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.
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.
Over 50 countries and numerous international agencies participate in the Bali Process. It is co-chaired by the Governments of Indonesia and Australia.
History
The Bali Process is a non-binding, international forum that exists for policy dialogue, information sharing and exchange to aid each participating state to address these challenges established in the First Bali Ministerial Conference.
The outcomes of the conference can be reviewed in three focal points. Firstly, the ministers recognised that the illegal movements of people were an increasing problem as it creates “significant political, economic, social and security challenges” in national sovereignty. Secondly, links to terrorism and the criminal nature of human trafficking were expressed as points of deep concern, denouncing it as “reprehensible criminal activities” that infringed on basic human rights and freedom. Thirdly, the meeting affirmed a strong commitment that participating states should cooperate and provide support in developing measures to combat people smuggling. It was expressed that the state should “provide appropriate protection and assistance” to the victims of trafficking, within the international framework and domestic law.
Core objectives
At the Third Bali Process Regional Ministerial Conference in 2009, the objectives were expanded to accommodate a more humanitarian approach to migrant smugglings.
The objectives were amended to the following:
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.
Structure
The Bali Process is led by a steering group of four countries (Australia, Indonesia, New Zealand and Thailand), and is co-chaired by Australia and Indonesia. Currently, the Bali Process comprises 45 states, as well as the IOM, UNHCR and UNODC.
Membership
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:
Afghanistan
Australia
China
India
Indonesia
Japan
Malaysia
Pakistan
Papua New Guinea
Philippines
Republic of Korea
Singapore
Sri Lanka
USA
Vietnam
International Organization for Migration
UN High Commissioner for Refugees
UN Office on Drugs and Crime
International Labour Organization
Bali Process Ad Hoc Group (AHG)
The AHG comprises the most affected states, often taking the lead on collective action and focusing on specific issues of people smuggling, trafficking in persons and irregular migration.
Members of the AHG are: