Protection of migrant workers and human trafficking victims is one of the main points during the 42nd ASEAN Summit in Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara, on May 10-11, he remarked.
"Aspects that relate to the people's interest become the focus of the leaders, including protection for migrant workers and victims of human trafficking. I call ASEAN countries to take firm action against its masterminds," Jokowi stated during the press statement to conclude the ASEAN Summit here, Thursday.
At least three declarations on migrant workers and human trafficking issues have been made through consensus among leaders of ASEAN countries during the summit.
Those are the Declaration on Combating Trafficking in Persons Caused by the Abuse of Technology, the Declaration on the Placement and Protection of Migrant Fishers, and the Declaration on the Protection of Migrant Workers and Family Members in Crisis Situations.
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Apart from those documents, eight other declarations encompassing several aspects, such as the development of electric vehicle ecosystems, regional transaction connectivity, and one health initiative, as well as joint statements, were agreed to during the summit.
The Indonesian government is committed to raising the issue of human trafficking during the ASEAN Summit, as the president conveyed on Monday (May 8) ahead of the event.
"This is important, and I deliberately propose this idea because the victims are the ASEAN community, and most of them are our Indonesian citizens," the president stated.
On the next day, Coordinating Minister of Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Mahfud MD stressed that perpetrators of human trafficking crimes are not eligible to have their cases resolved through restorative justice.
"Human trafficking is a serious crime that cannot be (resolved through) reconciliation, and its perpetrators must be punished," Mahfud stated after chairing the 26th ASEAN Political-Security Community (APSC) Council meeting on Tuesday (May 9).
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Translator: Gilang Galiartha, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
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