DAVAO CITY, Philippines – Talikala, a non-government organization (NGO) that helps prostituted women and children, held a film forum for this year’s Day of No Prostitution on Friday.
The film shown was entitled “Miya”, which features the true story of five children who engaged in prostitution as means to alleviate their financial situation. With this film, Talikala and involved organizations hope to raise more awareness on the increasing cases of women and child prostitution in the city.
Various guests were invited to the film showing such as the three self-help organizations for women and child prostitution, universities such as the Ateneo de Davao University, and government offices such as the Department of Social Welfare and Development, and NGOs such as Awo International.
A forum was held afterwards to solicit recommendations from the guests on how the city and involved organizations can alleviate the prostitution cases in the city.
Mae Aquino, the head secretariat of CSSDO-DCCWC said everyone must be involved in this campaign.
“It is not only the responsibility of Talikala, but it is a collective effort,” she said.
Meanwhile, concerns were also raised from the women of the self-help organizations.
A woman from Lawig Bubai was concerned with the total implementation of the proclamation of A Day of No Prostitution when various businesses such as massage centers and bars still open on the day.
The city’s observance of No Prostitution Day was adapted from the International Day of No Prostitution Project (INDP) of the Bay Area IDNP Collective in the USA in 2002. (Danielle B. Fanlo/davaotoday.com)
