SACRED-SECULAR COALITIONS: FAITH-BASED ANTI-TRAFFICKING GOVERNANCE IN EAST NUSA TENGGARA

Abstract

East Nusa Tenggara is nonetheless plagued by human trafficking due to chronic poverty, unpredictable migration and insufficient official protection, and remains one of Indonesia’s most vulnerable to trafficking. The study explores how religious leaders and secular institutions might assist with local government to fight trafficking, focusing on coalitions and cooperation between churches, non-governmental organizations and government throughout NTT. Using a qualitative case-study design backed by documentary analysis our study maps the institutional structures, norms and practices through which religious, social and legal authorities engage at the community level to address trafficking. Findings demonstrate that religious leaders provide not only pastoral care, but are also protective infrastructure, early prevention and advocacy. Secular government is fragmented and relies on religious networks for execution. This paper begins with the concept of a “sacred-secular” coalition and argues that anti-trafficking legislation must acknowledge and integrate religious institutions into collaborative governance, rather than just as service suppliers.