Intelligence, defense, and security analyst Ngasiman Djoyonegoro expressed his appreciation to the Indonesian National Police (Polri) for launching the Directorate for the Protection of Women and Children and the Eradication of Human Trafficking (PPA-PPO) in 11 regional police stations and 22 district police stations.
According to the man familiarly called Simon, the step of forming this new structure is not just an addition to the organizational structure, but a form of commitment that the National Police is addressing social emergencies that have so far received little attention, namely violence against women, children, and vulnerable groups as well as human trafficking crimes.
"The decision to establish the PPA-PPO Directorate deserves appreciation because it demonstrates institutional courage to move away from the old pattern of focusing solely on enforcement, toward a prevention-based approach and providing recovery services to victims," Simon said in a statement in Jakarta on Thursday.
So far, he continued, issues of gender-based violence and human trafficking have focused on criminal handling. Yet, a modern nation is measured not only by its ability to maintain territorial sovereignty but also by its ability to protect its most vulnerable citizens from violence and exploitation.
In recent years, the disclosure of human trafficking crimes has also revealed new methods that require special attention. For example, the emergence of cross-provincial and cross-national baby trafficking syndicates, with dozens of babies being illegally trafficked as victims.
Not to mention, said Simon, the practice of "mail-order brides", the exploitation of migrant workers and human smuggling involving transnational networks.
"The baby trafficking case involving dozens of victims is not just a criminal offense, but a humanitarian tragedy. The state must not intervene only after the crime has occurred, but must also establish a robust prevention and protection system," he said.
