(Jakarta) - IOM, the UN Migration Agency on Friday, 26 April 2024 was presented the Hasan Wirajuda Protection of Indonesian Citizens Award (HWPA) by Retno L.P. Marsudi, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, for its assistance and protection of Indonesian citizens. Notably IOM is the first international organization ever to receive the award under the ‘Working Partner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ category.

The Hasan Wirajuda Pelindungan WNI Award is an annual honour awarded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to individuals and institutions from various sectors, including heads of Indonesian representatives abroad, officials/staff of Indonesian representatives, working partners of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and working partners of Indonesian representatives. Also eligible for the award are government or regional agencies, media, civil society, public services at Indonesian representatives, and inspiring figures that have made outstanding contributions to the protection of Indonesian citizens abroad. This year’s theme focuses on "Protection from Upstream to Downstream: Eradicating the Crime of Human Trafficking (TPPO) based on Technology.”

This year, a total of 23 individuals and six institutions were honoured with awards at the ceremony in Jakarta. RPTC Bambu Apus, a national working unit under the Ministry of Social Affairs, also received an award under the same Working Partner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ category.

The Government of Indonesia estimates that approximately 3,428 Indonesians were coerced into working in various forms of online criminal activity across the ASEAN region, between 2020 and 2023.

IOM’s Counter Trafficking Unit has provided tailored victim assistance consisting of repatriation, economic reintegration, psychological counselling, and financial literacy training for 71 Indonesian victims of trafficking for forced criminality. Furthermore, IOM Indonesia has supported numerous pieces of preventive and awareness raising work, such as the collaborative short film with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Creative Goods Inc., titled ‘Through the Screen.’ This short film illustrates how an average young person can fall victim to trafficking for forced criminal activities through a scam call centre in various countries in Southeast Asia. The film garnered more than 22,000 online views and the campaign has reached over 3 million views on various social media platforms.

Accepting the award on IOM’s behalf, Jeffrey Labovitz, IOM's Chief of Mission, affirmed the organization's steadfast dedication to collaborate with the Government of Indonesia in its battle against trafficking in persons. "Our commitment involves equipping Indonesian migrant workers with the information needed to make informed choices regarding their employment prospects and to ensure safe, orderly, and regular migration. We are honoured and grateful to receive this award and acknowledge it as recognition of our close and valuable collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Government of Indonesia.”

For further information, please contact:

Eny Rofiatul N, National Counter Trafficking Officer IOM Indonesia, Telp: +62 812 1330 5121, E-mail: nenyrofiatul@iom.int

Shafira Ayunindya, National Labour Mobility and Social Inclusion Officer IOM Indonesia, Telp: +62 823 3993 8734, E-mail: sayunindya@iom.int

Media contact:

Josephine Imelda, Communications Assistant IOM Indonesia, Telp: +62 813 1869 3599, E-mail: jimelda@iom.int