Gender and Development (GAD): An Approach to Counter Human Trafficking

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“Gender and Development (GAD): An Approach to Counter Trafficking in Persons”
A Reaction Paper presented to
Dr. Armando C. Sumamad of the Graduate School
of Southern de Oro Philippines College
Cagayan de Oro City
In Partial Fulfilment of the Requirement in EDUC 203 –
SCHOOL LAWS AND FINANCE WITH PHILIPPINE CONSTITUTION
Submitted by:
Lydia M. Llido
May 25, 2019

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
I. INTRODUCTION ……………………………………………………………………….. 3
II. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM …………………………………………………… 4
III. ANALYSIS ……………………………………………………………………………… 9
IV. CONCLUDING STATEMENT ……………………………………………………….. 10
V. RECOMMENDATION …………………………………………………………………. 11
VI. REFERENCES ………………………………………………………………………… 12

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I. INTRODUCTION
Trafficking is the illegal trade in persons by force, deception, violence, taking
advantage of vulnerability, or similar means, for the purpose of exploitation such as forced
labor, sexual exploitation, removal and sale of organs, and armed activities (Roby, et. al.,
2008).
In a survey conducted by the United Nations headed by Aronowitz (2002), 2.4
million people across the globe are victims of human trafficking at any one time, with 80
percent of them exploited as sex slaves. In sex trafficking alone, children and adults
especially female are abused in the commercial sex industry, generating profits of $99
billion annually for the criminals who exploit them. Eight out of every 10 victims of human
trafficking are female, and four out of these eight are minors.
As a major source of migrant workers all over the world (International Labor
Organization, n.d), the Philippines is no stranger to human trafficking – victims are subject
to contract violations regarding pay and working conditions, domestic abused, are
deceived about the nature of work, are forced into sexual contact with customers, and
subjected to various forms of coercion, manipulation, physical and sexual assaults.
Significant among these are its increasing magnitude and global reach of women
and children to be considered as the majority of those trafficked. With this problem, the
Gender and Development (GAD) approach is utilized in the Philippines to conquer human
trafficking. In an attempt to create gender equality, (denoting women having same
opportunities as men, including ability to participate in the public sphere) GAD policies
aim to redefine traditional gender expectations (male migrate, but women are trafficked).

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And thus, this gender approach will be woman-oriented but not woman-exclusive in the
sense of equity which prioritizes the oppressed (women, children, poor) to represent
human rights for all.
I believe that the study of this issue could be interesting and useful for the society
for it provide awareness on the extensive human trafficking in the Philippines especially
its vulnerability to a type of gender whether residing here or overseas. It is also important
to recognize the approach and programs that are implemented by the government to
prevent this issue as a means to know where we can direct help.
II. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
The focus of this paper is to shed more light in the effects of human trafficking
which is linked to gender based-role and violence, and expound the Gender and
Development approach as a solution to countering human trafficking. With this, the paper
seeks to answer the following questions:
A. what is the Gender and Development (GAD) approach?
B. what are the negative effects of human trafficking to women?
C. how does the Gender and Development approach counter human trafficking?
D. what are the gender development programs and laws that counter human trafficking
in the Philippines?

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II.A. Gender and Development Approach
As introduced by the Biodiversity of Management Bureau (2016) in its article, the
Philippine Commission on Women defined Gender and Development (GAD) as the
development perspective and process that is participatory and empowering, equitable,
sustainable, free from violence, respectful of human rights, supportive of self-
determination and actualization of human potentials. Gender and Development was
developed in the 1980’s as an alternative to the Women in Development (WID) approach.
Unlike WID, the GAD approach is not concerned specifically with women, but with the
way in which a society assigns roles, responsibilities, and expectations to both men and
women. GAD focus primarily on two major frameworks, Gender Roles and Social
Relations Analysis. Gender role focus on social construction of identities within the
household, it also reveals the expectations from ‘maleness and femaleness’ in their
relative access to resources. Social relations analysis exposes the social dimensions of
hierarchical power relations imbedded in social institutions; also it’s determining influence
on ‘the relative position of men and women in society.
II.B. The Negative Effects of the Problem
The act of trafficking and the attendant human rights violations can have very
serious consequences for the victim, these are the following effects (Stop Violence
Against Women, 2018):

