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Voluntary Reporting System on Migrant Smuggling and Related Conduct in Support of the Bali Process (VRS-MSRC) Geneva, 22 April 2013 Sebastian Baumeister Coordination and Analysis Unit (CAU) , UNODC Regional Office for Southeast Asia and the Pacific. In support of the Bali Process.
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Voluntary Reporting System on Migrant Smuggling and Related Conduct in Support of the Bali Process (VRS-MSRC) Geneva, 22 April 2013 Sebastian Baumeister Coordination and Analysis Unit (CAU), UNODC Regional Office for Southeast Asia and the Pacific
In support of the Bali Process At the 4th Bali Process Ministerial Conference in March 2011: “Ministers agreed to strengthen engagement on information and intelligence sharing, underscoring the high value and utility that would derive from enhanced information sharing. In this regard, Ministers welcomed assistance from UNODC in establishing a voluntary reporting system on migrant smuggling and related conduct in support of the Bali Process.”
In support of the Bali Process At the 5th Bali Process Ministerial Conference in April 2013: “Ministers encouraged members to participate in the Voluntary Reporting System on Migrant Smuggling and Related Conduct developed by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) to strengthen its value as an information database to enhance and better inform policy development in response to migrant smuggling.”
Purpose • To collect and share (non-nominal) information on irregular migration and migrant smuggling • To build strategic, evidence-based knowledge
Purpose • To inform policies and operational measures • To build trust and strengthen cooperation between states
A secure, internet based, data sharing tool for State authorities • Allowing States to exchangeup-to-date information • Providing a national platform to bring together data from various national agencies
What are the flows of irregular migration and migrant smuggling, which are covered by the VRS-MSRC in support of the Bali Process? • The VRS-MSRC serves to collect data on migrant smuggling and irregular migration within, through, from, and to the Bali Process region.
Conducting analysis and building strategic intelligence • routes, methods used, fees paid
Conducting analysis and building strategic intelligence • Who is entering and staying in an irregular way?
Conducting analysis and building strategic intelligence • Who are the criminals facilitating irregular entry and stay?
Development of the VRS-MSRC • More than 70 law enforcement officers from 23 countries & IOs • Australia, Belgium, Cambodia, Canada, China, Fiji, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Maldives, Netherlands, New Zealand, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Tonga, Thailand, UK, USA, Viet Nam, Europol, Frontex, INTERPOL, and the Pacific Immigration Directors’ Conference (PIDC).
Pilot phase in Oct. and Nov. 2012 • 12 countries from Asia, the Pacific, Europe and North America participated: • Australia, Cambodia, France, Fiji, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Maldives, New Zealand, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Tonga, UK, and the USA as well as the Pacific Immigration Directors’ Conference (PIDC). • Validation Workshop in BKK, in Nov.2012
Pilot phase results • Participants unanimously underscored the highutility of the VRS-MSRC: • effective tool for sharing information a) among States, and b) among relevant agencies at the national level • Participants identified a number of ways to further improve the user-friendliness and the functionality of the system
VRS-MSRC in 2013 • Launch in mid 2013 • 1st reporting cycle covers two reporting periods: • 2012 • Jan. to June 2013 • Familiarization workshop
The future of the VRS-MSRC? • Extension to other regions? • One global tool to collect and share data?
The VRS-MSRC is a tool for States to share data and build knowledge on irregular migration and migrant smuggling. The more States contribute, the better the information.
Main challenges in sharing of strategic data? • Competition among agencies at national level • Lack of coordination and cooperation at national level • Different understanding of terms • Not all states collect the same data • Mistrust • Lack of international cooperation • Irregular migration is a sensitive topic • Lack of political will • Translating political will into action • Workload
Thank you! UNODC VRS-MSRC TEAM United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Regional Office for Southeast Asia and the Pacific UN Secretariat Building, RajdamnernNok Avenue, Bangkok 10200 www.unodc.org/eastasiaandpacific/ Email: vrs@unodc.org