UPM-DSS, University of Southern California hold Global Summer Immersion Program in Manila

From the Department of Social Sciences

The Department of Social Sciences of the University of the Philippines Manila and the School of Social Work of the University of Southern California have partnered for this year’s Global Summer Immersion Program in the Philippines on June 3 to 17, with the theme, “Modern Day Slavery: Combating Human Trafficking in the Philippines.” This year’s batch is composed of 21 graduate students of Social Work and 4 practitioners from USC.

Being under chronic crisis and poverty, the illegal trade of human beings for sexual exploitation or forced labor has long been a problem in the country. More and more Filipinos fall prey to human trafficking due to lack of employment and worsening economic conditions, exacerbated further by government corruption and neglect.

The program seeks to explore and compare social action and social change strategies used in the United States and the Philippines to curb human trafficking activities. UPM-DSS and USC partnered with government agencies, non-governmental and people’s organizations, and other international institutions to see how policy and social services are coordinated to rein in human trafficking. DSS News, 31 May 2012