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UNODC Dedicates Special Anti-Trafficking Event to the First Observation of the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons



Jakarta (Indonesia), 25 August 2014 - Human trafficking manifests in various ways. It may take its form as forced labor in Southeast Asia, organ trading in South America, sex trafficking in the Middle East or child soldiers in Africa. Although Indonesia is primarily a source country in the trafficking process, it is also used as a destination and transit country. In Indonesia, the most common forms of trafficking are for forced labour and sexual exploitation as women, children and men are moved domestically and across international borders.

The World Day against Trafficking in Persons was marked on July 30th, 2014. It represents a call from the UN General Assembly to fight trafficking and to support trafficking victims. This is an issue that no state is immune to. It therefore requires global partnership, not only from governments, but also international organizations and stakeholders at regional and sub-regional levels including the private sector and civil society.

On August 15th, 2014, UNODC, in collaboration with the Embassy of Belarus, held a special event in Jakarta devoted to the first observation of the World Day against Trafficking in Persons. The event included a round table discussion on the human trafficking situation in Indonesia in which participants shared their knowledge and disclosed their current efforts in dealing with the issue. Attendees included representatives from the Government of Indonesia, ASEAN, IOM, the US Embassy, Australian Embassy, New Zealand Embassy, Russian Embassy and observers from media organizations.

Representatives from the Ministry of Women Empowerment and Child Protection and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs highlighted that public-private cooperation is essential to effectively combat trafficking in persons. This is the only comprehensive way to identify cases of human trafficking in Indonesia caused by undocumented workers, vulnerability and threat in labor recruitment, corruption among law enforcement institutions and Indonesia's low minimum wage.

"The act of selling human beings as commodities is despicable and organized crime groups earn billions of dollars annually through this crime. It is hard to believe that human trafficking happens in today's world", said Troels Vester, UNODC Country Manager. UNODC is currently working with the Ministry of Law and Human Rights in Indonesia to identify and address gaps in transnational organized crime-related legislation. Legislative changes will be suggested to bring Indonesia in line with the UN Convention on Transnational Organized Crime.

H.E. Vladimir N. Lopato-Zagorsky from the Embassy of the Republic of Belarus stated that in order to step up the movement against trafficking, cooperation is required through various networks around the world, from the United States to Europe, Africa and Asia.

Various parties agreed with UNODC's suggestion that the congregation meet more frequently, possible each quarter, to discuss their individual and combined efforts against trafficking in persons.