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. It is a forum for policy dialogue, information sharing and practical cooperation to help the region address these challenges. The 2018 Declaration adopted by the Seventh Bali Process Ministerial Conference currently guides the work of the Bali Process in implementing priorities directed by Ministers.
The Bali Process, co-chaired by Indonesia and Australia, has 49 members, including the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the International Labour Organization (ILO), as well as a number of observer countries and international agencies. It also includes the Ad Hoc Group, bringing together those most-affected member countries, and relevant international organisations, to address specific irregular migration issues in the region.
The Regional Support Office (RSO) of the Bali Process was also established to support and strengthen practical cooperation on refugee protection and international migration, including human trafficking and smuggling, and other components of migration management in the region.
The Sixth Bali Process Ministerial Conference (March 2016) confirmed the core objectives and priorities of the Bali Process through endorsement of the Bali Process Declaration on People Smuggling, Trafficking in Persons and Related Transnational Crime. The Declaration acknowledges the growing scale and complexity of irregular migration challenges both within and outside the Asia Pacific region and supports measures that would contribute to comprehensive long term strategies addressing the crimes of people smuggling and human trafficking as well as reducing migrant exploitation by expanding safe, legal and affordable migration pathways. The Bali Process Strategy for Cooperation has been a stepping stone to strengthen the overall work and impact of the Bali Process across the region.
The Seventh Bali Process Ministerial Conference and the Second Bali Process Government and Business Forum were held on 7 August 2018. The aforementioned 2018 Declaration will see the Bali Process advance further engagements on irregular migration with the private sector and the civil society. Recommendations from businesses to governments to enhance collaboration on tackling modern slavery were adopted and the business track was made a permanent instrument of the Bali Process. Further information is available in the following sections: Ministerial Conference and the Government and Business Forum.
