Human trafficking in Mindanao, Philippines

Abstract

Human Trafficking, for the purpose of this thesis, is defined as the legal or illegal transportation and trade of women and girls under the age of 18, through the use of threat, deception, and fraud for the purpose of sexual exploitation or forced labor. It is also commonly called modern day slavery. Human trafficking exploded into the Filipinos' consciousness duririg the early twenty-first century, yet it is nothing new. For decades, many provinces in the northern 'and central regions of the Philippines such as Bicol and Leyte have been identified as the source and destination of trafficked victims.The southernmost Philippine island of Mindanao and Sulu Archipelago have now become a significant source of trafficked beings in the Philippines, and this appears to be a new development. 3 Why are Mindanao women and girls more susceptible to trafficking than those from other parts of the Philippines? I propose that they are more susceptible to trafficking because of the marginalization of Mindanao 'by the Philippine government, which has led to extreme poverty, war and conflict, and the breakdown offamilies and communities. This thesis will examine the following issues: poverty (Chapter 3), war and conflict (Chapter 3), and demand for prostitution (Chapter 4). It will study the period between 1990 to June 2007. This thesis will be based on empirical data, narratives of three survivors, and on the historical events that led to the marginalization of Mindanao and eventual escalation of trafficking.