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1st BIMSTEC Home Ministers’ Meeting Adopts Delhi Declaration

Kumari Sonali

1st BIMSTEC Home Ministers’ Meeting Adopts Delhi Declaration:

The first BIMSTEC Home Ministers’ Meeting concluded in New Delhi with the adoption of the Delhi Declaration, under the chairmanship of Union Home Minister.

  • Seven BIMSTEC members—Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand—reaffirmed cooperation based on sovereign equality, territorial integrity, non-interference and peaceful coexistence.
  • The declaration strongly condemned terrorism, including cross-border terrorism, and called for effective implementation of UN Security Council sanctions, particularly the 1267 Sanctions Committee.
  • Emphasised combating radicalisation, terrorist recruitment, money laundering and terror financing, while preventing the misuse of emerging technologies for terrorist activities.
  • Called for coordinated action against human trafficking, cyber slavery, online scams and forced criminality, adopting a victim-centred approach.
  • Urged implementation of the Convention on Combating International Terrorism, Transnational Organised Crime and Illicit Drug Trafficking (in force since March 2021) and the Convention on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters (signed in March 2022).
  • Called for early finalisation of conventions on extradition, transfer of sentenced persons and combating trafficking in persons, along with an SOP for rescuing, repatriating and reintegrating trafficking victims.
  • Called for developing the BIMSTEC Drug Offences Monitoring Desk (BDOMD), exploring regional information-sharing mechanisms and strengthening training and capacity-building against transnational crimes.
  • Recognised the role of the Joint Working Group on Counter-Terrorism and Transnational Crime (JWG-CTTC), welcomed BIMSTEC’s observer status in the Asia/Pacific Group on Money Laundering (APG) and encouraged partnerships with UNODC, INTERPOL and FATF, alongside regular Home Ministers’ Meetings.

BIMSTEC:

  • The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) was established on 6th June 1997 through the Bangkok Declaration. It serves as a bridge between South Asia and Southeast Asia, with its Secretariat in Dhaka, Bangladesh.