Legal Protection for Victims of Human Trafficking Crimes based on Justice at the Prosecution Stage

Abstract

Human trafficking is one of the most serious forms of crime that violates human rights and causes a wide range of negative impacts on victims, encompassing physical, psychological, social, and economic dimensions. In practice, the criminal justice system often positions victims merely as instruments of evidence, leaving their rights inadequately protected, particularly at the prosecution stage. Although various legislative regulations have been enacted to provide legal protection for trafficking victims, a number of significant obstacles remain. These include limited victim participation in the prosecution process, inadequate fulfillment of the right to restitution, and weak inter-agency coordination among law enforcement institutions in providing comprehensive protection. Just legal protection at the prosecution stage must place victims as legal subjects who have the right to obtain information, security protection, legal assistance, recovery, and restitution. The integration of restorative justice approaches and human rights perspectives in the prosecution process is therefore essential to ensure the full fulfillment of victims’ rights and to realize a criminal justice system that is more oriented toward victim recovery and justice.