ASEAN Integration Strengthens Cooperation on Human Trafficking Crimes between Indonesia and Timor Leste
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.37253/conescintech.v6i1.12723Keywords:
ASEAN Integration, Human Trafficking, Indonesia, Timor-Leste, Cross-Border, ACTIPAbstract
The transnational crime of human trafficking (TPPO) across the border of Indonesia and Timor-Leste in the East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) region remains a critical security challenge. This article aims to analyze how Timor-Leste's integration into ASEAN strengthens the cooperative mechanism for combating human trafficking between the two nations. Utilizing a descriptive qualitative method with a juridical-empirical approach, this study examines the effectiveness of regional legal instruments post-integration. The findings indicate that the adoption of the ASEAN Convention Against Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children (ACTIP) and Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA) mechanisms has successfully reduced bureaucratic barriers, accelerated intelligence sharing between the Indonesian National Police (Polri) and the National Police of Timor-Leste (PNTL), and tightened surveillance over illegal border tracks ('jalur tikus'). Furthermore, this regional integration drives a paradigm shift toward a victim-centered approach in the repatriation process. In conclusion, regional integration not only closes the legal loopholes previously exploited by criminal syndicates but also strengthens the ASEAN political-security pillar through a more structured and humanistic bilateral law enforcement framework.
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