For most people around the world, cross-border migration provides an opportunity to enhance their lives and achieve their goals. However, the way in which an individual migrates influences their overall migration experience. Regardless of the dangers of irregular migration, irregular cross-border movements have been a persisting challenge within the Bali Process region owing to historical, sociocultural, economic, and geopolitical factors. In acknowledgement of the continued efforts needed to address irregular migration and related transnational crime, the 2023 Adelaide Strategy for Cooperation calls for continued efforts to build preparedness of Bali Process Member States to respond to irregular migration. In order to mitigate the risks associated with irregular migration, and support safer, regular, and more sustainable migration practices, understanding shifting perceptions within prospective migrant communities and their social networks is crucial. A key preventative measure that could build on this understanding is enhancing availability and access to timely, reliable, and accurate information.

To this end, the Regional Support Office of the Bali Process on People Smuggling, Trafficking in Persons and Related Transnational Crime (RSO) and the Mixed Migration Centre (MMC) are pleased to publish this assessment of community perceptions and information needs of persons at risk of irregular migration. The assessment aims to provide insights into the way in which persons at risk of irregular migration and their communities perceive irregular migration, as well as their information needs to identify nuances about irregular migration, which could help to design effective, targeted information campaigns to trigger positive behaviour changes.

We have identified key countries of origin, transit, and destination most-affected by irregular air, land and maritime movements that take place along selected migration routes in the South and Southeast Asia region. Specifically, the assessment looks at the Bangladesh-Malaysia migrant and refugee smuggling route; Indonesia as an origin country of migrant workers and a transit country for migrants to Malaysia and Australia; Malaysia as a country of destination for migrants originating particularly from Bangladesh and Indonesia; and Thailand as a country of destination for migrant workers originating from neighbouring Southeast Asian countries. In this assessment, we have incorporated the lived experiences of over 600 individuals, who are in irregular situations at present. While the findings of this assessment primarily target the aforementioned countries, the general recommendations can also be applied in other countries.

We sincerely appreciate the governments of Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand for sharing their knowledge and experiences at various stages of this assessment. We hope that policymakers and practitioners will find this report useful when designing policy and advocacy responses to address irregular migration. Fuad Adriansyah RSO Co-Manager (Indonesia) Regional Support Office of the Bali Process David Scott RSO Co-Manager (Australia) Regional Support Office of the Bali Process Bram Frouws Director Mixed Migration Centre Fiona Robertson Regional Manager for Asia and the Pacific Mixed Migration Centre

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