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

Bali Process Government and Business Forum

The Bali Declaration recognised the need to engage constructively with the private sector to expand legal and legitimate opportunities for labour migration and to combat human trafficking and related exploitation, including by promoting and implementing humane, non-abusive labour practices throughout their supply chains. To this end, Minister for Foreign Affairs for Australia, the Hon Julie Bishop MP, and Minister for Foreign Affairs for the Republic of Indonesia, Retno L.P. Marsudi, co-chaired the inaugural Bali Process Government and Business Forum (the “Perth Forum”) on 24-25 August 2017. Andrew Forrest, founder and chairman of Fortescue Metals Group and founder of the Walk Free Foundation, and Eddy Sariaatmadja, founder of media group Emtek, were business co-chairs for Australia and Indonesia respectively.This new initiative brought together influential business leaders and ministers from the Indo-Pacific region to consider ways to prevent and combat human trafficking, forced labour, and modern slavery. The Perth Forum, the first of its kind in the Indo-Pacific region, is a positive step towards the kind of collaboration between government and business that is needed to end these crimes; it will become a permanent track of the Bali Process. 

The Bali Process covers 4.5 billion of the world’s population; the combined force of both business and government in this Forum is one of the most powerful weapons to combat human trafficking. The Perth Forum was driven by the private sector, with participants presenting a plan of action (the “Work Plan”) for addressing their most urgent priorities. This Work Plan – the key outcome from the Forum – was developed following consultations with a broad range of stakeholders and comprises areas of work for business leaders to focus on over the next 12 months. The list of priorities for work includes the following themes: ethical employment; transparency in supply chains; and, safeguards and grievance/redress mechanisms. The Second Bali Process Government and Business Forum held in Bali, Indonesia from the 6 - 7 August 2018 put forward a comprehensive array of Recommendations to enhance collaboration on tackling modern slavery. The Acknowledge, Act and Advance Recommendations (AAA Recommendations) set out a pathway for both business and government to contribute to the eradication of these transnational crimes.

Bali Process (private sector engagement)

Bali Process Business Hub

Meetings

Bali Government and Business Forum

Date: 24-25 August 2017

Location: Perth

Event Description:

At the Sixth Bali Process Ministerial Conference of March 2016, Ministers recognised the need to engage the private sector to combat human trafficking, forced labour and related exploitation. The forum brought together ministers and business leaders from the 45 Bali Process countries to determine policies to tackle human trafficking, modern slavery and forced labour. Ministers and their representatives and Business Leaders acknowledged modern slavery, in the form of human trafficking, forced labour and the worst forms of child labour as a hidden crime that affects every country and all economic sectors.

Documents:


Written Statements

Second Bali Government and Business Forum

Date: 06-07 August 2018

Location: Bali

Event Description:

The Bali Process has never been more relevant, with irregular migration issues gaining prominence regionally and globally. Since the Sixth Ministerial Conference in March 2016, the Bali Process has stepped up its engagement to work towards realising the objectives of the 2016 Ministerial Declaration. The Second Bali Process Government and Business Forum provided an opportunity to take stock of this progress and reaffirm the  commitments  made  in the Bali  Declaration  on People  Smuggling, Trafficking in Persons and Related Transnational Crime (2016 Bali Declaration), adopted at the Sixth Ministerial Conference in March 2016. The Acknowledge, Act, Advance (AAA) Recommendations, endorsed by the business and government leaders, outline actions to strengthen and implement policy and legal frameworks and advance long-term efforts to improve supply chain transparency, the treatment of workers, ethical recruitment and victim support.

Documents:


Written Statements

Photo Gallery

Consultations 2020-2021

Financial Sector Consultation and Innovation Session

On 30 September 2020, a virtual consultation and innovation session was convened to progress key actions in addressing labour exploitation and human trafficking. The event was held in collaboration with the Lichtenstein Initiative for Finance Against Slavery and Trafficking. Outcomes have been taken forward for further discussion with the Bali Process members.

Documents:

 

Fishing Sector Consultation and Innovation Session

On 13 October 2020, a virtual consultation and innovation session was convened to progress ideas that tackle labour exploitation in the fishing sector.Outcomes have been taken forward for further discussion with the Bali Process members.

Documents: