National Human Rights Commission urges government to strengthen economic rights to prevent human trafficking
The root cause of human trafficking ( TPPO ) is linked to the right to welfare and employment for the public. The National Human Rights Commission ( Komnas HAM ) has urged the government to strengthen the fulfillment of people’s economic rights to prevent human trafficking ( TPPO ), which continues to evolve, including through digital-based modus operandi and cybercrime. Komnas HAM Chairman Anis Hidayah stated that human trafficking cannot be separated from poverty and limited access to decent work for the public. ‘The root cause of TPPO is linked to the right to welfare and employment for the public. If the state can fulfill these rights, human trafficking will significantly decrease,’ she said in a statement in Jakarta on Tuesday. ‘Human trafficking in Indonesia shows an emergency situation. Victims from vulnerable groups such as women, children, and migrant workers are experiencing a sharp increase,’ she added.
In addition to strengthening public economic rights, Komnas HAM also urged the government and DPR RI to immediately amend Law No. 21 of 2007 on the Eradication of TPPO to be more adaptable to the evolving digital-based human trafficking crimes. Anis explained that technological advancements have changed the modus operandi of human trafficking, including online scam practices that ensnare Indonesian citizens in various countries.
Komnas HAM also identified various issues in handling TPPO cases at the regional level, including in Nusa Tenggara Timur ( NTT ), which has high vulnerability to trafficking. To address this, Komnas HAM has formed a specialized team to review the implementation of the TPPO law while strengthening prevention and victim protection measures.
These points were raised during a cross institutional hearing with House of Representatives Commission XIII, attended by the National Commission on Violence Against Women, the Witness and Victim Protection Agency, Ministry of Human Rights, and Ministry of Immigration and Correctional Affairs.