IOM, the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), the World Health Organization
(WHO) and the Government of Indonesia have launched a joint
programme to support Indonesia's efforts to fight human
trafficking.

The USD 2.3 million, two-year EMPOWER programme, which is funded
by the UN Trust Fund for Human Security (UNTFHS), will focus
primarily on three provinces identified as key source and transit
areas for labour migration and human trafficking – West Java,
West Kalimantan and West Nusa Tenggara.

Indonesia is committed to combat human trafficking and in 2007
adopted a comprehensive anti-trafficking law criminalizing
cross-border and domestic trafficking, and providing protection for
victims and people prepared to testify against traffickers.

But the US Department of State's 2010 Trafficking in Persons
(TIP) Report noted that the Indonesian authorities lacked
sufficient resources to sustainably enforce the law and called for
continued efforts to increase the prosecution and protection
capacity of the relevant authorities.

Under EMPOWER, IOM, UNFPA and WHO will work with the government
to support the implementation of the national law, policies, and
action plans to combat human trafficking, as well as the protection
and empowerment of victims.

The project will work towards strengthening the capacity of key
state and non-state actors in Indonesia and major countries of
destination and transit, as well as helping victims to recover,
return home and reintegrate.

It will target key government agencies to help them to better
understand the public and individual health risks associated with
trafficking. And it will focus on high risk areas to raise
awareness of the problem and build the capacity of local
authorities to address it.

Activities will include the training of law enforcement
officials and service providers, including health workers; victim
support; improving community awareness; building local capacity;
technical support; equipment grants; coordination and research.

For more information please contact:

Nurul Qoiriah

IOM Jakarta

Tel: +62 21 57951275

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