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a. Trafficking victims often suffer from serious physical abuse and physical exhaustion,
as well as starvation. Typical injuries can include broken bones, concussion, bruising or
burns, as well as other injuries consistent with assault.
b. Trafficking victims are often made to participate in sexual activities through physical or
non-physical force, which can consist of pressure from someone with authority over them,
bribery or manipulation or impairment from alcohol or drugs. After experiencing sexual
assault, a woman may experience a range of physical consequences and emotional
reactions, including severe stress and depression.
c. Women who work in the commercial sex trade are vulnerable to sexual and
reproductive health complications, including sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and
other gynecological problems. Women who work as prostitutes experience high rates of
abortion, sterilization and infertility.
d. This type of physical and sexual abuse described above leads to severe mental or
emotional health consequences, including feelings of severe guilt, post-traumatic stress
disorder, depression, anxiety, substance abuse (alcohol or narcotics) and eating
disorders. In extreme cases, the mental anguish can lead to self-mutilation and/or suicide.
Some of these serious injuries can cause lasting health problems and may require
long-term treatment. I realized that victims of trafficking often need psychological care
also as part of standard medical treatment. I believe that not only are the victims affected
but as well as their family and the nation. As my insight, crime rate would tend to increase,
and the more the reputation of the country tends to be labeled as easily accessible to
trafficking, the more it will come.

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II.C. Gender and Development Approach to Counter Human Trafficking
The following are preventive strategies that have been identified in the GAD approach
(D’Cunha, 2002):
1. Economic empowerment for women and girls
2. Providing education for sustainable livelihoods and resilience
3. Social security and protection of women and children in difficult circumstances
4. Legal strategies
5. Safe migration and citizenship rights for women and adolescent girls;
6. Transforming male-centered perceptions, attitudes and practice related to men
and women, their bodies and sexuality.
II.D. Gender and Development Laws and Programs
Philippine Plan for Gender and Development, 1995-2025, is a National Plan that
addresses, provides and pursues full equality and development for men and women.
Approved and adopted by former President Fidel V. Ramos as Executive No. 273, on
September 8, 1995, it is the successor of the Philippine Development Plan for Women,
1989-1992 adopted by Executive No. 348 of February 17, 1989 (Biodiversity of
Management Bureau, 2016).
Congress ratified the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act (Republic Act No. 9208) in 2003. The
law was further strengthened by the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act (RA 10364). Our
law is considered one of the best legislative measures among developing countries, imposing
strict punishment for violators (Urada, et. al., 2014).

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A Memorandum Circular No. 2011 – 01 dated October 21, 2011 was released
addressing to all Government Departments including their attached agencies, offices,
bureaus, State Universalities and Colleges (SUCs), Government-Owned and Controlled
Corporations (GOCCs) and all other government instrumentalities as their guidelines and
procedures for the establishment, strengthening and institutionalization of the GAD Focal
Point System (GFPS).
In 2014, a dedicated National Anti-Trafficking Unit under the Philippine National
Police’s Women and Children Protection Center was created. Last December, the
government of Taguig city government raised the bar in local legislation by passing not
only a city-level ordinance but also ordinances in all of its barangays against human
trafficking and sexual exploitation of children (Urada, et. al., 2014).
Today, four front-runners in the fight against human trafficking are joining forces
with the goal of consolidating the efforts of local governments in Metro Manila. The
Department of Interior and Local Government-NCR, together with the International
Justice Mission, ABS-CBN LingkodKapamilyaFoundation, and the government of Taguig
are holding a summit, “Breaking Free: End Modern-Day Slavery,” with the theme “Unifying
Local Government Units Against Human Trafficking” at Enderun Colleges in McKinley
Hill, Taguig (Morales, n.d.).
Indeed, there have been tangible results in the advocacy, strengthening hope for
our public justice system which includes law enforcement, prosecution, the judiciary and
social services. Toward a transformed public justice system, not only the commitment of
the national government agencies concerned but also the dedication of our local

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government units is necessary. It is also hoped that the improving trust of the general
public will result in the heightened participation of various sectors, particularly civil society
organizations, religious groups and the youth.
III. ANALYSIS
There are many factors that drive trafficking – skewed processes of socio-
economic and political development, marked by class, gender, ethnic concerns, and
bound to larger global processes lay the ground for trafficking. But significant among
these are its increasing magnitude and global reach of women and children to be
considered as the majority of those trafficked. Still, the gender dimension touches the
class, culture, education and societal perspective of a person.
In a study published by D’Cunha (2002), these are the following situations that
reveal how women and even children (mostly girls) are more prone to trafficking:
a. Outsourcing, sub-contracting and relocation to cheaper production in sites in
developing countries have generated a growing informal labour-intensive manufacturing
and service sector. The informal sector characterized by flexible, insecure, low waged
and unprotected employment, monopolized by women, creates supply pressures for
migration and trafficking;
b. Sale of women and girls into marriage; willingness to marry women/girls off even to
strangers who make no monetary demands, thus predisposing them to trafficking; sale of
women and girls into prostitution when sexuality acquires an attractive market value.

