Evaluation of Trauma Recovery Standard Operating Procedures for Child Trafficking Victims Based on the Principles of Dignified Justice

Abstract

The Crime of Human Trafficking (TPPO) targeting children is one of the most heinous crimes against humanity, diametrically opposed to the noble values of Pancasila and the constitutional mandate regarding child protection as stipulated in Article 28B paragraph (2) of the 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia. This exploitative crime not only deprives children of their physical freedom but also leaves profound psychological trauma that can permanently damage the architecture of their future. Although the state has responded to the urgency of this protection by establishing various Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for rehabilitation and recovery, implementation in practice reveals a sharp disconnect between formal texts and the actual emotional needs of victims. Handling procedures that tend to be rigid, highly bureaucratic, and uniform (one size fits all) often fail to recognize the dynamics and severity of children's trauma. As a result, the state's good intentions in providing protection may instead trigger structural revictimization, causing children to feel intimidated and exploited once again through repeated recollection of their experiences merely for administrative completeness. This research employs a normative legal research method focusing on statutory and conceptual approaches. The study critically examines the effectiveness of the Child Protection Law, the Human Trafficking Law, and their implementing regulations by utilizing the theory of Dignified Justice as its primary analytical framework. The findings recommend the urgent need for a comprehensive reconstruction of the assistance and trauma recovery model for child victims of human trafficking, shifting radically from an institutional formality paradigm to a Trauma-Informed Care paradigm. This reconstruction requires all parties involved in child protection to implement procedural flexibility within legal processes to ensure the victim's psychological safety without compromise. Furthermore, future protection models should reduce reliance on closed rehabilitation institutions and prioritize family-based care, where rehabilitation centers function only as temporary crisis-transit facilities. Through multidisciplinary and cross-sectoral synergy inspired by the noble values of Pancasila, the state can ultimately demonstrate its presence in a real and dignified manner—not merely by rescuing children from trafficking syndicates but also by healing their souls completely so they may face the future with freedom and hope.