Yogyakarta – International Office CDCIA of UIN Sunan Kalijaga with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia held a public lecture themed “Moving Safely: Migration Is Not Just a Shortcut” on Friday, 5 December 2025. This event was attended by students, lecturers, and academic community as an effort to improve literacy of international mobility security and understanding of protection of Indonesian citizens abroad.

In the opening of the event, Prof. Noorhaidi Hasan, Rector of UIN Sunan Kalijaga introduced the university profile, including the number of faculties and majors that are currently expanding.

He also emphasized to fully support the establishment of an International Relations major, which according to him is strategic considering global challenges and demanding of experts in the field of diplomation and international study.

The Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ms. Nina Hamidah, delivered a public lecture emphasizing that global mobility is a complex phenomenon that cannot be viewed as a quick fix for success.

“Moving safely means understanding the risks and our rights as Indonesian citizens. Migration is not just a shortcut, but a step that must be carefully considered,” she said.

In the next session, Ms. Heni Hamidah explained the current situation regarding the increasing number of Indonesian citizens who have become victims of online scams, online gambling, and romance scams. Not only have they become victims, but some Indonesian citizens have been recruited to become part of the scam network.

She revealed that during this year, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through the Directorate for the Protection of Indonesian Citizens, has returned around 200 Indonesian citizens who were victims of scams in Cambodia and Vietnam.

“This trend is frightening. Many Indonesians have been deceived by job offers or online relationships. Therefore, education and awareness are very important,” she stated.

Ms. Heni also explained the principles and scope of protection for Indonesian citizens abroad by outlining a framework of protection that is preventive, responsive, and systematic. This protection is based on national and international legal principles. This principle includes the involvement of authorized parties in providing protection in accordance with jurisdiction and international standards. In addition, the government should not take over the legal responsibilities of Indonesian citizens but should provide professional assistance. The scope of protection for Indonesian citizens includes prevention, early detection, and rapid response.

“The protection of Indonesian citizens is a moral and legal commitment. Its success requires synergy between the government, society, international institutions, and Indonesian citizens themselves,” she added.

The question and answer session was dynamic, with several important questions from participants. During the session, Ms. Heni explained that Indonesian citizens must understand their destination country and always carry complete travel documents. If there are any problems at the airport, they should immediately contact the authorities, airport officials, or delegates from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In addition, international cooperation should be coordinated with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the Indonesian Embassy to ensure that it complies with regulations. The mechanism for reporting student mobility was also explained during this session. Participants were also warned to be aware of scams related to internship or employment programs by confirming their authenticity through the Indonesian Embassy in the relevant country.

The public lecture held by CDCIA UIN Sunan Kalijaga in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs provided in-depth insights into migration security, protection of Indonesian citizens, and global mobility preparedness. With the increase in cases of online scams and exploitation, these activities are becoming increasingly important for the community, especially students who plan to study abroad.

The event closed with the hope that all participants would become agents for spreading information about safe migration and the protection of Indonesian citizens.