JAKARTA - The changing trade in people keeps up with the times, making efforts to eradicate it cannot rely solely on legal action.
The National Anti-Human Trafficking Network (JarNas APO) encourages the strengthening of coordination between institutions to break the chain of human trafficking crimes (TPPO), including ensuring that victims are protected until they are able to return to independence.
The encouragement is the main agenda in the National Meeting (PerNas) of the APO JarNas which carries the theme "Strengthening the National Anti-Human Trafficking Ecosystem: Policy Reform and Victim Protection in the midst of Changing Modes of Exploitation".
During the forum, the APO JarNas signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with a number of institutions, including the Ministry of Social Affairs, the National Police, the Witness and Victim Protection Agency (LPSK), and the Ministry of Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers (P2MI). Cooperation with a number of other institutions is also being prepared, including with Immigration, the Attorney General's Office, and the Ministry of Empowerment of Women and Child Protection (PPPA).
The Chairman of the General Assembly of JarNas APO Rahayu Saraswati Djojohadikusumo said that cross-agency cooperation was needed so that the handling of TPPO did not run on its own. According to him, the human trafficking syndicate works in an organized manner so that the state also needs a more coordinated system.
"We are signing a memorandum of understanding, a memorandum of understanding. There is with the Ministry of Social Affairs. Of course, today we also signed with the National Police. This means that law enforcement officers are also present and explicitly support the efforts to eradicate human trafficking for all Indonesian citizens so that they can escape from the trap of human trafficking," said Saraswati in West Jakarta, Monday, July 27.
Saraswati assessed that the biggest problem in handling TPPO so far was the communication and coordination between parties that were not optimal. Through the MoU, he hopes that the response to human trafficking cases can be carried out faster, especially when victims need rescue.
"This MOU is certainly hoped to overcome communication problems, coordination problems, collaboration problems. Because without a basis for cooperation in this Memorandum of Understanding, of course, there is less room for faster movements, more coordinated movements," said Saraswati.
He said human trafficking was an extraordinary crime committed by organized networks, even having links to other crimes such as money laundering and drugs.
"Because if the mafia or syndicate can be coordinated because this is an extraordinary crime. This is not only happening across countries, across borders, but in our own country it is actually happening," he said.
In addition to strengthening coordination between institutions, the APO also encourages community involvement in uncovering human trafficking networks. Rahayu appreciated the Polri complaint service through number 110 which can be used by the public to report suspected TPPO.
According to him, the rescue of victims does not stop at the evacuation process. Victims also need to get assistance so that they are not trapped in the human trafficking network again.
"We have Standard Operating Procedures for safe houses, because we want every victim to not only be saved, but later they can also contribute economically again and be independent. So that they do not become victims of repetition, they end up becoming victims even abroad again or being entangled in these syndicates," said Saraswati.
Meanwhile, Minister of Social Affairs Saifullah Yusuf or Gus Ipul said that human trafficking is still a problem that requires joint work. The Ministry of Social Affairs has recorded thousands of survivors who have received rehabilitation and empowerment services.
"The Ministry of Social Data shows, as I have said, during the period from 2011 to 2024, we have served more than 128,000 survivors. For the year 2024 to July, we have served more than 3,000," said Gus Ipul.
Gus Ipul said that assistance to victims was carried out so that they could return to their families and have the ability to start a new life after experiencing exploitation.
According to him, the existence of the APO JarNas is one of the important steps to strengthen collaboration in dealing with human trafficking which is still ongoing.
"That means that human trafficking has not stopped, it needs collaboration, and the initiatives taken by the National Network Against Human Trafficking are really welcome. And we, the stakeholders, yes, want to strengthen that collaboration in more tangible actions," he said.
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