Declaration Of TIP Eradication Is Important So That The Handling Of ASEAN Cross Crimes Is Coordinated

Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Teuku Faizasyah. (ANTARA/HO-Kemlu RI)

LABUAN BAJO - Declaration on the Eradication of Human Trafficking Due to Technology Abuse (TPPO) is urgently needed for the benefit of the ASEAN community, said Foreign Ministry spokesman Teuku Faizasyah.

Faizasyah said that victims of human trafficking were not only from Indonesia, but also other Southeast Asian countries.

"This case of human trafficking is not only felt by Indonesia even though the focus of the incident occurred in countries such as Myanmar, Cambodia, and even in the Philippines. However, the victims are the ASEAN people themselves," said Faizasyah as quoted by ANTARA, Friday, May 12.

Therefore, the declaration from ASEAN leaders is considered very important, especially because transnational crime is now growing in the era of the rise of technology and social media.

ASEAN leaders produced at least 10 documents during the 42nd ASEAN Summit in Labuan Bajo on 10-11 May.

One of the documents produced is the Declaration on the Eradication of Human Trafficking Due to Technology Abuse.

In the declaration, ASEAN leaders agreed to strengthen cooperation and coordination in eradicating human trafficking by increasing the capacity of law enforcement and related institutions of each member state to investigate and collect data and evidence.

In addition, they agreed to increase the legal capacity to identify victims, detect, and try crimes, conduct joint coordinated exercises and operations, as well as joint investigations related to TIP and other transnational crimes.

"The implementation will be carried out by officials who technically handle it, namely the police, immigration, other cyber crimes. All of this will move more coordinated because there is already a fatwa," said Faizasyah.

President Joko Widodo previously emphasized that the eradication of human trafficking must be followed up and he invited ASEAN countries to take firm action against their main actors.