IMPLEMENTASI PERLINDUNGAN HUKUM TERHADAP ANAK SEBAGAI KORBAN TINDAK PIDANA PERDAGANGAN ORANG (TPPO) DALAM PROSES PENYIDIKAN (Studi di Polres Malang)

This study aims to analyze the implementation of legal protection for children as victims of Trafficking in Persons (TIP) during the investigative process at the Malang Resort Police, employing a juridical-sociological approach. Data were collected through document analysis and interviews with investigators from the Women and Children Protection Unit (Unit PPA) of Polres Malang. The findings indicate that legal protection has been carried out through the use of child-friendly interview rooms, assistance provided by service institutions, and the application of the best interests of the child principle during examinations. However, the implementation at the investigative stage has not been fully optimal, as investigators continue to face limitations in supporting facilities, reliance on external institutions for psychosocial services, and the absence of a sustainable supervision mechanism for monitoring the condition of child victims.
The study also reveals that external factors constitute the dominant barriers to achieving comprehensive legal protection. Low victim awareness of their status as victims, economic dependence on perpetrators, limited availability of safe houses, slow response from supporting institutions, and insufficient family support often hinder the investigative process, particularly in the fulfillment of evidence and ensuring victim presence. These findings underscore that the effectiveness of legal protection is determined not only by the capacity of investigators but also by cross-sectoral synergy in ensuring the physical, psychological, and social stability of the victims. Therefore, strengthening inter-agency coordination, improving the capacity of support facilities, and enhancing victim-oriented assistance mechanisms are urgently required to achieve holistic child recovery