Ban on human trafficking urged

JAKARTA: Some 27 Islamic women's groups within the Indonesian Women's Islamic Council Organization called on Tuesday for the government to ratify a 1949 international convention that banned trafficking in women and children.

"Ratification is very crucial due to widespread trafficking in women and children," Azizah Sri Wedari Imam, the Organization's chairwomen, said here on the sidelines of the group's 10th national gathering.

She charged that the UN's perception was that the country was not serious in trying to stop the illegal trade in women and children.

She added that Indonesia also lacked sufficient legislation to tackle such problems. -- Antara