The Pacific Immigration Development Community (PIDC) is hosting a regional seminar to combat human trafficking and people smuggling for Pacific Islands immigration executives in Apia from 13-15 February 2019. The seminar will be attended by senior immigration officers from across the region including a number of Directors and is supported by experienced experts from the International Organisation for Migration, United Nations Office for Drugs and Crime, Bali Process Regional Support Office, UN High Commissioner for Refugees and experts from the PIDC membership.
Known for the migratory nature of its people, the Pacific region is a vibrant, dynamic centre of many diverse cultures and communities. However, these communities are increasingly threatened by irregular migration in the Pacific Island Countries and Territories with increasing pressure from transnational crime groups exploiting increasing traveller numbers and new air routes opening connecting to key transportation hubs in Asia. The opening of these routes and the increase in passenger movements has led to a rise in both legitimate and illegitimate movements into the region.
The seminar provides an important opportunity to bring together immigration officers responsible for managing the complex movement of people in the Pacific to share lessons and experiences of human trafficking and people smuggling occurring through our shared borders. It provides an opportunity for members to contribute to the development of a regional PIDC framework to combat transnational crime networks that undertake human trafficking and people smuggling activities in the region. Regional stakeholders will look to develop a better understanding of national and regional immigration activities required to effectively combat people smuggling and human trafficking in the Pacific and find common ground to better coordinate activities for immigration departments in the Pacific.
Seminar participants are expected to develop a draft framework with supporting recommendations for possible consideration and endorsement by PIDC Members at the organisation’s Regular Annual Meeting to be hosted by the Cook Islands Immigration in June 2019.
Notes to Editors
The PIDC is a forum for official Immigration Agencies of the Pacific region. The organisation was established in 1996 with the initial support of the Pacific Islands Forum and is currently Chaired by Fiji’s Director of Immigration Mr Nemani Vuniwaqa.
The PIDC Secretariat is based in Apia, and the current Head of Secretariat is Mr Ioane Alama.
The PIDC plays a vital role in coordinating joint responses to common law enforcement and border management issues faced by Member administrations. Key activities include supporting Members to achieve national immigration and border control obligations by: (a) coordinating and implementing strategic approaches to common challenges; (b) supporting immigration and border control related technical assistance; and (c) coordinating capacity building activities to enhance capacity of PIDC Members and their officers.
For additional information contact Ioane Alama, Head of Secretariat at Ioane.Alama@pidcsec.org
General information about the PIDC can be found at www.pidcsec.org
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