We, the Participants of the Inter-Regional Southeast Asia Nations Meeting: “Strengthening Regional Cooperation on the Protection of Witness of Crime” held in Kuta, Bali, Indonesia on 12 – 13 November 2013,

Bearing in mind, the Joint Statement on International Cooperation on Protection of Witnesses and Victims of Transnational Organized Crimes adopted by the International Conference on Protection of Witnesses and Victims of Transnational Organized Crimes held in Nusa Dua, Indonesia, on 11 – 13 June 2012,

Recalling, that the Participants of the International Conference on Protection of Witnesses and Victims of Transnational Organized Crimes underscored the need to establish a framework for regional cooperation and strengthen international cooperation on protection of witnesses and victims;

Recalling further, that the Participants of the International Conference on the Protection of Witnesses and Victims of Transnational Organized Crimes welcomed the initiative of Indonesia to follow-up the outcome of the Conference, through the establishment of regional and inter-regional networks for identifying possible areas of collaboration in promoting international cooperation on witnesses and victims protection,

Recalling also, that the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crimes, articles 24 and 25, and the United Nations Convention against Corruption articles 32 and other relevant international instruments provide that State Parties to those instruments take appropriate measures to protect witnesses and to protect and assist victims from potential retaliation or intimidation,

Reaffirming, the commitment of the ASEAN Member States to the purposes and principles of the ASEAN Charter, in particular the respect for, promotion and protection of human rights as well as fundamental freedom, as stipulated in the ASEAN Declaration on Human Rights.

Cognizant, of the fact that people suffer harm as a result of crime, including transnational organized crime, and that the rights of these victims and witnesses have not been adequately recognized, and aware, that victims and witnesses and others who aid them are unjustly subjected to threats, harassment, loss, damage, injury, and that they may, in addition suffer hardship, when assisting in the prosecution of offenders,