Experience to Attend The International Conference on Trafficking of Young Women and Children in Melaka, Malaysia

Hi guys, this writing about my experience to attend a conference in Melaka, Malaysia.

This is i wrote to put in the journal of my scholarship foundation (Women's International Club). So i translate to english, but later i will writing in indonesia. please enjoy !

Trafficking is a serious crime. Almost every country in the world is affected by trafficking. Definition of trafficking in Persons as the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons, by means of the threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability or of the giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person, for the purpose of exploitation (source: UNODC). Indonesia is declared as the second ranked country in the world as a supplier of trafficking, also acts as a destination and transit point of trafficking (Rehsos Kemsos, 2010). With this big issue, it was a great opportunity for me to be selected to attend The International Conference on Trafficking of Young Women and Children in Melaka, Malaysia on 3-7 September 2013. 

I have gained many experiences and lots of knowledge from the seminar as a youth to discuss, understand, share, find solutions and develop strategies with the related topic. Those 5 days events was promoted by World Youth Foundation and cooperated with Ministry (ministry of what?), UN Bodies, and related stakeholders around the world. On the last day, my group and I had a very heavy discussion with “networking with stakeholders for multi-lateral approach” topic. In my opinion, this topic is more difficult than the other groups’. But in the end, it was worth the effort, because we were rewarded as “Best Group Discussion”, with a pretty long parcel as the prize. It was a precious moment for me, to be able to meet up with various people from different backrounds. They came from Indonesia, India, Korea, Srilangka, Bangladesh, Kenya, Burgundi, United States, Malaysia, Singapore, and many more. Every country has their own unique cultures, languages, and of course, special cases related on trafficking.

Every speaker has a different way to combat this crime. From UNIAP Thailand (United Nations Inter-Agency Project on Human Trafficking) shared about how creating awareness about human trafficking works. There is an examining the factors that contribute to the problem as well as providing education to potential victims, also identify target groups who are at risk for trafficking and provide them with the tools necessary to live and work without putting themselves at risk. About prevention campaign, there are three things, first target groups that have the power to bring about change, second, what program and community have to offer, and third, what is important is that the message are sent out and understandable in the local respective societies and contexts. Hearing this, I am very blessed, because UNIAP is using the anthropology perspective. 

Currently, I am studying social anthropology which concern is human and its culture. Actually, I had a research in Indramayu (West Java, Indonesia) a few weeks ago, and I saw many cases related with migrants there. Until now, the highest number trafficking in Indonesia occurred in West Java as much as 38% (Rehsos Kemsos, 2010). In my opinion, migrant is a community risk at source, so we need to advocate this. Based on anthropology view, there is a habit of parents to encourage their daughter to be a migrant in anyways. Do often a habit also called as a culture. Most daughters will build homes for their parents. So, it means that the parents do have a big involvement upon those young women to be a vulnerable person. That is why the target group to give the campaign in case of Indramayu is the parents. Back to the event, another speaker from World Vision shared about art is a powerful tool to build social awaress and social change. Myanmar selected string puppets for training youth to promote anti trafficking messages, China used photo voice, and Thailand and Cambodia used video technology. There is also a speaker from MTV EXIT. Who don’t know MTV? closely related with music and DJ. But there is another program MTV Exit (End Exploitation ad Trafficking) campaign is a multimedia initiative in aim to combat this crime. Actually, at that time I was shock to see the speaker from MTV Exit raised his hand and showed rock hand. But there is a message beyond of that, first, don’t rush, second, don’t trust easily, and third, never give up. 

Showed Rock Hand!!!! Paling belakang sebelah kiri adalah Adam, a representative of MTVExit

A different way from ECPAT, shared about integrating awareness into school curriculum through friendly materials on anti-trafficking and using method “peer-to-peer” to educate young people about trafficking in human beings. 

In the last day, we as the delegates made “Melaka Youth Declaration” to fight against trafficking in persons also made the action plan to implemented in our country. I did learned so many thing, but overall aim is important to keep children, young people and communities excited about any awareness building project. In my opinion, the government is very kind-hearted to combat the social problems. But they do not know to do based on socio-cultural approach. Societies is not only one but a multiculturalism, so we have to do some strategies. Now, I and my friends from the conference are looking forward to do an action plan about “Young Paralegal Training on Trafficking of Young Women & Children in Banda Aceh, Indonesia”. It will be more excited to hear your interest too with this event later. You can contact me giskaadilah@ymail.com. Thank you ! See you there

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Monday, 16 September 2013 

By, Giska Adilah Sharfina Saputra