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c. The death of parents, guardians, child abuse and incest, marital discord and family
disintegration create emotionally and economically vulnerable children, whom traffickers
prey on as they try to escape oppressive situations.
These are few of the situations that tend to create a skewed demographic balance
in favour of women, the aged and children, and a sharp increase in woman-headed
households. The disintegration of family, community and state support systems, prompts
women to flee in desperation in search of physical and economic security, rendering them
more vulnerable to traffickers.
IV. CONCLUDING STATEMENT
Trafficking is an increasingly important development issue, particularly for many of
the poorest countries and poorer regions of less poor countries. Trafficking in women and
children is a major component of global trafficking, especially here in the Philippines.
Women’s rights as human rights must lie at the core of any meaningful
development and anti-trafficking strategy for they are more vulnerable to this issue. And
thus by 1980s, the Gender and Development approach was implemented with the goal
to create gender equity and GAD policies which aim to redefine traditional gender
expectations. The following are GAD approach’s preventive strategies to counter human
trafficking: economic empowerment for women and girls; providing education for
sustainable livelihoods and resilience; social security and protection of women and
children in difficult circumstances; legal strategies; safe migration and citizenship rights
for women and adolescent girls; and transforming male-centered perceptions, attitudes

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and practice related to men and women, their bodies and sexuality. Up until today,
programs and laws have been realized by the leaders to alleviate this issue.
As for my point, respect and deep understanding of everyone’s universal right
should always be put into mind. I believe that human rights should be equally enjoyed by
all without intended or unintended discrimination, on grounds of race, colour, sex, religion,
political or other opinion, nationality or social origin, property, birth or status. No one
deserves to be treated by others like just a mere object.
V. RECOMMENDATION
Here is my compiled list on how to avoid being a human trafficking victim (Shelter
for Victims in Human Trafficking, 2010):
1. be wary of very attractive work opportunities.
2. if you are offered a very attractive work opportunity outside your country, make sure
you ask lots of detailed questions and get convincing answers.
3. contact the embassy of country in which you are thinking of working before you
travel, and make sure your register at your national embassy as soon as you arrive in
the country of your work.
4. read employment offers and contracts carefully before you sign them.
5. seek advice and guidance from people with occupational and legal experience before
taking the job.
6. ensure you leave your address and telephone numbers with family members and
friends before you travel (these details shall be ascertained before travelling).

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7. keep a copy of your passport and ID card in a safe place.
8. know your rights and duties fully before agreeing to any employment offer.
9. avoid employment offers that come through the internet.
10. be wary of offers of engagement and marriage that come through the internet.
VI. REFERENCES
Aronowitz, A. A. (2002). The United Nations global programme against trafficking in
human beings: Research and lessons learned. International Journal of
Comparative and Applied Criminal Justice, 26(2), 257-275.
D’Cunha, J. (2002, November). Trafficking in persons: a gender and rights perspective.
In Expert Group Meeting on Trafficking in women and girls (pp. 18-22).
Biodiversity of Management Bureau, 2016. Gender and Development. Retrieved from
http://bmb.gov.ph/gender-and-development-gad, accessed May 23, 2019
International Labor Organization. Surveys of Human Trafficking in the Philippines.
Retrieved from https://www.ilo.org/global/lang--en/index.htm, accessed May 23,
2019.
Ralph Reuben C. Morales. Tangible Results in Efforts Against Human Trafficking in PH.
Retrieved from https://www.cfo.gov.ph/news/cfo-news-and-events/3418-tangible-
results-in-efforts-against-human-trafficking-in-ph-2.html, accessed May 23, 2019.
Roby, J. L., Turley, J., & Cloward, J. G. (2008). US response to human trafficking: Is it
enough?. Journal of Immigrant & Refugee Studies, 6(4), 508-525.
Shelter for Victims in Human Trafficking, 2010. How to avoid becoming a human
trafficking victim. Retrieved from
http://www.shwc.ae/portal/how.to.avoid.human.trafficking.victim.aspx, accessed
May 23, 2019.
Stop Violence Against Women, 2018. Effects and consequences of trafficking in

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women. Retrieved from
http://hrlibrary.umn.edu/svaw/trafficking/explore/4effects.htm, accessed May 23,
2019.
Urada, L. A., Silverman, J. G., Cordisco Tsai, L., & Morisky, D. E. (2014). Underage
youth trading sex in the Philippines: trafficking and HIV risk. AIDS care, 26(12),
1586-1591.