canadian history,” asserted Diocson.
At the roundtable discussion, Cotler specially
mentioned that more work needs to be done for Filipino
women and the LCP.

Diocson also expressed concern for the lack of
government support and resources provided to
organizations like the Philippine Women Centre of BC
and NAPWC that has done much work in supporting
trafficked Filipino women in Canada. At the beginning of this year, the Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) held a National Consultation to review the Live-in Caregiver Program. The NAPWC awaits the report of the National Consultation and the possible changes to the LCP. According to the CIC, the report should be released soon.

For more information contact Cecilia Diocson at pwc@kalayaancentre.net