The problems that triggered human smuggling and trafficking include poverty and unemployment, Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Marty Natalegawa has said.
Nusa Dua (ANTARA News) - Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Marty Natalegawa has said the most important measure in preventing human smuggling and trafficking is by addressing the root causes of the problems.

When opening the Fifth Bali Regional Ministerial Conference on People Smuggling, Trafficking in Persons, and Related Transnational Crime (BRMC), known as Bali Process, here on Tuesday, Minister Marty said human smuggling and trafficking were multidimensional problems caused by many factors both in countries of origin and destination.

The problems that triggered human smuggling and trafficking include poverty and unemployment, he added.

"Besides, conflict and insecurity are also main factors causing human trafficking and smuggling," the minister stated.

The participation of civil society and other stakeholders is very important to increase the public awareness of the fact that people smuggling does not always promise success to the victims, he said.

The Fifth BRMC is participated in by ministers from 49 member countries, 19 observer nations, and 11 international organizations such as ADB, World Bank, UNDP, ILO, Interpol, ICMPD, IGC, IFRC, ICRC and APC.

The two-day ministerial meeting is co-chaired by Minister Marty Natalegawa and Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Bob Carr.

According to the International Labor Organization (ILO), more than 20 million people become victims of human trafficking in Asia every year.

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, and developed and implemented strategies and practical cooperation in response.

More than 40 countries and numerous international agencies participate in this voluntary forum.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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