𝐅𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐨 𝐒𝐮𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐯𝐨𝐫 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒 𝐏𝐀𝐅𝐈𝐎𝐎 𝐁𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐚𝐠 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐞 𝐙𝐢𝐭𝐚 𝐓. 𝐂𝐚𝐛𝐚𝐢𝐬 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐬 𝐚𝐭 𝐊𝐚𝐳𝐚𝐤𝐡𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐋𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐫 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐮𝐦

From surviving trafficking to becoming one of the most respected Filipino voices on migrant workers’ rights, Ms. Zita T. Cabais, a 2024 Presidential Awards for Filipino Individuals and Organizations Overseas (PAFIOO) awardee under the Banaag Category, continues to show what courage and advocacy can achieve.

On 7 November 2025, Ms. Cabais represented the Philippines at the “Forum on Combating Trafficking in Persons for Labor Exploitation” held in Astana, Kazakhstan. Organized by the Ministry of Internal Affairs with the support of the International Organization for Migration (UN Migration Agency), the forum brought together representatives from government agencies, international experts, and civil society from Kazakhstan, the United Kingdom, the United States, Italy, France, and other countries.

During the Panel Session “Modern Trends and Challenges in Combating Trafficking in Persons for Labor Exploitation,” Ms. Cabais highlighted the realities of domestic labor exploitation, the vulnerabilities faced by workers, and the urgent need for stronger protections, better migration regulation, and coordinated support among governments, civil society, unions, and survivor-led organizations.

𝘍𝘶𝘭𝘭 𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘰 𝘢𝘷𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘐𝘖𝘔 𝘊𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘈𝘴𝘪𝘢 𝘍𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘱𝘢𝘨𝘦:

Photos by IOM Central Asia