Jakarta, 06 February 2017 – The Philippines today deposited with the ASEAN Secretary-General its Instrument of Ratification of the ASEAN Convention against Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children (ACTIP).
With this historic submission, the Philippines became the sixth ASEAN Member State to ratify the Convention after Cambodia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and Myanmar. In accordance with the terms of the ACTIP, the Convention will enter into force on the 30th day upon the submission of the instrument of ratification of the sixth ASEAN Member State.
During her call on ASEAN Secretary General Le Luong Minh to deposit the Philippine instrument of ratification, Ambassador Elizabeth P. Buensuceso, Permanent Representative of the Philippines to ASEAN, emphasized that President Rodrigo R. Duterte places high importance to the fight against trafficking in persons, which he reiterated during the launch of the Philippine Chairmanship in Davao City on 15 January 2017. Ambassador Buensuceso also stressed that the ratification of the ACTIP is included in the “dream list” of deliverables during the Philippine Chairmanship of ASEAN this year.
Once the ACTIP enters into force, it will be implemented along with the ASEAN Plan of Action against Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children. As trafficking in persons requires multisectoral collaboration, the relevant ASEAN Sectoral Bodies and Organs are currently discussing measures to coordinate cross-cutting efforts in implementing the ACTIP and APA on both national and regional levels.
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