This paper addresses the pressing issue of human trafficking in the ASEAN region, focusing on the role of the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLA) as a legal strategy for regional collaboration. Human trafficking is not only a grave violation of human rights but also a complex transnational crime that requires coordinated international efforts. This study investigates the existing legal framework, policies, and institutional mechanisms in ASEAN to combat human trafficking. The study identified significant challenges faced by MLA, including limitations in the legal framework and coordination issues among member states. The findings suggest that strengthening MLA as an integrated legal approach that encompasses prevention, prosecution, protection, and cross-border cooperation is hampered because corruption and complicity of officials in trafficking crimes at various levels of government continue to be significant problems, which impede law enforcement and perpetuate impunity to effectively combat trafficking. The study uses comparative legal analysis to highlight the importance of strong regional collaboration, emphasising the need for improved information sharing and coordination to enhance legal and institutional responses. The paper concludes that a stronger MLA framework is essential to address the complexities of trafficking and provide better support for victims.

This article aims to examine the gaps between regulations that negatively impact animal welfare, particularly regarding the legality of using animals as a means of transportation under Article 1, Point 9 of Law Number 22 of 2009 on Road Traffic and Transportation. The implementation of this regulation has led to exploitation resulting in violations of animal welfare, contradicting various animal protection laws. Adverse incidents involving horse-drawn carriages in different regions of Indonesia illustrate that animal welfare is often neglected in the practice of using animals for transportation. Therefore, regulatory reform is needed to align legislation with animal protection principles. This alignment must be addressed urgently because existing regulations fail to effectively protect animals, leading to the continuation of harmful practices. Without regulatory reform, animal exploitation in transportation will persist without adequate legal protection. The findings of this study reveal that using animals for transportation leads to exploitation and fails to ensure animal welfare protection, offering new insights based on progressive legal theory through regulatory reform. A regulatory reform that completely bans the use of animals for transportation, according to progressive legal theory, will provide a legal framework consistent with animal protection principles. This research stands out by integrating progressive legal theory to offer comprehensive solutions to address the impact of existing regulations while prioritizing animal welfare.   Artikel ini bertujuan untuk mengkaji kesenjangan antar peraturan perundang-undangan yang berdampak negatif terhadap kesejahteraan hewan dalam legalitas penggunaan hewan sebagai alat transportasi di Pasal 1 Angka 9 Undang-Undang Nomor 22 Tahun 2009 tentang Lalu Lintas dan Angkutan Jalan yang dalam pelaksanaannya telah menyebabkan eksploitasi yang berujung pada pelanggaran kesejahteraan hewan yang bertentangan dengan berbagai peraturan perundang-undangan mengenai perlindungan hewan. Insiden buruk yang menimpa kuda delman di berbagai daerah di Indonesia menggambarkan bahwa kesejahteraan hewan sering diabaikan dalam praktik penggunaan hewan sebagai transportasi. Oleh karena itu, diperlukan reformasi regulasi untuk menyelaraskan peraturan perundang-undangan dengan prinsip perlindungan hewan. Penyelarasan peraturan harus segera dilakukan karena peraturan yang ada tidak akan mampu melindungi hewan secara efektif, sehingga mengakibatkan praktik yang merugikan hewan terus berlanjut. Jika tidak ada reformasi regulasi, maka eksploitasi hewan dalam transportasi akan terus terjadi tanpa memiliki perlindungan hukum yang memadai. Temuan penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa penggunaan hewan sebagai transportasi menimbulkan eksploitasi hewan, sehingga tidak memenuhi perlindungan kesejahteraan hewan, dan menawarkan wawasan baru berdasarkan teori hukum progresif melalui reformasi regulasi. Reformasi regulasi yang sepenuhnya melarang penggunaan hewan sebagai transportasi, berdasarkan teori hukum progresif, akan menyediakan kerangka hukum yang selaras dengan prinsip-prinsip perlindungan hewan. Penelitian ini lebih menonjol karena mengintegrasikan teori hukum progresif untuk memberikan solusi komprehensif untuk mengatasi dampak dari peraturan yang ada agar tetap mengutamakan perlindungan kesejahteraan hewan secara komprehensif.