IOM is this week supporting the Indonesian National Police (INP)'s
annual two-day National Technical Co-ordination Meeting of
Uniformed Police (Rakernis BAHARKAM Polri) in Jakarta.

The aim of the meeting, which brings together some 271
representatives from five of the six police directorates
representing 135,000 officers around the country, is to enhance
cooperative efforts to combat people smuggling and human
trafficking.

A further 735 BAHARKAM officers representing the marine,
community policing, crowd control and animal control units of the
INP, and those responsible for security at installations of vital
national strategic value, are holding parallel meetings with IOM's
assistance and are expected to produce an agreement and protocols
for handling people smuggling and human trafficking cases.

"People smuggling and trafficking in persons directly affects
the lives of tens of thousands of Indonesians and foreign nationals
and it is the INP's responsibility to ensure our handling of these
cases meets international human rights standards. The collaboration
between the INP and the IOM is critical to these efforts," said INP
Chief Gen. Timur Pradopo.

Indonesia is a key transit point for thousands of irregular
migrants attempting to enter Australia and in 2011 there were 137
land and sea interceptions of groups of irregular migrants. At
least 300 Indonesian citizens, mostly fishermen and boat crews, are
currently in detention in Australia after being intercepted
transporting irregular migrants into Australian waters.

IOM works closely with Indonesian law enforcement and
immigration officials to ensure best practices are followed in the
management of intercepted irregular migrants. In 2011, 1,768 law
enforcement personnel participated in training and
awareness-raising activities related to people smuggling and human
trafficking through a series of multi-agency workshops hosted by
IOM in ten cities.

IOM also provides support services to roughly 2,225 intercepted
irregular migrants held in immigration detention centres or in
residential facilities in the community pending resolution of their
refugee claims by UNHCR, their resettlement to third countries or
voluntary repatriation.

It has also delivered medical and psychosocial assistance to
more than 4,000 victims of trafficking in Indonesia in recent
years.

For more information please contact:

Steve Hamilton

IOM Jakarta

E-mail: "mailto:shamilton@iom.int">shamilton@iom.int