Sex trafficking in the Philippines

Sex trafficking in the Philippines is human trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation and slavery that occurs in the Republic of the Philippines. The Philippines is a country of origin and, to a lesser extent, a destination and transit for sexually trafficked persons.[1]

Sex trafficking victims in the country are from all ethnic groups in the Philippines and foreigners.[2][3] Filipino citizens, primarily women and girls, have been sex trafficked to the various provinces of the Philippines, as well as other countries in Asia[4] and different continents.[5][6] Some are trafficked using student, intern, and exchange program visas. Children[7][8][9][10] [6][11] and people in poverty[12][13] and with low education levels are vulnerable. Other vulnerable groups include indigenous peoples and those displaced by typhoons[14] and conflict and violence.[6] Sex trafficked victims are deceived[15] and forced into prostitution,[16] marriages,[13][9] pregnancies, and unfree labour.[6] Their documents, including passports, are often confiscated.[6] They are threatened[17] and tied or locked-up[10] and experience physical and psychological trauma.[6] Many suffer from post traumatic stress disorder and nightmares.[10] They contract sexually transmitted diseases from rapes,[10] and abuse, malnutrition, and poor living conditions,[18] including rooms with little ventilation,[19] are common.[6] Cybersex or online sex trafficking and victims being in pornography is a significant problem.[20][21][9][10] Sex trafficking victims are sometimes forced to perform sex acts on live webcams.[6][11] Some have been coerced into bestiality.[10] Traffickers use many different internet and social media sites and apps, as well as email, to lure victims.[6][13]

Sex trafficking and exploitation have permeated all levels of Filipino society. Officials and police have been complicit.[6] A number of traffickers are members of or facilitated by criminal syndicates.[22][6] Some government officials and workers, as well as foreigners, have profited from sex trafficking in the Philippines. The perpetrators are sometimes the victims' family members and friends.[11][9] Pedophiles travel to the country for sex tourism.[23][6][9]

The scale of sex trafficking in the Philippines is difficult to know because of the dearth of data,[24] the underground nature of sex trafficking crimes, the fact that only a small minority of cases are reported to the authorities, and other factors. Corruption is pervasive.[5][6] The government has been criticized for poor anti-sex trafficking law enforcement in some areas and not providing enough victim protections and rehabilitation services.[5][25]