The Philippines

The Philippines is home to over 108 million people and comprises about 7,640 islands in the western Pacific Ocean.

In the Philippines, human trafficking for sexual exploitation affects both genders, however, it is most prevalent amongst young women and girls. Poverty, lack of employment, a dysfunctional family, materialism, peer influence, cultural factors and gender issues are some of the more prominent, complex reasons that women and girls are victimised by human traffickers. Despite existing laws, prostitution among young vulnerable women and girls is a serious issue. About 10,000 women work in this area and more than half of them are underage.