Task force needed to fight women, children trafficking<\/p>\n
Abu Hanifah, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Women and children trafficking, which has earned Indonesia a
\nbad name, is showing no sign of abating because the government
\nlacks the commitment to stop it, an activist and a legislator
\nsay.<\/p>\n
President Megawati Soekarnoputri has often expressed her
\npersonal concern about the matter but her administration is yet
\nto do anything concrete about it, they say.<\/p>\n
National Commission for Women (Komnas Perempuan) head
\nSaparinah Sadli proposed that the government establish a special
\ntask force to solve the problem.<\/p>\n
\"Although I know it won't solve the problem thoroughly, it
\nwill at least show the government's concern about the issue,\"
\nSaparinah told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
The task force should consist of representatives from various
\nagencies, such as local administrations, police, experts,
\nactivists and the foreign affairs ministry, she said.<\/p>\n
The United Nations (UN) has categorized Indonesia as among the
\nworst in the world for human trafficking because the country has
\nno adequate legislation on the trade.<\/p>\n
The recent People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Annual Session
\nrecommended the government ratify the 1949 UN convention on human
\ntrafficking and establish a task force to deal with the problem.<\/p>\n
Saparinah said there was no need for the government to ratify
\nanother convention as it already ratified numerous conventions on
\nrelated issues, such as the convention on discrimination against
\nwomen.<\/p>\n
\"Without ratifying another convention, the government already
\nhas obligations to fight women and children trafficking
\nactivities,\" Saparinah said.<\/p>\n
Separately, House of Representatives Commission VII on
\npeople's welfare chairman Taufik Ruki pointed out that the
\ngovernment had neither the concept nor the political will.<\/p>\n
\"The government still regards the problem as purely criminal,
\nwhereas the substance is wider than that,\" Taufik told the Post.<\/p>\n
Taufik said that although the president raised her concerns
\nabout women and children trafficking when addressing the Annual
\nSession on Oct. 1, 2001, the administration was yet to carry out
\nthe recommendation.<\/p>\n
He said that people trafficking had become an intricate
\nproblem in Indonesia because of acute poverty. The basic thing
\nthat Indonesia should do to stop the trafficking was to eradicate
\npoverty.<\/p>\n
\"Indeed it will take time. But once the poverty problem is
\nresolved, the women and children trafficking may also be
\nresolved,\" Taufik said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/task-force-needed-to-fight-women-children-trafficking-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}