Current_Trends_and_Related_Challenges_web

Current Trends and Challenges
lack of complete and accurate data and more
comprehensive analytical research on the many
facets of this phenomenon.
As Asia undergoes deeper regional integration,
for example through the ASEAN Economic
Community 2015 and the Greater Mekong
Subregion Transport Master Plan, border controls
are being eased and transportation corridors
expanded to facilitate an increase in cross-border
movements of different kinds. While this offers
benefits for trade and economic development in
the region, without adequate safeguards in place
to regulate movements, the process may provide
criminal groups with new opportunities.
• address the root motivation to migrate, such
as political stability and freedom, personal
security and development, while also reducing
poverty, unemployment, persecution,
discrimination and environmental
degradation;
• develop affordable, accessible and safe
avenues for migration;
• improve labour-monitoring standards; and
• enhance the body of evidence-based
knowledge to better inform policy-making.
Migrant smuggling patterns are expected to
change as a result of the integration process.
The clandestine nature of the activity not only
endangers the lives, health, security and human
rights of irregular migrants but also undermines
regional security by diverting resources
towards the illicit transnational crime economy,
undermining the ability of governments to
monitor and provide services as required.
As with other transnational crimes, migrant
smuggling relies on porous borders and correlates
with corruption. Local smugglers rely on corrupt
officials for crossing borders, forging fraudulent
documents and providing insights on border
control routines. Bribery forms an integral part of
the irregular migration process.
By identifying the profiles, smuggling routes and
methods of smugglers, as well as the motivating
factors behind irregular migration, this report
exposes the complexity and growing challenge of
migrant smuggling in the region. Although there
are no simple solutions, the available data and
research suggest a number of actions that could
help improve the situation:
• strengthen national laws and policies while
protecting the rights of smuggled migrants;
• improve border and migration controls and
build capacity to investigate and prosecute
smuggling networks;
• generate political will and strengthen
international cooperation to combat this
crime;
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