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5.4 The ASEAN Framework of Cooperation in Justice and Security Matters
from Countering Emerging Threats and Challenges of Transnational Organized Crime - Thailand's Perspective
5.4
The ASEAN Framework of Cooperation in Justice and Security Matters
The ASEAN Political-Security Community (APSC) is grounded on the related Blueprint, which was adopted in 2009 at the 14th ASEAN Summit and which provides a roadmap and timetable to establish the APSC by 2015. The role of the APSC is to forge regional cooperation and common mechanisms in the political and security fields by subscribing to a comprehensive approach to security, acknowledging the interwoven relationship between political, economic, social cultural and environmental dimensions of development. It is expected that the APSC will play a pivotal role in fostering confidence building measures, preventive diplomacy and peaceful approaches to conflict resolution within ASEAN Member States.320 TOC is addressed as a non-traditional security issue in the framework of security cooperation.321
In 2015, ASEAN Leaders adopted ASEAN Vision 2025, a new strategic framework envisioning the enhancement of a rules-based and inclusive community,322 which takes a major step forward in the fight against TOC. It lays out the necessary steps to address each type of crime, particularly through strong institutional cooperation in border management, while recognizing the importance of awareness raising campaigns to promote local participation.323
Among the APSC Sectoral Ministerial Bodies, the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Transnational Crime (AMMTC) is the highest policymaking body on ASEAN cooperation in criminal matters. Its work is supported by three implementing Senior Officials Committees, namely the Senior Officials Meeting on Transnational Crime (SOMTC); the ASEAN Senior Officials on Drugs Matters (ASOD); and the DirectorsGeneral of Immigration Departments and Heads of Consular Affairs Divisions of Ministries of Foreign Affairs Meeting (DGICM).
320 ASEAN Political-Security Community Blueprint. Retrieved from http://asean.org/wp-content/uploads/images/archive/5187-18.pdf 321 Section B.4 of the 2009 Blueprint mandates the ASEAN states to strengthen cooperation in addressing non-traditional security issues, particularly in combating transnational crimes and other transboundary challenges. 322 Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand. (2016). ASEAN 2025: Forging Ahead Together. Bangkok. 323 Section B.3. of the APSC Blueprint 2025, entitled Enhance ASEAN capacity to address non-traditional security issues effectively and in a timely manner.
