Jokowi Urges Discussion of Human Trafficking Issue at ASEAN Summit
- Biro Pers Sekretariat Presiden.
VIVA – The Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) will urge the discussion of eradication of human trafficking (TPPO) issue at the 42nd ASEAN Summit in Labuan Bajo, West Manggarai District, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Province, on May 9-11, 2023.
"This (TPPO) issue is important, and I propose this to be discussed because the victims are the people of ASEAN, and most of them are Indonesian citizens," he said during the press conference, on Monday.
The President said that recently the government had successfully rescued 20 WNI, who had become victims of human trafficking in Myanmar, "This issue is something that uneasy to handle because the location (Myawaddy) is a conflict area," he added.
Earlier, Philippine authorities and representatives of other countries including Indonesia had also managed to rescue 1,048 people from 10 countries, 143 of whom were from Indonesia. Therefore, he emphasized that the crime of human trafficking must be eradicated completely from upstream to downstream, the President explained.
"I repeat, it must be eradicated completely so that the summit will adopt a cooperation document on countering trafficking in persons due to misuse of technology," he informed.