Combating Human Trafficking and Enhancing Protection of Women and Children

Abstract

Human trafficking remains one of the most serious transnational crimes, disproportionately affecting women and children through sexual exploitation, forced labor, forced marriage, and other forms of abuse. Despite the existence of international legal instruments and national legislation, trafficking networks continue to exploit legal loopholes, weak law enforcement, and socio-economic vulnerabilities. This paper aims to examine the effectiveness of existing legal frameworks in combating human trafficking and strengthening the protection of women and children, with particular emphasis on the Indonesian context. Using a normative juridical research method, the study analyzes primary legal materials, including international conventions and national legislation, supported by secondary sources such as scholarly articles, official reports, and legal commentaries. The findings indicate that while Indonesia has established a comprehensive legal framework to address human trafficking, significant challenges remain in law enforcement, victim identification, cross-border cooperation, and the provision of comprehensive rehabilitation services. The study emphasizes the importance of adopting a victim-centered approach, strengthening institutional coordination, enhancing international cooperation, and increasing public awareness to prevent trafficking and ensure effective protection for vulnerable groups. Strengthening legal implementation and collaborative governance is essential to achieving sustainable protection for women and children and to effectively combating human trafficking.