"International cooperation must be enhanced with multi-sector participation. Currently, no country can handle transnational crimes alone," Marsudi said virtually during the ASEAN Regional Conference on Human Trafficking here on Tuesday.
She underlined that ASEAN countries need to strengthen their collaboration in tackling human trafficking as trafficking syndicates are utilizing information technology to lure victims.
She said she expected all participants at the conference, which was held by the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM), to contribute to safeguarding the protection of human rights, especially for trafficked humans.
She highlighted that ASEAN demonstrated its commitment to strengthening efforts to combat human trafficking through the adoption of three important documents during the 42nd ASEAN Summit in May in Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara.
The three documents were the ASEAN Declaration Against Trafficking in Persons, the Declaration on the Protection of Migrant Workers, and the Declaration on the Protection of Migrant Fishers.
"All of the documents aim to improve coordination among law enforcement agencies and increase the protection for trafficking victims," she said.
Chairperson of Komnas HAM, Atnike Nova Sigiro, noted that ASEAN is a region with a high flow of migrant workers, with the estimated number of migrant workers reaching 10 million per year, about 50 percent of whom are women.
For this reason, she explained, women migrant workers are considered vulnerable to human trafficking because they usually work as domestic helpers.
Meanwhile, the perpetrators of human trafficking are luring victims by scamming them online through social media.
As of May 2023, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs handled 2,438 cases of Indonesian citizens falling victim to online scamming, and 1,233 of the victims were trapped in Cambodia.
Related news: Komnas HAM prioritizes human rights in ASEAN human trafficking cases
Related news: Jokowi urges ASEAN countries to act firmly against human trafficking
Translator: Dewa W, Kenzu
Editor: Tia Mutiasari
Copyright © ANTARA 2023
