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epresentatives from 41 Asia-Pacific countries concluded Wednesday the Bali Process conference with an endorsement of a regional framework to prevent people smuggling, claiming it was among the most significant achievements made since the first conference in 2002.

“The framework we have reached is comprehensive and inclusive because these issues are multidimensional and multifaceted,” Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa said during a press briefing after the conference.

“We are now confident that we have strengthened the cooperation and the possibilities of further collaboration, which all participants can carry out throughout the coming years,” he added.

The framework provides several options for practical action, including the development of bilateral arrangements to undermine people smuggling and create disincentives for irregular movement. It also suggested participating countries strengthen intelligence sharing and target people smuggling enterprises.

Other parts of the framework suggest countries return immigrants found not to be in need of protection to their countries of origin, preferably on a voluntary basis. Participating states were also advised to address the root causes of irregular movement and promote population stabilization wherever possible.

Officials from the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) also supported the framework.

Marty highlighted the importance of the role of law enforcers to support the blueprint for countries in the region dealing with the issue.

“Our approach is multi-pronged. It involves not only socio-economic agencies, but also law enforcement agencies. We need to continue strengthening the capacity of our law enforcement agencies,” he said.

Australian Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd said that people smuggling, trafficking in persons and other related transnational crimes had put enormous pressures on many countries — and in the Asia-Pacific region in particular.

“Some 41 million people in the world are displaced and 15.9 million of the number are refugees. These issues are on the move, more than in any other time in history. There will be new transit countries. There will be new destination countries. The Bali Process is among 15 regional processes on the way, worldwide,” Rudd said, stressing how important the issues had become for many countries around the globe.

“This particular conference has been a milestone in the development of a coordinated approach by nations in and around the Asia-Pacific to address the challenge in this issue,” he added.

Australian Minister for Immigration and Citizenship Chris Bowen said the Bali Process had made a critical step forward. “This is an important outcome.”