TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Flores Volunteers for Humanity (TRUK) is set to file a report of child trafficking from West Java in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT). The volunteers’ coordinator for women's affairs, Fransiska Imakulata, said the case investigation has not been completed since 2021.

“We will go to the National Police Headquarters and Commission 3 of the House of Representatives (DPR) to convey the big goal of the advocacy team on the trafficking of 17 children,” Fransiska told Tempo on Wednesday, March 23.

She explained the NTT Regional Police arrested 17 children from West Java at nightclubs on June 14, 2021. They were then brought to St. Monika Shelter belongs to TRUK for assistance.

Since then, TRUK in tandem with the Sikka Regional Human Rights Network advocated for the case. However, only one suspect has been prosecuted by Law No. 21 of 2007 concerning the eradication of human trafficking.

According to Fransiska, TRUK and the Sikka Human Rights network have exercised all efforts for the case, starting from writing letters, asking for an audience with the Sikka Regency Government and law enforcement officials up to staging peaceful rallies.

“But until now, it has not been properly resolved according to the facts found by TRUK and the Sikka Human Rights Network,” she emphasized.

On that basis, they decided to depart for Jakarta, urging the National Police Headquarters to take over this case. “We also ask the DPR to control and supervise the police’s performance in the regions, particularly Sikka and NTT,” she added.

On Tuesday, March 22, she said the team met with the Witness and Victim Protection Agency (LPSK) and the Ministry of Women's Empowerment and Child Protection to encourage and ensure the assistance and fulfillment of the rights of the 13 victims.

Fransiska said according to LPSK, only three children asked for protection from the agency, while the other 10 victims refused the service as their parents did not give the permission.

Read: No More Children Trafficking

ARRIJAL RACHMAN