DFA chief, ASEAN head meet over OFW, trafficking issues

Published May 11, 2011 9:33am

Secretary-General Surin Pitsuwan of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Department of Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario met in Jakarta, Indonesia to discuss migrant workers' concerns, human trafficking, and other issues. At the sidelines of the 18th ASEAN Summit in Jakarta on May 7, the two officials discussed the concerns of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and victims of human trafficking. According to a press statement of the DFA, Del Rosario also mentioned to Pitsuwan the Philippinesâ€™ priority programs to achieve the region's vision of building a stronger ASEAN Community by 2015:

completing the "Instrument for the Implementation of the Declaration on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers;"

drawing up guidelines on the implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC-SCS);

adoption of an ASEAN Convention on Trafficking in Persons (ACTIP);

participating in the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) to improve the region's disaster management strategies;

combating piracy because 25% of the worldâ€™s seafarers are Filipinos;

working toward a "drug-free" ASEAN;

resolving issues in the SEANWFZ Treaty, with the goal of having the Nuclear Weapon States (NWS) join the protocol;

the ratification of remaining ASEAN Member States of ASEAN Center for Biodiversity (ACB) Establishment Agreement to provide full capacity for ASEAN to protect the regionâ€™s biodiversity;

supporting ASEAN's education initiatives such as the Singapore-proposed Community and Harmony in ASEAN through Tertiary Education Relations (CHARTER); and

supporting a study on the establishment of an ASEAN Institute for Peace and Reconciliation. - VVP, GMA News

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