NAITALAGA si dating Labor undersecretary at OFW advocate Susan “Toots” Ople bilang kauna-unahang Filipino na miyembro ng Board of Trustees of the United Nations Trust Fund for Victims of Human Trafficking, ayon kay Director-General and Executive Director Ghada Fatha Waly ng United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
Base sa records ng Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), kauna-unahang Filipino si Ople, pinakabatang anak ni yumaong Foreign Affairs Secretary at Senate President Blas F. Ople na naitalaga sa naturang posisyon.
Ipinagdiwang ng UN Trust Fund for Victims of Human Trafficking ang kanilang 10th anniversary sa taong ito.
“I am confident that with your invaluable support and guidance, many victims and survivors of human trafficking around the world will be able to receive much needed assistance,” ayon kay Waly sa kanyang congratulatory letter kay Ople.
Bahagi ang Trust Fund bilang integral element ng United Nations Global Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons, na pinagtibay ng General Assembly noong July 2010.
Simula nang maitayo, ang Trust Fund ay nagbibigay ng direktang humanitarian, legal at financial assistance sa libu-libong biktima sa pamamagitan ng grassroots non-governmental organization projects.
Makakasama ni Ople ang iba pang miyembro sa Board mula sa Belgium, Armenia, Nigeria at Panama.
“I am deeply honored and humbled by this vote of confidence from no less than the UNODC and the UN Trust Fund for Victims of Human Trafficking. I look forward to making a difference in the lives not only of abused Filipino overseas workers but victims of slavery and human trafficking of all nationalities across the globe,” ayon kay Ople.
Pinamumunuan niya ang Blas F. Ople Policy Center and Training Institute, isang non-profit organization na tumutulong sa distressed OFWs sa nakalipas na 16 taon.
Kumakatawan ang Ople Center sa NGO Sector for Migrant Workers sa Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT).
Ang IACAT sa pamamagitan ng Department of Justice at Department of Foreign Affairs ang nagnomina kay Ople sa naturang posisyon. (ESTONG REYES)
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