Indonesia strengthens villages against human trafficking

hartono · Jul 30, 2026

Indonesia strengthens villages against human trafficking

Secretary General of the Indonesian Ministry of Villages and Development of Disadvantaged Regions, Taufik Madjid, receives a commemorative plaque during a national seminar on the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons in Jakarta on Thursday (July 30, 2026). /ANTARA/Devi Nindy.

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Indonesian Ministry of Villages and Development of Disadvantaged Regions is strengthening efforts to prevent human trafficking by expanding public education, early detection of prospective migrant workers, and community-based economic empowerment.

The initiative aims to reduce the risk of village residents seeking employment through unsafe and illegal channels.

Speaking in Jakarta on Thursday, the ministry's Secretary General, Taufik Madjid, said the government is tackling the issue through two main approaches, prevention and community empowerment.

Preventive measures focus on strengthening the Women-Friendly and Child-Caring Village program, developed in collaboration with the Ministry of Women's Empowerment and Child Protection. The program serves as a platform for education, literacy, and public awareness about the dangers of human trafficking and violence against women and children.

"This serves as a space to facilitate dialogue while encouraging villages to become more friendly toward women and children," Taufik said.

He added that village administrations, particularly in areas that are major sources of migrant workers, are being encouraged to identify residents planning to work overseas to ensure their departure complies with established procedures and regulations.

According to Taufik, early detection by village authorities is essential to prevent residents from being lured by illegal recruitment schemes that could lead to human trafficking.

Alongside preventive efforts, the ministry is strengthening economic empowerment through village cooperatives, Village-Owned Enterprises (BUMDes), the Advanced Fishing Villages program, tourism villages, and the development of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

Taufik said these initiatives support President Prabowo Subianto's Asta Cita vision, which places villages at the center of national development while creating employment opportunities so residents can improve their livelihoods without being compelled to migrate because of economic hardship.

"These empowerment programs are brought to villages so people can build better livelihoods and realize that they can overcome poverty while remaining in their own communities," he said.