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Is the Law an Ass When It Comes to Mules? How Indonesia Can Lead a New Global Approach to Treating Drug Traffickers as Human Trafficked Victims

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 October 2016

Felicity GERRY QC ,
Thomas HARRÉ ,
Nathalina NAIBAHO ,
Julia MURASZKIEWICZ  and
Neil BOISTER
Felicity GERRY QC
Affiliation:
Charles Darwin University, Australiafelicity.gerry@cdu.edu.au
Thomas HARRÉ
Affiliation:
University of Melbourne, Australiatharre@student.unimelb.edu.au
Nathalina NAIBAHO
Affiliation:
Universitas Indonesia, Indonesianathalina.naibaho@gmail.com
Julia MURASZKIEWICZ
Affiliation:
Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgiumj.muraszkiewicz@gmail.com
Neil BOISTER
Affiliation:
University of Waikato, New Zealandnboister@waikato.ac.nz
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Abstract

Indonesia has enacted laws which provide mandatory protection for victims of human trafficking. It also has mandatory drug laws which, in some cases, lead to the death penalty. This legislative conflict together with investigative and prosecutorial failure risks the execution of human trafficked victims who are used as drug mules in organized crime. In countries where there is no statutory defence to criminal conduct, there is a need to approach criminal conduct in a way that protects victims. This includes mechanisms to ensure non-prosecution and non-punishment. The recent reprieve for Mary Jane Veloso, albeit temporary at the time of writing, is an opportunity for Indonesia to lead a new global approach to victim protection.

Type
Articles
Information
Asian Journal of International Law , Volume 8 , Issue 1 , January 2018 , pp. 166 - 188
Copyright
© Asian Journal of International Law 2016 

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Footnotes

*

Queen’s Counsel in London and Darwin, and Senior Lecturer, School of Law, Charles Darwin University.

†

PhD Candidate, School of Law, University of Melbourne.

‡

Universitas Indonesia.

§

PhD Candidate, Faculty of Law, Vrije Universiteit Brussel.

**

Professor of Law, Te Piringa Faculty of Law, University of Waikato, New Zealand.

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51. Ibid., at 381 and the sources cited there; UK Sentencing Council, supra note 49 at 3.

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53. Fleetwood, supra note 46 at 384.

54. Ibid.

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74. See e.g. Attorney General’s Reference No.14 of 2001 (Maria Das Dores Fietose) [2003] 1 Cr. App. R (S) 17.

75. Huling, supra note 58 at 19.

76. Ibid.

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84. Ibid., art. 18.

85. Ibid., art. 1.

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89. Authors’ translation.

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95. [2013] EWCA Crim 991, at [1].

96. See United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees [UNHCR], “Conference Puts Focus on Human Trafficking, Fastest Growing Criminal Industry” UNHCR Press Release (11 October 2010), online: UNHCR <http://www.unhcr.org/4cb315c96.html>.

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98. Gallagher, supra note 12 at 288.