Child survivors of trafficking abroad endure tragic circumstances since a young age. Dreams of supporting their families financially lure them into the grip of human traffickers. They lead an enslaved life.
By
Kompas Team
·6 minutes read
ARSIP KOMPAS
EH (22) when met in Tangerang Regency, Banten, Saturday (7/1/2023). EH is a child trafficking survivor who was taken to Malaysia, Dubai, Turkey, Sudan, Syria and Iraq.
EH, 22, is still infuriated every time she remembers her dark experience working overseas around June 2018. She was not even 18 at the time. However, her life was in limbo, trapped by a human-trafficking syndicate operating across Malaysia, United Arab Emirates, Turkey, Sudan, Syria and Iraq for months.
Kompas visited EH on Saturday (7/1/2023). She had not known the job offer would actually enslave her, making her a victim of trafficking from one country to the other. The woman from Benyawakan village, Tangerang regency, Banten, only wanted to free her family from the debt snare of a neighbor, who happened to be a migrant worker sponsor’s agent.
The tragic story of EH began when Hayati, her neighbor, began frequently offering her the job of a migrant worker with a salary of around Rp 5 million (US$322.94) per month. The offer was occasionally coupled with a loan benefit for EH and family. The loan was provided on the condition EH was certain to depart for the job via Hayati.
One evening, I was told to leave for Malaysia, because I had gotten an employer. I was just sent there without any preparation.
After some time with the debt entanglement, EH finally accepted the job offer by submitting her birth certificate and family card. She was later taken to get a health check. Her other documents were managed by the sponsor.
Not long after that, EH was accompanied by Hayati’s colleague, without any knowledge of a foreign language or any skill. When leaving, her family was given Rp 5 million as compensation.
EH was accommodated at a hotel in Surabaya, East Java, for over ten days. From there, EH was taken to be employed in Malaysia, suddenly, without prior notification.
“One evening, I was told to leave for Malaysia, because I had gotten an employer. I was just sent there without any preparation,” said EH.
Changing countries
After working for only about three days in Malaysia, EH was again taken to another country without any notice by the agent. Later, EH became aware she was in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, and worked for a new employer.
After just a few days, EH was transferred to Turkey and Sudan. In each of these countries, EH only worked for a few days until finally she was taken to Syria.
In Syria, EH worked for around three months without pay. At the Indonesian Embassy in Damascus, she attempted to flee, but she was rejected by a staff member. EH was even returned to the supplier agent.
“When returned to the agent, I was beaten up and tortured all out. I repeatedly asked to go home but at the time I was just relocated again to Iraq,” said EH.
In Iraq, EH’s suffering seemed endless as she was maltreated and sexually harassed. EH was a victim of rape by the son of her employer. When she reported it, EH was just accused of slander and reported to the police. EH was imprisoned while pregnant so that, in the end, she had a miscarriage.
Fortunately, in 2019, EH was helped by her peer from the Philippines to contact SEED Foundation. This NGO then communicated with a migrant worker protection institution in Indonesia, Migrant Care. EH’s case could finally be legally processed.
Despite the legal process, EH only got hurt and suffered losses. As she moved to other countries, her agents also changed; the wages they promised were never received.
Suicide attempt
The same was experienced by SK, 17, who left for Malaysia in 2019. The teenager from Blitar, East Java, was only 14 when she was transported by an agent.
SK was previously offered a job by an acquaintance in a neighboring village. She was promised a salary of Rp 5 million to Rp 6 million per month.
All her documents, including SK’s underage status at the time, were managed by the agent. SK was not allowed to see the papers.
SK was then sent by air to Batam, Riau Islands. In Batam, she was taken by boat to a port. At the port, she was met by car and transported to a housing complex in Malaka, Malaysia.
ARSIP KOMPAS
SK (17) when met in Blitar, East Java, Thursday (12/1/2023). This woman is a survivor of child trafficking who was brought to Malaysia.
While in Malaysia, SK worked for one of the agents there. Her employers changed six times while she worked for four months without pay. During her employment, she often received no food or medication when she was sick.
SK was also subjected to physical violence by her employer and agent. Part of the maltreatment caused injuries, one of which can still be traced on her arm.
SK, who could no longer bear such abuse, finally fled and was loitering in Malaysia. In early 2020, she was caught in a raid by local security officers and eventually deported.
I gave up, wishing I could die. I even tried to commit suicide by drinking laundry perfumes.
“From the salary to the job, nothing was as originally promised. I even got beatings; I gave up, wishing I could die. I even tried to commit suicide by drinking laundry perfumes,” said SK.
The accounts of EH and SK are only a few of overseas child trafficking stories. In reality, based on data from the Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI), almost every year hundreds of children are being trafficked both at home and abroad.
Minimum information
Legal Aid Coordinator of Migrant Care, Nurharsono, said minimum information about the right procedure for immigration had caused human trafficking cases to occur frequently. The cases often involve children.
Nurharsono confirmed illegal migrant worker sponsors had often approached would-be victims directly as neighbors or fellow village residents. In this way, high salaries, quick processing and no charges are conveyed to them as enticements.
He explained the impact on child victims could be more serious because of the trauma suffered and the negative stigma often held by the public. This is not to mention children being subjected to physical violence and sexual harassment.
A commissioner of the Human Rights National Commission, Anis Hidayah, said children were in a vulnerable position, making it challenging for them to resist perpetrators. In the grip of a human trafficking syndicate, they often find it hard to seek a way out.
Anis described advocacy and guidance for victims, especially children, as very important. With children’s vulnerable position in the human trafficking crime, advocacy and law enforcement should support the victims. (DIV/JOG/FRD/ILO)
