Enhanced Communication between PIDC Members – National Contact Points Workshop 17 – 21 February 2020

A key function of the PIDC is to establish appropriate cooperative mechanisms (including for the effective exchange of information, to the extent permitted under Members’ domestic legislation and administrative procedures) to contribute to the effective management of irregular migration and serious immigration-related organised crime issues including people smuggling and human trafficking across the region. This function is aligned to calls by Pacific Islands Forum Leaders for enhanced communication between law enforcement agencies as articulated in the 1992 Honiara Declaration and the 2018 Boe Declaration. 

In 2018, PIDC signed a Regional Memorandum of Arrangement (MoA) to facilitate the sharing of immigration information between its membership for law enforcement purposes.

To facilitate the secure sharing of information under the MoA, Members agreed to establish the PIDC National Contact Points Network (NCP).  The NCP Network was designed as a cost-effective regional mechanism to promote information sharing between PIDC Members by establishing accredited NCPs that would be tasked to use, share and store shared information in a secure manner according to the PIDC Security Classification System. The NCPs were to be trained by the Secretariat, endorsed by their national Directors upon completion of training, and their operations audited by the Secretariat on a regular basis.

To advance this work, PIDC will be holding a regional training for NCPs from 17 – 21 February 2020 in Apia, Samoa.  The Secretariat has established a workshop support group made up of partner organisations such as IOM, Bali Process RSO, UNODC, PIFS, PTCCC, OCO, and PFC to assist Members and the Secretariat develop the workshop programme and facilitate activities.