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RI to ratify anti-trafficking pact soon
New partners: Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi (fourth right) talks with Vietnam Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh (third left) while Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Wiranto (second left) and Malaysian Foreign Minister Anifah Aman (left) look on after the signing of the ASEAN Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC) by Chile, Egypt and Morocco at the National Convention Center in Vientiane on Tuesday
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span class="inline inline-center">New partners: Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi (fourth right) talks with Vietnam Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh (third left) while Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Wiranto (second left) and Malaysian Foreign Minister Anifah Aman (left) look on after the signing of the ASEAN Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC) by Chile, Egypt and Morocco at the National Convention Center in Vientiane on Tuesday. The accession into TAC by the three countries was the first step to becoming ASEAN dialogue partners.(Antara/Akbar Nugroho Gumay)
Indonesia is likely to be the fourth Southeast Asian nation to ratify a regional convention on human trafficking after government officials announced that due process had begun.
“I am pleased to report that Indonesia is in the process of ratifying the ASEAN Convention on Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children [ACTIP],” Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Wiranto said in a statement made in Vientiane on Tuesday.
“I praise the three ASEAN member states that have ratified the convention. Let’s ensure that it’s properly and effectively upheld,” the chief political minister added.
Wiranto referred to Singapore, Cambodia and Thailand, all of which deposited their respective instruments of ratification earlier this year. The ACTIP will enter into force once six ASEAN member states have ratified the agreement.
The move follows a recent decision by the government to establish a cross-institutional anti-trafficking coalition in response to the rising trend of Indonesians falling victim to trafficking abroad.
Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi revealed in late August that 266 cases of human trafficking involving Indonesians overseas had been detected so far this year.
Ministry data shows human trafficking cases have steadily grown in the past three years from 188 cases in 2013 to 548 cases in 2015.
Wiranto is in Laos accompanying President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo to attend the 28th and 29th ASEAN Summits and related meetings, which include the 14th ASEAN Political-Security Council (APSC) meeting where the issue of human trafficking and other non-traditional security threats are being addressed.
Wiranto, whose own recent appointment as chief security minister was scrutinized on account of his links to past rights abuses, also urged other ASEAN members to respond to human rights abuse stemming from the issue of irregular migration in the region.
“ASEAN should be able to respond to the issue of irregular migration with a stronger approach, including by addressing root causes and the protection of human rights,” he said.
The former Indonesian armed forces chief also championed empowering the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) as a means to overcome the challenge of human rights protection in the region.
“The AICHR needs to address the rights of migrant workers and support the work of sectoral ASEAN bodies in [drafting] an ASEAN instrument on the protection and promotion of migrant workers’ rights,” he said.
The ASPC meeting, which was expected to set the tone for candid discussions on issues including the protection of human rights in the region, yielded more promises than it sought to deliver.
Retno revealed that the Indonesian delegation led by Wiranto raised seven issues that came under ASEAN’s political-security pillar for assessing its implementation in accordance with the ASEAN 2025 Vision.
Besides trafficking in persons and the protection of human rights, Retno said that illicit drug trafficking, combatting terrorism, poaching and regional maritime security were also brought up during the meeting.
On the issue of drugs, Retno said Indonesia conveyed its appreciation for the establishment of a new central body within the APSC to help achieve a drug-free ASEAN.
On terrorism and radicalism, she said the government brought the results of the recent International Meeting on Countering Terrorism in Bali, suggesting the use of the ASEAN Convention on Counterterrorism and other mechanisms to further support the fight against terror.
“Indonesia also raised the issue of maritime security in the Sulu Sea and surrounding waters; we emphasized the need for the three countries [Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines] to strengthen cooperation in order to ensure safety in the region,” she added.
Indonesia also welcomed the establishment of a working group on cyber-security.
The idea was floated by the Philippines during an ASEAN Defense Minister Meeting (ADMM) Plus in Vientiane in May, which also included Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, Russia, South Korea and the US.
