WeDpro Inc.

WeDpro, Inc. and WeDpro are shortened names for the Women’s Education, Development, Productivity and Research Organization, a non-profit organization in the Philippines that is registered with the Philippine Security and Exchange Commission. It identifies itself as a feminist organization whose main objectives include "the protection and promotion human rights of women, youth and their communities". WeDpro was founded in 1989 by former members of the Katipunan ng Kababaihan para sa Kalayaan (KALAYAAN). WeDpro partners with government agencies (such as local government units in municipalities and cities), non-governmental organizations (such as the Institute for Popular Democracy), and intra-governmental organizations (such as the European Union).
WeDpro Inc.'s Efforts to tackle the problem of Commercial Sexual exploitation of Women
Entrepreneurship Programme for the Urban Poor and Survivors of Violence
This entrepreneurship program targets urban poor communities and survivors of violence & sex trafficking. Together with Nagkakaisang Kababaihan ng Angeles (NAGKA) ("United Women of Angeles") and Buklod ng Kababaihan ("Women Bonding)," WeDpro relaunched its Social Entrepreneurship Program (SEP) in January, 2011. This program was originally established to assist survivors of military prostitution in Olongapo (1980s) and in Angeles(1990s) after the US military left the two cities. The primary purpose of the entrepreneurship program was to provide economic opportunities for the vulnerable and marginalized populations of these young, urban poor women through the development of the micro-enterprises. Examples of these micro-enterprises include textile-based manufacturing, papercrafts making and “ukay-ukay” (sale of vintage/second hand clothes, books and other household items). What started out as an establishment to assist survivors of military prostitution, has evolved since then to champion the causes of vulnerable and marginalized populations of youth and urban poor women.
Involvement in Research
WeDpro Inc. also engages in research and studies directed towards the advancement of these women. In order to promote greater awareness of social issues like women’s rights, it publishes and disseminates the research findings regularly. "Surviving Violence and Trafficking - Stories of Women and Youth", a two-volume research report was launched recently. The publication documented the findings, recommendations and features case studies, that WeDpro came across during its activities in November 2009 for the project, Private and Public Faces of Violence against Women: Addressing Domestic Violence and Trafficking in the Urban Poor Communities and “Entertainment Centers” of Angeles and Olongapo City.
The Youth Tell Their Stories: Breaking Silences, Using Information & Communication Technology (ICT) as Form of Healing
In order to enable the youths to heal from their traumatic experiences of violence and sex trafficking, Wedpro launched a program called The Youth Tell Their Stories: Breaking Silences, Using ICTs as a Form of Healing Workshop. The aim of the program was to provide an opportunity to participants who are mainly young, urban poor women from Angeles and Olongapo to voice out their painful experiences so as to achieve closure and healing. This was done mainly using digital media. The utilization of digital media/art for the sharing process was described as not only therapeutic for story-tellers, but also had the potential of making a bigger impact on the Philippines’ quest against sex trafficking. These sessions were facilitated by relevant experts in the area concerned as well as community activists, both of whom would be working with WeDpro to help in the rehabilitation process of these youth and women.
Limitations of WeDpro Inc.’s Efforts to Combat Sexual Exploitation of Women
Currently, WeDpro Inc.’s major efforts seem to be geared only towards providing rehabilitation for the survivors of the sex industry. WeDpro has had limited success in actually stopping women from being lured into the sex industry by criminal syndicates in the first place. This is because a number of interacting factors such as rural poverty, gender inequality and weak institutions play an overwhelming role in pushing more and more women into urban areas looking for better opportunities. These factors are simply beyond the control of WeDpro.
In the report, Globalization and International Sex Trafficking in Women, which was co-produced by WeDpro Inc. and Coalition Against Trafficking in Women-Asia Pacific (CATW-AP), international migration is cited as the anchor of trafficking for labour and sex. At least 50 million migrants are women and 30 million of them come from developing countries such as the Philippines, Sri Lanka and other South countries. Given the sheer size of the migration of women in the Philippines, the limited reach of WeDpro’s programmes is hardly going to make a dent in the number of women trapped in the sex industry. Furthermore, WeDpro’s efforts are also unfortunately offset by corrupt government officials, the lack of capacity of many immigration authorities to check movements across porous borders and absence of anti-trafficking laws in the Philippines.

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