Wahyu Dwi Anggoro
IDXChannel - Traffickers now increasingly abuse technology to recruit and exploit their victims, many of whom end up working in online scam industries.
"Human trafficking remains a serious challenge for our region," said Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi during the opening of the Bali Process Government and Business Forum (GABF) in Bali on Thursday (10/8/2023).
"Indonesia places a high priority on this issue," she added.
The Indonesian government has handled over 2,800 cases of Indonesians who fell prey to such schemes in neighboring countries, and nearly 40% of them are victims of human trafficking.
"Colleagues, we must prevent our region from becoming an epicenter of human trafficking. Our goal is to make our region an epicenter of growth, not an epicenter of trafficking," she stressed.
"Business communities in the region must play their part. Profits cannot come at the expense of human rights and dignity," she underlined.
There are three areas that can be the focus of GABF:First, encouraging a due diligence standard on business and human rights. Second, leveraging technology to fight human trafficking. Technology must be our ally rather than our enemy. Third, supporting regional cooperation against trafficking.
"During the 42nd ASEAN Summit last May, ASEAN Leaders pledged to crack down against the misuse of technology for trafficking, including through synergy between ASEAN mechanisms. Businesses can fortify this effort by extending cooperation in region-wide joint investigations, providing protection for whistleblowers, and supporting strong legislation on business and human rights," she explained.
"Let us join our hands together against human trafficking, government, regional organizations, and businesses. We must serve as a coalition of "good guys," with GABF as a melting pot for solutions, to create a region free from human trafficking. Together, we must act now," she concluded. (WHY)
