Ministerial Conference on People Smuggling,
Trafficking in Persons and Related Transnational Crime

(Outline and Significance)

1 March 2002

The Ministerial Conference on People Smuggling, Trafficking in Persons and Related Transnational Crime was held from 26-28 February in Bali, Republic of Indonesia. Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Seiken Sugiura attended the conference as Japan's chief representative. Before attending the conference Vice-Minister Sugiura visited Brunei Darussalam from 24-26 February.

Outline

1) The conference was held in Bali, Indonesia and co-hosted by Indonesia and Australia. A total of 34 ministers attended the conference from 38 countries in the Asia Pacific, the Middle East and other regions as well as the United Nations Transnational Administration in East Timor (UNTAET), the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)

2) At the conference, four topics were discussed in the ministerial-level policy dialogue, including the root causes of the illegal movement of people and how to build on existing efforts to curb illegal movement of people. In addition, a wide range of topics, including Afghan refugee issues and immigration administration issues, were discussed at a Ministerial Retreat Meeting attended by ministers only. On the final day, the Co-Chairs' Statement was issued.

3) It was agreed that two ad-hoc experts' groups (one on international and regional cooperation with New Zealand serving as coordinator; the other on policy issues, legal frameworks and law enforcement issues, with the Kingdom of Thailand serving as coordinator) would be established for follow-up purposes. The experts' groups will deliberate for a 12-month period.

Significance

1) Significance and Results of the Conference

1. The broad and high-level participation of 34 ministers from the Asia Pacific, the Middle East and other regions highlighted the political profile of these issues.
2. By issuing the Co-Chairs' Statement, the countries involved indicated they held in common the importance of these issues, and affirmed that they would advance regional cooperation, including follow-up mechanism.
3. The fact that the conference was co-hosted by Indonesia and Australia was significant as an improvement in bilateral relations between the two countries that have had a delicate relationship regarding these issues.

2) Japan's Response

Japan actively participated in the discussions from the standpoint of placing importance on transnational issues, based on Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's policy speech of January 2002. Vice-Minister Sugiura's opening statement on the root causes of these issues introduced Japan's measures and set the tone for the conference as a whole. Japan also contributed to the organization of the conference's results during the ensuing discussion, including the importance of follow-up process.