The society’s perspective of human trafficking

Human trafficking has been a great concern in Indonesia and around the world, because the impact is devastating for the individual, the family, and later on the society as well. Meanwhile, human trafficking keeps happening because of the vulnerability of the victims, related to the social and economic backgrounds. The aim of this research is to identify society’s perspective on human trafficking and its scope. Our intention is to identify the possible means to decrease the number, and perhaps that will be suitable in other societies as well. This study used the survey method in a number of sub-districts in several districts in East Java, Indonesia, namely Gempol (Pasuruan), Karang Binangun (Lamongan), Papar (Kediri), Nglegok (Blitar), and Donomulyo (Malang). The subjects in this study were representatives of community leaders, village staff, and community organizations, such as PKK cadres, working groups, teachers, youth and dasa wisma, culminating in as many as 141 participants. The data were obtained through questionnaires and focus group discussions (FGD). FGD questionnaires and guidance were based on issues relating to the research objectives, ie.: identifying human trafficking based on society’s perspectives. The data were analyzed using a descriptive analysis of survey results reported in tabulation and percentages. This study showed that in general, most of the society members who participated in this study had good knowledge about human trafficking. They gained insight from a variety of sources and more from television. This showed that the government and private sectors in Indonesia had considerable concern for this phenomenon. However, the number of human trafficking cases in Indonesia has not decreased. There are still some people who do not know the details about human trafficking, for example about the actions to be taken when seeing or experiencing this scenario. If people know about the insights and knowledge of human trafficking, they can have the ability to detect the existence of human trafficking problems in their surroundings, thereby reducing the level of society’s vulnerability to the case. We propose that the number of human trafficking may be decreased by the participation of both the government and the society together, by detecting the signs by the society, close relatives, and close friends of the vulnerable individuals.