Regional Support Office to strengthen the work of the Bali Process
Australia and Indonesia today launched a support office in Bangkok, Thailand, to strengthen the work of the Bali Process on People Smuggling, Trafficking in Persons and Related Transnational Crime in responding to irregular migration in the region.
The Regional Support Office is a key step in the implementation of the Regional Cooperation Framework. The office is expected to improve the effectiveness of the Bali Process while maintaining its voluntary and non-binding nature.
The office will develop and support Bali Process activities and practical arrangements to enhance the region’s response to people smuggling and trafficking in persons. It will engage in activities reflecting all Bali Process themes including people smuggling, human trafficking, and related transnational crime with a view to enhancing practical cooperation between Bali Process members.
Regional Support Office activities will cover various levels of migration management relating to operational matters, data sharing, legislation, and policy including in the asylum context in the Asia-Pacific region. It will support the harmonisation of national people smuggling and trafficking in persons legislation including enhancing efforts to provide appropriate protection and assistance to victims of trafficking.
Other projects will be developed to enhance capacity building of countries to facilitate voluntary returns. Work will also be carried out to identify practical ways to enhance cooperation and improve responses to the complex challenge of irregular movement by sea.
As Bali Process Co-chairs, Indonesia and Australia will co-manage the Regional Support Office in consultation with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the International Organization for Migration.
Significantly, the launch of the Regional Support Office took place in the 10th anniversary year of the Bali Process and provides a mechanism through which Bali Process members will be able to contribute to activities and initiatives in the years ahead.
Officials from Indonesia and Australia were joined at the launch by members of the Bali Process Ad Hoc Group.
Bali Process Ad Hoc Group members: Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Philippines, Thailand, United States, Vietnam, IOM and UNHCR. Canada and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime are observer participants.
