Ministry of Social Affairs Ensures Seven Baby Trafficking Victims Receive Safe Care and Rehabilitation
Jakarta — The Ministry of Social Affairs has guaranteed that seven infants secured in the disclosure of an alleged human trafficking case involving the buying and selling of babies will receive protection, social rehabilitation, and safe care during legal proceedings.
“We ensure that children who are victims are in a safe situation, their basic needs are met, and their rights are protected. For the time being, they are under our care until further decisions are made,” said Agung Suhartoyo, Director of Child Social Rehabilitation at the Ministry of Social Affairs, in a press conference at National Police Headquarters in Jakarta on Wednesday.
He explained that assessment results will be submitted to investigators as part of the Ministry of Social Affairs’ support for the law enforcement process conducted by the National Police.
The ministry also provides social rehabilitation services for children affected by the case.
During the conference, Agung also mentioned that the social affairs ministry is investigating child adoption practices, which is said to be one of the methods used by perpetrators in this alleged human trafficking case.
The Ministry of Social Affairs has emphasised that child adoption cannot be conducted arbitrarily; all procedures are regulated through Government Regulation Number 54/2007 and strengthened in Ministerial Regulation Number 110/2009 concerning Requirements for Child Adoption.
The procedures involve district and city social services offices, followed by assessment by the Child Adoption Consideration Team at provincial level, and social worker oversight for six months before finalisation.
According to Agung, these procedures aim to ensure child adoption is conducted in accordance with regulations and prioritises the best interests of the child, so it does not need to be carried out through unlawful unofficial channels.
The Directorate of Crimes Against Women, Children and Human Trafficking of the National Police’s Criminal Investigation Division previously designated 12 individuals as suspects in a human trafficking case using the method of buying and selling babies. Seven babies were secured.
Based on confessions given to police investigators, the perpetrators sold babies through social media channels such as Facebook and TikTok, disguised as adoption or child custody processes.
Evidence seized from this case includes 21 mobile phones, 17 ATM cards, 74 documents, and one baby equipment bag.
For their actions, the suspects are charged under multiple provisions, namely Article 76F in conjunction with Article 83 of Law Number 35 of 2014 concerning Amendments to Law Number 23 of 2002 on Child Protection.
Additionally, Article 6 of Law Number 21 of 2007 on the Eradication of Human Trafficking Offences, and Article 455 in conjunction with Article 20 of Law Number 1 of 2023 on Domestic Human Trafficking.