The State Department designated Indonesia as a Tier 2 government in its third Trafficking in Persons Report in recognition of the Indonesian government's "significant efforts" to meet congressionally set standards for combating human trafficking.

The report, released June 11, noted that Indonesia "is a source, transit and destination country for persons trafficked for sexual and forced labor" as well as a country with "extensive trafficking" within its borders for labor and sexual exploitation.

In the face of this, the report said the Indonesian government "approved key legislation to protect children from trafficking and established an anti-corruption commission and court" during the last year, and "has also completed amendments to its criminal code and increased law enforcement efforts against traffickers."

The report added that "Indonesia is open to multilateral cooperation to combat trafficking," citing the Bali ministerial process on trafficking as a noteworthy example.

But while the Indonesian government "is making significant efforts" to fully fulfill the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking, the report stated, "much remains to be done, particularly within the country."

"A major challenge facing the government is to end the direct participation of its own public officials in trafficking," the report said.

"Progress is needed in reducing trafficking-related public corruption," it added.

The State Department is required to report to Congress annually whether foreign governments meet the minimum standards set for the elimination of trafficking as detailed in the U.S. Trafficking Victims Protection Act of October 2000. Governments that do not fully meet the act's minimum standards, but are making significant efforts to do so, are put on the Tier 2 list.

The full text of the report is available at www.state.gov/g/tip/rls/tiprpt/2003.

INDONESIA (Tier 2)

Indonesia is a source, transit and destination country for persons trafficked for sexual and forced labor. Indonesian victims are trafficked to Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Brunei, Persian Gulf countries, and Australia. Extensive trafficking also occurs within Indonesia's borders for labor and sexual exploitation; and the country is a destination for some victims trafficked for sexual exploitation.

The Government of Indonesia does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so. During the last year, the government approved key legislation to protect children from trafficking and established an anti-corruption commission and court. The government has also completed amendments to its criminal code and increased law enforcement efforts against traffickers. Indonesia is open to multilateral cooperation to combat trafficking - the Bali ministerial process on trafficking is a noteworthy example of this - but much remains to be done, particularly within the country. A major challenge facing the government is to end the direct participation of its own public officials in trafficking. Progress is needed in reducing trafficking-related public corruption.

Prevention

Through a presidential decree, Indonesia has adopted a national plan to combat both sexual and labor trafficking, but its implementation is hindered given the country's overall lack of capacity and resources. Government efforts have increased the awareness of public officials at all levels, but overall public awareness of trafficking remains inadequate. The government works with NGOs, conducting sporadic information campaigns aimed at the public using television, radio, and printed materials in some areas. In conjunction with NGOs, the government has conducted some training of state employees in crisis centers, but officials, particularly at the operational level among police, military and immigration authorities, are not sufficiently educated on how to prevent trafficking.

Prosecution

The government has not yet passed a comprehensive anti-trafficking law, but a bill is currently in the legislature. The legislature has amended the criminal code to include tougher penalties for traffickers and passed a Child Protection Act, which should help to protect minors from trafficking. The lack of a comprehensive statute against trafficking, however, hampers law enforcement. Officials have used existing statutes to carry out an increasing number of arrests, but no comprehensive nation-wide data on convictions are available. Corruption remains a major obstacle, but some arrests against public officials linked to traffickers have been carried out. More needs to be done. Much-needed international law enforcement cooperation, particularly with Malaysia, has begun freeing victims and arresting traffickers.

Protection

The national plan calls for proper treatment of trafficking victims, but implementation varies widely. Some local officials continue to treat victims as criminals and abuse them. Although overall government victim assistance has increased, it remained small in comparison with the scope of the problem. The government worked with NGOs and civil society organizations to establish some general shelters and provide limited counseling. Ministry of Foreign Affairs consular officials and Manpower Ministry have increased efforts to assist trafficking victims abroad.