======The Jakarta Post - Opinion - February 25, 2008 Rossy Verona, Jakarta======
Although it seems impossible to resolve human trafficking completely, countries may try to reduce its impact by developing a preventive approach and by arranging stronger measures, policies and cooperation at various stages.
Governments' failures to provide jobs and strong economies are adding to human trafficking, as poverty is believed to be the most influential factor that lures victims of human trafficking.
Women and children are vulnerable trafficking victims. There have been cases where traded women were prosecuted for violating immigration laws rather than being treated as victims, and unofficial stories of violence, sexual abuse and even loss of life among the afflicted.
In Indonesia, sex trafficking will remain a threat to the community. It is estimated that 130 women from North Sumatra were traded and later sent to Malaysia between July 2006 and January 2008. North Sumatra Police have recently placed four victims in their early 20s from Bandung and West Java, Reni, 25, Leni, 24, Rina, 25, and Elsa, 20, under protective custody. They were traded as prostitutes by organized crime syndicates (The Jakarta Post, Feb. 21, 2008).
Child trafficking is also on the rise in Indonesia. The State Ministry for Women's Empowerment, at a three-day workshop on the commercial sexual exploitation of children in Bali in 2006, revealed Indonesian authorities were battling a growing trend in child trafficking. Unfortunately, efforts to rescue children and babies in trafficking cases were ambiguous. Eight hundred-and-eighty babies have been sold abroad with only 25 babies saved.
At national level, it is recognized countries need to equip themselves with two essential preventative measures, strong law enforcement and national laws/policies. In addition, a national focal point needs to be established.
Indonesia has enacted the national plan of action to combat human trafficking, presidential decree no. 88/2002, and has established a task force to lead anti-trafficking efforts. It has also passed laws and regulations including the protection of the victims of trafficking and the prevention of criminal activities, namely Law No. 13/2006 on witness and victim protection and law No. 21/2007 on anti-trafficking.
To properly address human trafficking, apart from strengthening preventive measures at national levels, countries must involve themselves in bilateral, regional and international cooperation.
Human trafficking in ASEAN bears relations to human rights and migrant worker issues. As a regional security issue, these were discussed and coordinated closely under the framework of ASEAN cooperation to combat transnational crimes. ASEAN is also determined to establish national and regional focal points on human trafficking and to provide data on the development of national efforts to combat human trafficking.
Without accurate and reliable data, the majority of trafficking cases will stay undiscovered and it will be too difficult for ASEAN authorities to effectively combat trafficking issues and at the same time provide adequate protection and assistance to victims.
It has been more than three years since the signing of the ASEAN declaration against trafficking, yet ASEAN still lacks relevant and reliable data on trafficking and not all countries in ASEAN have established a national focal point on human trafficking or enacted anti-trafficking laws.
Until now, five member countries of ASEAN have passed anti-trafficking laws: the Philippines, 2003, Brunei Darussalam, 2004, Myanmar, 2005, Indonesia, 2007, and Cambodia, 2007.
Vietnam, Indonesia, Cambodia, Thailand and the Philippines have enacted national plans of action, while Myanmar has established a national task force. Singapore, Malaysia, Laos, and Brunei Darussalam have not yet endorsed specific national plans of action.
Like ASEAN, the UN also encounters difficulties in gathering accurate and reliable data on human trafficking from its respective countries.
According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, human trafficking is widespread and better data is needed to determine the dimensions of the problem. The UN estimates 2.5 million people from 127 countries have been trafficked to 137 countries.
While ASEAN and the UN strive to improve their data on human trafficking, the United States released a report on human trafficking in June 12, 2007. Indonesia was placed in "Tier 2" together with Laos, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Cambodia was placed in "Tier 2 Watch List", while Malaysia and Myanmar were placed in "Tier 3". Brunei Darussalam did not appear in the report.
The U.S. report also indicated Indonesia was a source, transit and destination country for women, children and men trafficked for the purposes of sexual exploitation and forced labor.
UNICEF estimates 100,000 women and children in Indonesia are trafficked annually for commercial sexual exploitation, allegedly to Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei Darussalam, Japan, Hong Kong and the Middle East.
Indonesia has realized successful efforts in combating human trafficking will require more resources and engagement not only in the framework of ASEAN but also at bilateral levels, particularly with two neighboring countries, Singapore and Malaysia, countries seen as potential "destinations".
The role of the security sector, including, in particular, law enforcement agencies, in combating human trafficking issues is critical. In addition, specific programs to strengthen cooperation between police, immigration, border patrol, armed forces and customs officials among ASEAN member countries should also be given priority.
National public awareness programs should also be developed further by utilizing media, NGOs and the private sector.
In the end, the issue of human trafficking needs to be well managed before it becomes the source of tension between ASEAN states.
The writer is an Indonesian diplomat. The article represents her personal view. She can be reached at rossyverona91@yahoo.com.
