Bali Process :The Sixth Bali Process Ministerial Conference

The Sixth Bali Process Ministerial Conference on People Smuggling, Trafficking in Persons and Related Transnational Crime

Tuesday, 22 March 2016 

The Sixth Bali Process Ministerial Conference will take place in Bali, Indonesia on 23 March 2016, following a Bali Process Senior Officials Meeting to be held on 22 March. 

The Sixth Bali Process Ministerial Conference will provide an opportunity to step up the collective efforts of the Bali Process Membership to address people smuggling, human trafficking and irregular migration challenges, and to map out the future direction for the Bali Process. This may include law enforcement cooperation and capacity building; enhancing safe migration pathways; protection of refugees and other displaced persons; further cooperation on return and reintegration; and addressing the root causes of irregular migration. The Conference may also consider a mechanism for more timely consultation amongst members in responding to emerging issues.

Australia is ready to participate in the Bali Process on People Smuggling, Trafficking in Persons and Related Transnational Crimes which will be held this month, mentioned Australian Ambassador to Indonesia Paul Grigson. 

"Bali Process is a crucial mechanism and issue for Australia. I believe that Australia is prepared to attend Bali Process," stated Grigson at the Australian Embassy, Jakarta, Wednesday (3/2/2016).

Ambassador Grigson also affirmed that Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop will attend the Bali Process on March 22-23 in Nusa Dua, Bali.

"Indonesia is the perfect partner to hold this conference. Especially in Bali, where foreign tourists often visit, including Australians," he continued.

Established in 2002, Bali Process is a regional forum to strengthen cooperations, facilitating discussions and sharing informations on the issues related to human trafficking, human smuggling and transnational crimes.

The conference is chaired by Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi and Bishop. It is preceded with senior officials meeting in March 22, the conference invited 48 members of Bali Process and 18 and also observer countries and organizations.

Australian Ambassador to Indonesia Paul Grigson

Ambassador @DubesAustralia Paul Grigson "Bali Process is a crucial mechanism and issue for Australia " https://t.co/DjZ0kjGrf4

— BaliPromotionCenter (@translatorbali) March 5, 2016

Bali process at a glance

Since its inception in 2002, the Bali Process on People Smuggling, Trafficking in Persons and Related Transnational Crime (Bali Process) has effectively raised regional awareness of the consequences of people smuggling, trafficking in persons and related transnational crime, and developed and implemented strategies and practical cooperation in response.  More than 48 members, including the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC), as well as a number of observer countries and international agencies participate in this voluntary forum.

The core objectives of the Bali Process 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. 

The Bali Process Ad Hoc Group

The Ad Hoc Group was established to develop and pursue practical measures to inform future regional cooperation on people smuggling, trafficking in persons and the irregular movement of people.  The Ad Hoc Group brings together most-affected countries and relevant international organisations to address specific issues related to irregular migration in the region. The Ad Hoc Group is primarily tasked with implementing the Bali Process Regional Cooperation Framework.

Regional Cooperation Framework

On 30 March 2011, Bali Process Ministers, in consultation with the UNHCR and IOM, agreed to establish a Regional Cooperation Framework (RCF) to enable interested Bali Process members to establish practical arrangements aimed at enhancing the region’s response to irregular movement through consistent processing of asylum claims, durable solutions for refugees, the sustainable return of those not owed protection and targeting of people smuggling enterprises.

The Regional Support Office was subsequently established to facilitate implementation of the RCF. The Office provides a central point for information sharing between States on refugee protection and international migration; capacity building and exchange of best practices; pooling of common technical resources; and providing logistical, administrative, operational and coordination support for joint projects between Bali Process members. The Regional Support Office was officially opened in Bangkok on 10 September 2012.