Preventing Child Trafficking

KOMPAS/SATRIO PANGARSO WISANGGENI

Melianus Payon, a resident of Meusin village, Timor Tengah Selatan regency, East Nusa Tenggara, sits in front of his house on Saturday (6/7/2019) evening. Melianus\' daughter, identified as DP, disappeared after being sent to Malaysia when she was a child.

The state must protect children from trafficking for any purpose. Ignoring children\'s rights is a layered violation of human rights.

A Kompas investigative report, from Monday to Wednesday this week, found that child trafficking for various purposes still occurs even though this practice has been going on for a long time. Children\'s rights are violated. Children deserve security and safety, education and a decent life.

The exact number of children being trafficked is not known. The number of victims of trafficking reported is estimated to be only part of the actual number.

KOMPAS/SATRIO PANGARSO WISANGGENI

AM (right), 18, carries oranges picked by relatives in their village in Timor Tengah Selatan regency, East Nusa Tenggara, on Friday (12/7/2019). AM says she was forced to work in a brothel in Malaysia when she was 17 years old.

The state needs a systematic plan to end child trafficking because they experience layered violence due to unequal power relations; starting in the home, in the neighborhood, to the places where they are made to work.

Law No. 21/2007 on human trafficking eradication defines human trafficking as an act of recruitment, transportation or acceptance of a person with the threat of violence, the use of violence, kidnapping, confinement, forgery, fraud, abuse of power or vulnerable positions, debt entrapment or providing payments or benefits, so that it is approved by the person who has control over the other person, whether done within the country or between countries, for the purpose of exploitation or causing a person to be exploited.

KOMPAS/RYAN RINALDY

A photograph of and document concerning the death of Yufrinda Selan, an alleged victim of human trafficking whose body was returned home in 2016, are shown by her parents to Kompas when it visited their home in Tuppan village, Batu Putih district, Timor Tengah Selatan regency, East Nusa Tenggara, on Friday (7/7/2019). In the document, various personal data such as name, year of birth and address were changed by her recruiters.

Kompas’ investigation revealed that children being trafficked are generally unprepared for the work they were made to do. Some have even been killed because of violence in their workplace. Some others are trafficked for sexual exploitation.

Poverty and the unavailability of adequate employment sees parents send their children to work to reduce the family\'s economic burden.

The mode of child trafficking has been recognized. Recruiters are usually people who are known to the child\'s family. Children and parents are lured by a certain amount of income, but generally do not understand the type of work and the conditions of their workplace so they do not understand the risks.

KOMPAS/RYAN RINALDY

A number of girls walk home after attending church services in Meusin village, Boking district, Timor Tengah Selatan regency, East Nusa Tenggara, on Sunday (7/7/2019). The lack of economic activity has prompted villagers to seek work abroad.

Although child trafficking has been occurring for a long time and we have state institutions to protect children in the form of the Women\'s Empowerment and Child Protection Ministry and the Indonesian Child Protection Commission, the continued trafficking of children shows that the efforts to protect children from trafficking have not been effective.

The step that can be taken immediately by the state’s child protection bodies is to continue to intensify the cross-agency network, especially with regional administrations, non-governmental organizations and communities. Through this network, understanding of child trafficking and prevention measures must continue to be built. Village funds can be a way to prevent child trafficking if used appropriately, including creating employment in villages.

KOMPAS/RYAN RINALDY

Students of Daarul Sa\'adah SMP Plus junior high school in Bongas district, Indramayu, West Java, fill out a questionnaire about HIV/AIDS on Thursday (25/7/2019). The activity was carried out by the Kusuma Bongas Foundation to increase awareness of the risks and dangers of human trafficking.