Indonesia launches village action campaign to combat human trafficking
The ministry’s Secretary General, Taufik Madjid, said on Thursday that villages hold a strategic position in preventing human trafficking, as approximately 91 percent of Indonesia’s territory is rural. This makes village governments the first line of defense in identifying potential vulnerabilities to human trafficking.
“We position villages as the vanguard for all village development policies. We also recognize villages as the closest level of government to communities, holding a strategic and crucial role in combating human trafficking,” he stated at the commemoration of World Day Against Trafficking in Persons in Jakarta on Thursday.
To strengthen these efforts, his office outlined five systematic steps under the initiative.
First, villages must map vulnerabilities to identify families and areas most at risk while maintaining community confidentiality. Second, they must improve prevention capabilities by providing clear information on employment and safe migration procedures.
Third, villages should establish accessible and trusted community reporting channels for residents seeking help. Fourth, they should implement simple procedures for protecting victims and referring suspected human trafficking cases to relevant authorities or task forces. Fifth, they must ensure the availability of assistance and rehabilitation for repatriated victims to support their reintegration into society.
“The success of these efforts should not be measured by the number of meetings we hold, the banners we display, or the teams we establish. Instead, it should be measured by the outcomes we achieve in anticipating, preventing, and addressing human trafficking,” Madjid emphasized.
He added that village governments are encouraged to work closely with higher levels of government, law enforcement agencies, and state institutions such as the Witness and Victim Protection Agency (LPSK) to ensure cases are handled effectively and in accordance with established procedures.
Related news: Govt bolsters collaboration to protect human trafficking victims
Related news: RI, Cambodia discuss human trafficking and public sector reform
Translator: Devi Nindy Sari, Resinta Sulistiyandari