A recent high-profile case has drawn attention to the issue of human trafficking in Indonesia: 19 syndicate members were convicted for trafficking babies to be sold for adoption in Singapore. Of the 34 affected babies, 19 are believed to have entered Singapore between 2023 and 2025, leaving uncertainty around the way forward in their rescue and rehabilitation.

Unfortunately, human trafficking of children and other vulnerable people is not uncommon in the Southeast Asian nation. In 2025, the Directorate of Crimes of Trafficking in Women and Children – Crimes of Trafficking in Persons (TPPA-TPPO) recorded 353 cases affecting 1,114 victims. Forms of trafficking often involve labor scams, sexual abuse or child exploitation. Methods such as online employment scams are also on the rise, targeting those most desperate and struggling economically. More than one-third of Indonesians are economically insecure, meaning economic shocks can push them into poverty, leaving them particularly vulnerable to exploitation.

To address this issue, the government has implemented structural improvements to the handling of human trafficking in Indonesia. This comes in the form of specialized police units to tackle trafficking crimes, as well as improved legal protection and support systems for victims.

PPA-PPO Directorate

In January, the Indonesian National Police established the Directorate of Crimes Against Women and Children and Human Trafficking (PPA-PPO). The specialized unit fights human trafficking in Indonesia by investigating cases of exploitation of vulnerable people by trafficking circles operating internationally. The directorate is victim-focused and strives for women-led teams with a minimum quota of 30% female officers, in the interest of both gender equality and better support for female victims.

Having initially launched across 22 regional police stations, the directorate is already set to expand operations, as proposals began in July to bring PPA-PPO to additional stations. Much has been achieved within the first few months since its formation: the regional team in North Sulawesi intercepted two trafficking networks, preventing the smuggling of victims into Cambodia and West Papua.

Restitution for Victims: TPPO

Work also continues to improve access to justice for victims. The Witness and Victim Protection Agency received 2,373 requests for protection from victims of human trafficking in Indonesia between 2020 and 2024. Many seek financial restitution: in 2024, hundreds of restitution applications were approved, worth a total of nearly 7.5 billion IDR. However, according to research by ASEAN-Australia Counter Trafficking (ASEAN-ACT), the allocation of restitution by Indonesian courts remains limited. In 2023, only 13% of total losses were paid out to 3,300 recorded victims.

In response to this problem, the Supreme Court issued a Pocket Book on Restitution in Human Trafficking (TPPO) in April. Developed in partnership with ASEAN-ACT, the guidelines aim to ensure fair compensation for victims by clarifying calculation and assignment processes. This will help address barriers including limited understanding of cases and difficulties in calculating appropriate restitution.

Other Organizations’ Work Remains Vital

Collaboration between other groups and the government against human trafficking in Indonesia has been and will continue to be significant. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) Indonesia has supported government action on the issue for more than 30 years, promoting a “3P approach: prevention, protection and prosecution.”

IOM Indonesia drives public campaigns to provide information on human trafficking to vulnerable groups, presented across a variety of accessible media formats. It also works with more than 80 partners to provide assistance for returning victims and support their reintegration, reaching more than 9,000 victims. The organization also supports government efforts to improve related law and enforcement, reviewing Indonesia’s Law 21 regarding human trafficking and continuing to develop and revise guidelines and training.

Looking Forward

Although it remains early days following the implementation of PPA-PPO and the new restitution guidance, these changes mark a positive step by the Indonesian government toward tackling human trafficking and strengthening support for victims. Early investigations by the directorate and clearer restitution guidelines offer a hopeful way forward.

– Hannah Rix

Hannah is based in London, UK and focuses on Politics for The Borgen Project.

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