To date, there are existing guidelines in providing psycho-social services to abused children, building communities that protect children from abuse, and building child-protective communities.However, there are no specific standards in building communities that protect children from trafficking.There is, however, an existing guideline in providing services for trafficked children: the Philippine Guidelines for the Protection of Trafficked Children. Despite this, there are continuous challenges, just as clearly defining standards in building communities that will protect children from trafficking.

PACT is in the process of developing and pursuing the adoption of the Standards in Building Communities That Will Protect Children From Trafficking, better known as the Child Protection Standards (CPS).

The first stakeholder consultation was initiated in December 2012 by PACT and supported by the DSWD during which time PACT’s initial draft of the CPS was examined and enriched by representatives from the following organizations and advocates that were part of the CPS Technical Working Group, among others:

Council for the Welfare of Children
End Child Prostitution
Child Pornography and Trafficking of Children for Sexual Purposes
International Justice Mission
NGO Coalition to Monitor the UNCRC
Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Child Sexual Abuse
Salvatorian Pastoral Care for Children
Laura Vicuna Foundation

Components of the Standards for Building Communities that Protect Children from Trafficking

Standard 1. Ordinances, policies & guidelines enacted/adopted embodying the principles of the CRC, translated in local language/dialect, written/published, promoted & distributed to all stakeholders in the community, including the children.

Standard 2. Prevention of Child Trafficking. Measures to minimize the occurrence of abuse & exploitation of children, particularly trafficking of children undertaken by the community and the stakeholders, including the children.

Standard 3. Comprehensive Program for Trafficked Children. A comprehensive program for the protection of trafficked children from rescue, recovery and the child’s reintegration in the community implemented by trained service providers of LGUs, NGOs & other stakeholders.

Standard 4. Access to Justice. Arrangements made to provide legal information/advice, representation and protection to child victims of trafficking.

Standard 5. Child Participation. Opportunities for trafficked children and other children to express their views and to participate in matters relative to their lives and the community, considering their evolving capacities and emotional maturity.

Standard 6. Capacity Building & Support for Service Providers; to ensure provision of quality services to trafficked children.

Standard 7. Institutional Mechanisms. Mechanisms & structures in the community to support the protection of trafficked children.