RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta – Chief of the Indonesian Police, General Listyo Sigit Prabowo, officially launched the Directorate of Investigation for Crimes Against Women and Children and Human Trafficking in Jakarta, Wednesday, 21 January 2026. It is as a significant move to foster the protection of vulnerable groups.

The establishment of these specialized units, now active across 11 Regional Police Headquarters (POLDA) and 22 Resort Police Headquarters (POLRES). It also marks a strategic shift in Indonesia’s law enforcement approach.

The initiative aims to address the ‘iceberg phenomenon’ of domestic violence and human trafficking by transitioning from a purely formal legal process to a victim-centered, gender-sensitive, and professional investigation model. "With the formation of this Directorate, victims have slowly but surely begun to trust us, eventually finding the courage to report their cases," General Listyo said.

According to him, "This is no easy task, as the Police must build their confidence to resolve this iceberg problem.”

During his keynote address, General Listyo affirmed that the vast majority of crimes against women and children remain unreported due to trauma, social stigma, and a lack of trust in legal institutions. Referring to the Global Risk Report 2026, he highlighted that ‘online harms’ and transnational organized crime have become top-tier global threats requiring immediate and sophisticated responses.

General Listyo underscored the urgency of this unit, noting that victims are frequently exploited by international syndicates.

“Not with standing its recent establishment, this directorate is already up against international syndicates. Therefore, I demand that our personnel prepare themselves to pursue these criminals and master their modus operandi," the General Police stated.

He said the Police will achieve this by partnering with all available stakeholders and strengthening collaborations with international law enforcement counterparts. The Indonesian Police has already established 21 partnerships to tackle human trafficking, including 15 with international police agencies and organizations such as UNICEF, UN Women, and the Australian Federal Police (AFP).