Anniversary Events

Since its inception in 2002, the Bali Process on People Smuggling, Trafficking in Persons and Related Transnational Crime has effectively raised regional awareness of the consequences of people smuggling, trafficking in persons and related transnational crime. Anniversary events bring Member States together to reflect on the learning and progress they have engendered in the region – and looking ahead to future challenges where ongoing cooperation and dialogue will be vital.

Bali Process Members working together to tackle irregular migration across the Asia-Pacific came together over 7-8 September 2022, to reflect on the 20th year of the Bali Process and the learning and progress they have engendered in the region – as well as looking ahead to the future challenges where ongoing cooperation and dialogue will be vital.

Delegates agreed on priority areas ranging from the need to strengthen border management systems, to ongoing challenges in ensuring safety at sea and combating people smuggling by sea, to the growing role of technology as a facilitator for irregular migration, people smuggling and trafficking in persons.

Building on progress: 20 years on

Delegates attending included representatives on law and human rights, immigration, national security and defence, business and employment, – to share examples of practical initiatives, resources and tools developed with the support of the RSO.

Over the course of the two days, as well as hearing from a range of speakers, delegates worked together in small groups – grouped geographically – to discuss the main issues and priorities facing the Asia-Pacific region.

Shared concerns and areas of focus included:

The need to strengthen border management systems.
The changing patterns of trafficking in persons in the region.
The regional dimension of migration flows and exploitation of migrants.
The growing role of technology as a facilitator for irregular migration, people smuggling and trafficking in persons.
The transnational crime threats faced by the region, and the issue of fraudulent documents for irregular migration.
Identification of and assistance for victims of trafficking in persons continues to face a diverse set of challenges.
The safety of life at sea and the ongoing challenges in combating people smuggling by sea.
The need for collective efforts in analysing emerging trends of irregular migration in the Bali Process Region.
Corruption as a facilitator of irregular migration and smuggling.
The need to strengthen the justice sector to effectively combat people smuggling and trafficking in persons.