Jakarta (ANTARA) - Most of the victims in human trafficking cases are women and children, Women's Rights Protection Deputy at the Women's Empowerment and Child Protection Ministry Ratna Susianawati noted through a statement on Thursday.

"According to Simfoni PPA's (Women and Child Protection Online Information System's) data, majority of (the human trafficking) victims are vulnerable groups, women, and children," she stated.

Based on Simfoni PPA's data in 2019-2022, some 1,545 cases of human trafficking and 1,732 victims of human trafficking were recorded.

In 2019, some 191 cases and 226 victims were registered, while in 2020, about 382 cases and 422 victims were recorded.

In 2021, some 624 cases and 683 victims were registered, while during the period from January to October 2022, some 348 cases and 401 victims were recorded.

Susianawati underscored the criticality of synergy between ministries or institutions that are members of the Human Trafficking Prevention and Handling Task Force in preventing and handling human trafficking.

In addition, task force members should uphold their commitment as well as strengthen coordination and cooperation, she remarked.

In this case, the Women's Empowerment and Child Protection Ministry acts as the chief executive of the task force.

The ministry also laid emphasis on the importance of the task force members exchanging information related to the development of issues, methods as well as good practices, and strategies to prevent and handle human trafficking.

Susianawati expects that the legal umbrella provided through Law No. 21 of 2007 on Human Trafficking Eradication and several other derivative regulations would minimize incidents of human trafficking involving women and children.

These regulations include the one that regulates the performance mechanism through Presidential Regulation No. 22 of 2021 on Changes over Presidential Regulation No. 69 of 2008 on Human Trafficking Prevention and Handling Task Force.

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Translator: Anita Permata D, Fadhli Ruhman
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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