Makassar, 26 January 2022 (IOM News), IOM Indonesia in collaboration with the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (@djpt_kkp) is holding a Training on Identification and Handling of Victims of Trafficking in Persons for Frontline Officers in Fisheries Sector in Indonesia in Novotel Hotel Makassar Grand Shayla. The training was participated by 29 frontline officers on Tuesday (25/1) – Thursday (27/01) in the fisheries sector in Eastern Region of Indonesia including Maluku, North Maluku, Papua, and West Papua Province. The frontline officers involved are the Directorate of Fishing Vessels and Fishing Gear, Office of Marine and Fishery, Harbourmaster at the Fisheries Port, Local Police, Marine Police, Office of Manpower, Port Authority, Indonesian Coast Guard, and Indonesian Navy. 

Chief of Mission of IOM Indonesia, Louis Hoffmann, stated “The identification of TIP cases in the fisheries sector requires additional effort and tailored approaches, where it is often difficult to establish whether exploitation has occurred or not. Today’s training is an important moment to recognize the critical role each of us plays in identifying and protecting workers who may be caught up in this global crime.”

Director General of Captured Fisheries mentioned that Protection for workers on the fishing vessels will be realized if all stakeholders well understand all the norms regulated in the regulations that have been prepared. Cooperation and support from all parties is needed to realize this protection. This training is expected to help frontline officers strengthen their capacity in identifying potential trafficking practices.

In this training, participants received 8 subjects including Human Rights in the Fisheries Sector, General Overview on The Protection of Workers in The Fisheries Sector, Identification of Victims of Trafficking in Persons, Prosecution of Trafficking in Persons Cases, Referral and Services Mechanism for Victims of Trafficking, Restitution for Victims of Trafficking. Participants interacted and shared their field experiences through TIP cases analysis, group discussion, and role plan in identifying victims of trafficking.

Participant of the training, Micha Toding, SH. SIK., from the Directorate of Marine Police of the Papua Police, conveyed that this training is very useful where participants could increase their knowledge and get to know colleagues from various institutions to strengthen coordination and exchange experiences.

“This training really helps us to provide new knowledge related to TIP in carrying out our duties and role functions in the field. IOM needs to be more intense in supporting the Government to increase synergy with agencies that have not been involved in handling cases,” said Welmi J. Latekay, SH., from the Manpower and Transmigration Office of Maluku Province.

Upon completing this training, frontline officers are expected to conduct identification of potential victims of trafficking and determine the next steps that are needed in assisting victims to get their rights. 

The training is funded by the European Union in the Ship to Shore Rights South East Asia program.

About IOM in Indonesia

Founded in 1951, the International Organization for Migration (IOM)-UN Migration is a leading intergovernmental organization dedicated to promoting humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all. This is done by advancing understanding the issue of migration, assisting government in dealing with migration challengers, encouraging social and economic development through migration, and upholding the dignity and well-being of migrants, their families, and their communities. For more information about IOM in Indonesia, please kindly visit https://indonesia.iom.int/

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