UNHCRBalipesentation.docVIP

Bali Process on People Smuggling, Trafficking in Persons and Related Transnational Crime Senior Officials’ Meeting 24-25 February 2009, Brisbane, Australia UNHCR PRESENTATION The Challenges of Mixed Migration Flows: An Overview of Protracted Situations within the Context of the Bali Process Introduction International migration today is more complex than in the past, and so is refugee protection. As we know, people are coming into and moving within this region for various reasons. Migration in the Asia-Pacific area has traditionally served as a vehicle for economic and social development. This is evident when looking at labour migration in the region, which includes both labour producing and labour receiving countries. However, a significant number of movements are protection based and often triggered by dire human rights situations in countries of origin. While a clear distinction needs to be maintained between forced displacement and regular and irregular labour migration, it is increasingly evident that the phenomena intersect. It is important to understand the broader migration context and to analyze how forced displacement comes into play. This is particularly necessary in the Asia-Pacific region where, as we have seen, migrants and refugees alike hire smugglers and are exploited by traffickers. Smuggling and trafficking takes place against a backdrop of real protection needs. In this environment, a major challenge for States, UNHCR and other stakeholders is to develop a coherent regional protection and solutions response to address the migration/refugee protection interface. In dealing with complex migratory flows of a composite nature, practical solutions are called for to broaden the protection space for those in need. Otherwise, it will be difficult to reduce the incidence of onward movement in the region and minimize exposure to exploitation and dangers of smuggling. Refugees and Asylum-Seekers in the Region While refugee a