Sister Laurentina Suharsih, an Indonesian nun, received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Indonesian government for her anti-trafficking work last December.
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto gave away the prestigious award to Suharsih on December 28, 2024, along with two other recipients.
According to her, the government's recognition of Suharsih and other anti-human trafficking activists recently in Indonesia is a milestone in curbing the menace of human trafficking, which is a global phenomenon.
Suharsih, 52, a member of the Sisters of Divine Providence, is the coordinator of Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) for her congregation in Indonesia.
She has been active in anti-human trafficking for more than 10 years. Her journey of working against anti-human trafficking began in West Timor, East Nusa Tenggara province, Indonesia, in 2011. While assigned to West Timor, she met a victim of human trafficking from the country. The victim was a legal worker in Malaysia. However, the employer subjected the victim to numerous instances of physical abuse. From then on, she continued the anti-human trafficking ministry with her congregation and other collaborators.
In 2014, the nun studied subjects on social and political issues in Jakarta with the Migrant Care community and Sahabat Insan ("Friendship and Humanity"), an Indonesian Jesuit organization based in Jakarta. It works with migrant workers and victims of human trafficking. The study gave her a wide range of perspectives, skills, and experiences to better engage with the anti-human trafficking ministry.
In 2016, her province assigned Suharsih to be the coordinator of JPIC and the anti-human trafficking ministry in Timor. The following year, she joined as a member of JPIC in the Archdiocese of Kupang. With these opportunities, she educated boys and girls about anti-human trafficking.
Additionally, she collaborated with other Catholic religious orders, Protestant pastors, especially members from the Gereja Masehi Injili di Timor (GMIT or Evangelical Christian Church of Timor), volunteers, and activists.
The nun was able to advocate for victims and negotiate with the government on human trafficking issues by networking with priests and others. Today, her team educates students and others about migrant workers and human trafficking.
One of her works is that she is often seen at the port or airport in Kupang, waiting for the coffins of migrant workers who died abroad, loaded as cargo.
According to the Global Sisters' Report, over 100 migrant workers from East Nusa Tenggara province died in Malaysia last year due to serious illness or accidents.
And Suharsih was there to help the families of migrant workers.
It is so distressing to see when a family receives the bodies of their migrant workers. Often, a nun accompanies the families. She helps families transport bodies from the port or airport.
Addressing human trafficking is a complex challenge, says the nun. Despite the many hardships, she asserts that fighting human trafficking must be a matter of immense importance for all—government, civil society groups, church, and society. Unfortunately, human trafficking issues receive little attention from both the private and public sectors.
The plight, anguish, and suffering of victims of human trafficking are so common. Suharsih says everyone must care, take responsibility, and work to stop human trafficking everywhere for the common good. No one should ever tolerate the menace in society.
The Catholic Church must strive, in collaboration with the government, civil society groups, and individuals from diverse backgrounds and religions, to combat human trafficking, says Suharsih.
Though she experiences many forms of disappointment in her ministry, she will not give it up, seeing its importance for people, the church, and society as she continues her work with other collaborators with commitment.
Only God's power can accompany the victims of human trafficking and their families.
Fighting against human trafficking tirelessly must continue with the support of other activities and collaborators, despite many challenges, says the nun.
