SOROPTIMISTs STOP TRAFFICKING UPDATES

Logo Competition

Seventeen clubs submitted entries to the STOP Trafficking Logo Competition, designed to raise public awareness of the heinous crime of sex trafficking. On November 25, 2008, entries were reviewed and selected by a panel of three judges comprised of artists Mr. Allan and Mrs. Ivy Cosio and Marikina City Museum Director Ms. Edna dela Paz. The winners were awarded cash prizes as follows:

The logo design of the First Prize Winner will be used by SIPR for Soroptimist t-shirts and other novelty items, accessories and signages. Clubs must use the logo for branding Soroptimist STOP trafficking projects in tarpaulins, streamers, posters, leaflets and seminar materials. It may not be used for materials intended for sale without the permission of SIPR. To download the logo, please go to the Resources Section of this website.

SIPR and POEA Partnership

A Memorandum of Agreement between the Philippine Overseas (POEA) and SIPR was signed on November 26, 2008, to join hands and coordinate efforts to implement an intensified information and awareness campaign on human trafficking, especially of women and girls, as it impacts on the Philippines overseas employmnent program.

Under the Agreement, POEA shall provide SIPR with information materials, training on capability enhancement and support anti-trafficking efforts of SIPR. Meanwhile, SIPR shall include the conduct of the pre-employment orientation seminar and other anti-illegal recruitment training in its education programs, assist in the distribution and dissemination of information on overseas employment and establish a pool of resource persons who will conduct the PEOS among its target beneficiaries.

As a follow through to this Agreement, 67 Soroptimists participated in a Capability Enhancement Training on January 30, 2009 conducted by POEA. (Please see related article under the News and Events Section: Soroptimists Attend Capability Enhancement Training.) Soroptimists have since been disseminating information about the government’s anti-illegal recruitment program and have displayed POEA posters in barangay offices, schools and malls in their communities. A more comprehensive Soroptimist action plan for implementation in 2009-2010, which integrates POEA’s programs, is under preparation.

TESDA Scholarship Grants

SI Manila Tourist Belt (SIMTB) has very actively focused on STOP Trafficking projects. Club President Lita Hizon signed a Memorandum of Agreement with Director-General Augusto Syjuco of the Technical and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), to provide scholarship grants to (a) women victims of trafficking to help them in their rehabilitation; (b) out-of-school girls; and (c) OFWs who have been sent home because of the current financial crisis. Women who are at least 18 years old are eligible to apply for a Php5,000 scholarship grant to be used in available courses at the TESDA. Also, the Pangulong Gloria Scholarship (PGS) has been made available by TESDA comprising 2-3 week courses in Mechatronics (Industrial Automation) and Instrumentation, for those who are thinking of a career shift, for training or retooling particularly those OFWs who have been sent home because of the world financial crisis. Please send the bio-data of referees together with your recommendation letter to SIPR - attention of Ms. Estrelita S. Hizon, SIMTB Club President, to directly to her at estrelitahizon@yahoo.com or to stoptrafficking@soroptimistphil.org.

Awareness Campaign and other Trafficking Projects

All Soroptimist clubs have been busy in their respective localities in the campaign to raise awareness and help victims of human trafficking, particularly of women and girls. SI Alabang, SI Albay Magayon, SI Daet, SI Eastwood, SI Mandaluyong, SI Pandi, SI Rizal, SI San Juan, SI San Jose Del Monte 1 and 2 and SI Sta. Maria and many other clubs have been conducting awareness seminars in their communities. SI Baguio has been actively involved not only in raising awareness but also helping survivors. SI Manila Tourist Belt put up three very large tarpaulins in strategic locations in Metro Manila. SI Makati has been assisting the women’s shelter of Sr. Sol Perpinan where abused and trafficked women are receiving care and assistance. SI Antipolo, SI Lucena and SI Taguig have helped police in the apprehension of traffickers and in the rehablitation of trafficked girls. SI Gumaca built a women’s shelter with the help of the Congressional Spouses Foundation Inc. and the Office of Congressman Erin Tanada. SI Davao is helping a school for abused/trafficked women and girls and SI Bocaue is supporting Bahay Pangarap, a shelter for women. All efforts, large or small, contribute towards SIPR’s awareness campaign to stop the trafficking of women and girls and to rehabilitate and integrate women survivors back into society. Please make sure that you report your STOP Trafficking projects to SIPR together with the Governor’s Annual Club Award form. Reports are due 5 April 2009.

SIA’s STOP Trafficking: Project Report Form

To document the overall impact Soroptimist has had in raising awareness of sex trafficking and the work to end sex slavery, clubs must submit he Soroptimists STOP Trafficking Project Report Form to SIA by April 1, 2009. Clubs that submit reports will receive a certificate of participation from SIA and the information provided will be directly inputted into the SI programs database. Forms are downloadable from the Resources: Forms Section of this website. Submit your reports via mail, email or fax to SIA.

By: Bing R. Grande

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Soroptimists STOP Trafficking: Project Report Form