BALI PROCESS REGIONAL COOPERATION FRAMEWORK (RCF) ADDRESSING IRREGULAR MOVEMENT BY SEA IN THE REGION Presentation by Bali Process Co-Chairs: Febrian Ruddyard (Indonesia) and Craig Chittick (Australia)

THE CHALLENGE THE IRREGULAR MOVEMENT OF PEOPLE BY SEA IS A REGIONAL CHALLENGE – DESPITE THE PERILS AND THE CONTINUAL LOSS OF LIFE, MIGRANTS CONTINUE TO RISK THEIR LIVES AT SEA.NO ONE COUNTRY CAN RESPOND ALONE COLLECTIVE ACTION BY AFFECTED COUNTRIES IS CRITICAL – WITH THE HELP OF RELEVANT INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS

GENESIS OF THE RCF THE 4TH BALI REGIONAL MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE.FINDING DURABLE SOLUTIONS IS THE COLLECTIVE RESPONSIBILITY OF SOURCE, TRANSIT AND DESTINATION COUNTRIES.ANY APPROACH NEEDS TO ACCOMMODATE THE INTERESTS OF STATES INVOLVED A REGIONAL COOPERATION FRAMEWORK WILL PROVIDE AN EFFECTIVE WAY FOR INTERESTED PARTIES TO WORK TOGETHER

RCF KEY ELEMENTS ENABLES COUNTRIES TO PURSUE COMMON OBJECTIVES THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT OF PRACTICAL BILATERAL OR SUB REGIONAL ARRANGEMENTS AIMS TO REDUCE IRREGULAR MOVEMENT THROUGH THE REGION AND UNDERMINE THE PEOPLE SMUGGLING TRADE AIMS TO IMPROVE PROTECTION ARRANGEMENTS AIMS TO INCREASE BURDEN SHARING IN MANAGING ASYLUM SEEKERS

ACHIEVING RCF CORE OBJECTIVES REDUCE IRREGULAR MOVEMENT THROUGH THE REGION AND UNDERMINE THE PEOPLE SMUGGLING TRADE PROMOTE AND SUPPORT ORDERLY MIGRATION OPPORTUNITIES TARGET PEOPLE SMUGGLING ENTERPRISES - THROUGH BORDER SECURITY ARRANGEMENTS, LAW ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES, DISINCENTIVES AND DETERRENCE MESSAGES TO POTENTIAL SOURCE COMMUNITIES FOR VENTURES AND CREW

ACHIEVING RCF CORE OBJECTIVES IMPROVE PROTECTION ARRANGEMENTS - PROVIDE WHERE POSSIBLE ACCESS TO CONSISTENT ASYLUM ASSESSMENT PROCESSES - WHETHER THROUGH A SET OF HARMONISED ARRANGEMENTS OR THROUGH THE ESTABLISHMENT OF REGIONAL ASSESSMENT ARRANGEMENTS SUCH AS A CENTRE OR CENTRES - INCREASE BURDEN SHARING IN MANAGING ASYLUM SEEKERS

ACHIEVING RCF CORE OBJECTIVES PROVIDE A DURABLE SOLUTION FOR THOSE FOUND TO BE REFUGEES - INCLUDING VOLUNTARY REPATRIATION, RESETTLEMENT WITHIN AND OUTSIDE THE REGION AND WHERE APPROPRIATE ‘IN COUNTRY’ SOLUTIONS PROVIDE SUSTAINABLE RETURN MECHANISMS FOR THOSE FOUND NOT TO BE OWED PROTECTION - PREFERABLY ON A VOLUNTARY BASIS IN SAFETY AND WITH DIGNITY STATES SHOULD LOOK TO MAXIMISE OPPORTUITIES FOR GREATER COOPERATION

REGIONAL SUPPORT OFFICE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE BALI PROCESS REGIONAL SUPPORT OFFICE (RSO) IN 2012 OPERATIONALISED THE RCF – REPRESENTS COMMITMENT OF COUNTRIES TO EXPLORE AND DEVELOP PRACTICIAL MEASURES TO ADDRESS IRREGULAR MIGRATION ISSUES – PROVIDES A HUB FOR POLICY AND OPERATIONAL COORDINATION TO TAKE FORWARD IDEAS FOR PRACTICAL IMPLEMENATION OF THE RCF

REGIONAL SUPPORT OFFICE ENCOURAGES REGIONAL ENGAGEMENT THROUGH THE SECONDMENT OF GOVERNMENT EXPERTS FROM BALI PROCESS MEMBER STATES TO WORK ON COMMON OBJECTIVES THROUGH SPECIFIC ACTIVITIES THIS REGIONAL ROUNDTABLE IS AN RSO ACTIVITY DESIGNED TO EXPLORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PRACTICAL COOPERATION IN ADDRESSING IRREGULAR MOVEMENT BY SEA

HOW THE RCF CAN REDUCE IRREGULAR MARITIME MOVEMENTS.THE RCF PROVIDES AN UMBRELLA FOR SOURCE, TRANSIT AND DESTINATION COUNTRIES TO WORK TOGETHER TO RESPOND TO IRREGULAR MIGRATION, WHETHER BY LAND, AIR OR SEA WHILE THE RSO IS ONE IMPLEMENTING MECHANISM FOR THE RCF, INTERESTED COUNTRIES SHOULD WORK TOGETHER TO DEVELOP OTHER PRACTICAL ARRANGEMENTS

COUNTRIES CAN WORK TOGETHER TO: – STRENGTHEN LAW ENFORCEMENT COOPERATION AND BORDER INTEGRITY TO TARGET PEOPLE SMUGGLING ENTERPRISES – DEVELOP INFORMATION CAMPAIGNS TO DETER POTENTIAL IRREGULAR IMMIGRANTS IN SOURCE COUNTRIES – PROMOTE AND SUPPORT OPPORTUNITIES FOR ORDERLY MIGRATION – IMPROVE CONSISTENCY IN THE TREATMENT OF REFUGEES TO HELP REDUCE ASYLUM DESTINATION SHOPPING – DEVELOP COOPERATIVE ARRANGEMENTS FOR RETURNS TO COUNTRIES OF ORIGIN TO HELP DETER ECONOMIC MIGRANTS USING IRREGULAR PATHWAYS TO GET TO PREFERRED DESTINATIONS

CONCLUSION IMPORTANT TO FOCUS EFFORTS ON ACHIEVABLE RESULTS TO BUILD CONFIDENCE IN THE RCF, IN THE SHORT TO MEDIUM TERM RESULTS WILL BE REALISED WITH – SUSTAINED EFFORT – COOPERATION – COMMITMENT