On 14 November 2024, the Regional Support Office (RSO) of the Bali Process on People Smuggling, Trafficking in Persons, and Related Transnational Crime bolstered efforts to strengthen engagement with other regional bodies and fora to address trafficking in persons, through a focused interface meeting with the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR), during their Special Meeting in Luang Prabang, Lao PDR.
In line with commitments made through the 2023 Adelaide Strategy for Cooperation to strengthen engagement with other regional bodies and fora—particularly ASEAN—the meeting underscored the shared commitment of both entities to address challenges posed by trafficking in persons and associated crimes, and aimed to support further alignment of efforts within the ASEAN region.
During the discussions, AICHR Representatives and the RSO provided overviews of priority areas throughout 2025 and beyond, and explored synergies between our respective mandates and activities. The RSO highlighted its ongoing initiatives, including capacity-building programmes for law enforcement, victim-centred policy development, and the strengthening of cross-border information-sharing. The AICHR representatives shared insights into their activities for the rights of vulnerable groups, emphasising the importance of regional solidarity in countering trafficking in persons while upholding human rights principles.
A key focus of the dialogue was the issue of trafficking for forced criminality and online scamming—emerging forms of exploitation that have disproportionately affected Bali Process Member States within ASEAN. The RSO recognised the critical need for preventative measures, including public awareness campaigns, community engagement, and private sector partnerships including with the technology sector. The RSO also presented its most recent policy brief ‘New Frontiers: The Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence to Facilitate Trafficking in Persons’.
The RSO’s engagement with the AICHR recognises the importance of a holistic approach to addressing trafficking and persons and transnational crime—and the importance of forefronting human rights in discussions as central to effective and sustainable solutions.
RSO Programme Coordinator, Evan Jones noted that “collaboration between regional entities is essential. Only through coordinated multilateral efforts—and whole of society efforts—can we more effectively address shared challenges in countering trafficking in persons.” He further reflected that “we have now paved an initial path through which the RSO and the AICHR can strengthen our communication and collective action.”
