The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) announced today that the recently released ASEAN Guideline on the Implementation of the Non-Punishment Principle affirms a key protection for victims of human trafficking—recognizing that trafficked persons should not be penalized for unlawful acts committed as a direct consequence of their trafficking experience.

The guideline explains that victims of human trafficking shouldn’t be blamed or punished for illegal things they were forced to do because of their situation. If they broke the law because they were trafficked, they shouldn’t face criminal or administrative charges.

According to the DILG, the release of the guideline marks a proud moment for the Philippine government, which demonstrated strong leadership as the Country Lead Shepherd for the Trafficking in Persons (TIP) priority area. It is also a milestone for the DILG, which served as the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Transnational Crime (AMMTC)-Philippines and the Senior Officials Meeting on Transnational Crime (SOMTC)-Philippines lead.

Through the DILG, SOMTC-Philippines held extensive consultations with other ASEAN Member States, in collaboration with the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR), to craft the guideline aimed at preventing further persecution of trafficking victims.

Officially launched and published in June 2025, the ASEAN Guideline institutionalizes the principle of non-penalization for trafficked persons who commit unlawful acts as a result of their exploitation.

Even though the guideline isn’t a law, it reminds ASEAN countries that they still have a responsibility to follow this principle and protect trafficking victims, based on their own laws and international rules.

DILG Undersecretary and SOMTC-Leader Philippines Nestor Sanares emphasized the need for a human rights-based approach in addressing human trafficking. “Victims of trafficking often endure severe exploitation, and it is our duty to ensure that they receive protection rather than prosecution,” he stated in the published guideline.

Emerging forms of trafficking continue to evolve, with trends such as Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children (OSAEC), forced criminality in scam hubs, cross-border trafficking, and surrogacy-related exploitation posing new challenges.

As the Philippines prepares to host the upcoming ASEAN SOMTC consultations, the government—through the DILG—reiterates its commitment to fostering a responsive and compassionate ASEAN region in the fight against trafficking in persons.

Original Article At: https://www.dilg.gov.ph/news/DILG-ASEAN-Guideline-Affirms-Non-Punishment-Principle-to-Protect-Victims-of-Trafficking-in-Persons/NC-2025-1147