Bali Process
The Bali Process is an official international forum, established in 2002, to facilitate discussion and information sharing about issues relating to people smuggling, human trafficking, and related transnational crime and appropriate responses to these issues.[1]
The Bali Process was established through a framework agreement that was initiated at the "Regional Ministerial Conference on People Smuggling, Trafficking in Persons and Related Transnational Crime" held in Bali, Indonesia in February 2002.[2][3]
Over 50 countries and numerous international agencies participate in the Bali Process. It is co-chaired by the Governments of Indonesia and Australia.[4]
Core objectives
The core objectives of the Bali Process, set out on the official website, are:
- the development of more effective information and intelligence sharing;
- improved cooperation among regional law enforcement agencies to deter and combat people smuggling and trafficking networks;
- enhanced cooperation on border and visa systems to detect and prevent illegal movements;
- increased public awareness in order to discourage these activities and warn those susceptible;
- enhanced effectiveness of return as a strategy to deter people smuggling and trafficking through conclusion of appropriate arrangements;
- cooperation in verifying the identity and nationality of illegal migrants and trafficking victims;
- the enactment of national legislation to criminalise people smuggling and trafficking in persons;
- provision of appropriate protection and assistance to the victims of trafficking, particularly women and children;
- enhanced focus on tackling the root causes of illegal migration, including by increasing opportunities for legal migration between states;
- assisting countries to adopt best practices in asylum management, in accordance with the principles of the Refugees Convention; and
- advancing the implementation of an inclusive non-binding regional cooperation framework under which interested parties can cooperate more effectively to reduce irregular movement through the region.
Countries
The full list of member countries to the Bali Process is set out on the Membership Page of the official Bali Process website but the main countries and agencies involved in the meetings include the following:
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Recent meetings
Recent meetings of the Bali process forum have been held alternately in Indonesia and in Australia. (A comprehensive set of ministerial conference and meetings statements is at the Meetings page of the official Bali Process website.)
2011
- Fourth Regional Ministerial Conference in March in Bali.
- Fifth meeting of Ad Hoc Officials Group (October, Sydney).
2012
- Sixth meeting of Ad Hoc Official Group (June, Bali).
- Commemoration of the 10th year of the Bali Process (November, Bali).[5]
2013
- Seventh meeting of Ad Hoc Officials Group (March, Sydney).
- Senior officials meeting in April in Bali.
- Fifth Regional Ministerial Conference in April in Bali.
2014
- Special Conference on "The Irregular Movement of People" in April in Jakarta[6]
- Eighth meeting of Ad Hoc Officials Group (August, Canberra).
References
- ↑ Some details of the establishment of the Bali Process in 2002, resulting from discussions between the then Indonesian Foreign Minister Dr Hassan Wirajuda and the Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer, are set out in a speech given at Monash University by the then Australian Ambassador for People Smuggling Issues, Ms Caroline Millar, in July 2004.
- ↑ Official website of the Bali Process
- ↑ Radio Australia report.
- ↑ Details are at the website of the Bali Process
- ↑ Desi Nurhayati, 'Bali process challenged by rise in irregular migrants', The Jakarta Post, 13 November 2012.
- ↑ Yuliasri Perdani, 'Fourteen nations look to resolve regional boat people issue', The Jakarta Post, 21 April 2014.
External links
- Official website of the Bali Process supported by the governments of Australia, Japan and Indonesia.
- International Organisation for Migration: Bali Process
- Australian Government website on People smuggling and trafficking in persons
- UNHCR statement on the Bali process, April 2013.