To be a victim of human trafficking is one of the worst things that can happen to a person who only wants to work and earn a decent living. This illegal activity is very inhumane because the victims are thrown into the pit of  forced labor or commercial sexual exploitation.

Fortunately, different organizations all over the world are now working to eradicate human trafficking or what they call “modern day slavery. In the Philippines, the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) recently launched a hotline number that victims of human trafficking can call for assistance.

Through the “1343 Actionline Against Human Trafficking” project of the CFO, victims of human trafficking can easily seek for help by calling the hotline numbers:

For those from the Philippines, the number to call is: (02) 1343

For those calling from abroad, the number to call is: (632) 1343

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) announced that overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) that are caught in the hostilities in Syria can get in touch with the Philippine Embassy or call the hotline numbers to seek assistance and to inform if they want to be repatriated.

Filipinos in Syria can call hotline numbers of the Philippine Embassy, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Overseas Workers and Welfare Administration (OWWA). These are the hotline numbers:

Philippine Embassy in Damascus, Syria: 00-963-116-132626
DFA Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs (DFA-OUMWA): 834-3245 and 834-3240.
OWWA 24/7 Assistance Center: 8336992, 5511560, and 09178986992

Affected OFWs and their families can also voiced out their concerns by ending an email to the Embassy at: pe.damascus@gmail.com or to OWWA at syria@owwa.gov.ph

An estimate of 17,000 Filipinos are currently working and living in Syria, but only 2,287 are documented as of July 2011. The Philippine government is encouraging them to seek repatriation.

For the benefit of OFWs that are in the midst of the crisis in the countries of Libya and other Middle Eastern countries, here are the contact details of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) 24/7 Operations Center. The details below are also applicable for friends of affected OFWs in New Zealand.

OWWA’s 24/7 OPERATIONS CENTER
Address: 7th St. cor. F.B. Harrison Pasay City, Philippines

OVERSEAS POST HOTLINES (Middles East Crisis)
DFA HOTLINE Nos. – 834-4488 / 834-4596 / 834-4580

LIBYA
00-218-927-485-473
00-218-483-3966
00-218-925-195-079
00-218-728-527-012
00-973-367-464-79

TEL
632.8336992
551-1560
(833OWWA)
632.8917601 – 24

Globe HOTLINE 2917, Press 3 for OWWA
TXT: 63917.898.6992
(TXT.OWWA)
FAX: 632.5516651
E-Mail: opcenter7@owwa.gov.ph, owwa_opcenter@yahoo.com

Filipinos in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) would have an easier time getting in touch with the Philippine Embassy with the 24-hour hotline numbers that they can contact after office hours.

The numbers was posted in the website of the Philippine Embassy and the advisory that was released said that the hotline numbers are availale to Filipinos after regular working hours (from 4pm to 8 am) and on weekends.

Click here to view the 24-hour hotline numbers for Filipinos in Saudi Arabia.