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  1. CT Travel Concludes Second Meeting of South-East Asia Regional Informal Working Group on API and PNR

CT Travel Concludes Second Meeting of South-East Asia Regional Informal Working Group on API and PNR

Bangkok (Thailand), 3 December 2024 – The United Nations Countering Terrorist Travel (CT Travel) Programme, with the generous support from the Department of Home Affairs of the Government of Australia, successfully concluded the second annual meeting of the Southeast Asia Regional Informal Working Group (SEA IWG) on Advance Passenger Information (API) and Passenger Name Record (PNR) in Bangkok, on 2-3 December 2024. 

The event was co-hosted by the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT), Thai Customs, and the Royal Thai Police. It brought together 95 participants from 17 Member States, including regional and international experts from national passenger targeting centers to discuss experiences, best practices, and challenges in using API and PNR data in support of counter-terrorism efforts. 

Participants from various Southeast Asian countries and international organizations shared their experiences and insights on the collection, analysis, and sharing of passenger data. The discussions underscored the critical role of national targeting centers in the effective use of API and PNR data for counter-terrorism purposes. Additionally, there was a strong focus on the importance of data protection and privacy when collecting and handling API and PNR data. Moreover, participants noted the close collaboration with the transport industry as a key partner in the collection and transmission of passenger data. Furthermore, the development of guidelines for national targeting centers to exchange data securely and efficiently was highlighted as a tool to enhance international cooperation. 

The CT Travel Programme presented the UN’s goTravel software, showcasing it as an effective API and PNR data collection and analysis system to assist Member States in identifying potential terrorist threats.
The SEA IWG serves as a platform for Member States to collaborate and strengthen their capabilities in countering terrorist travel, in line with UN Security Council resolutions, international standards, recommended practices and human rights principles. By promoting open dialogue, peer-to-peer support, and knowledge-sharing, participants are able to identify common challenges and develop effective solutions.

The CT Travel Programme, a flagship global initiative led by the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism, provides comprehensive, yet tailored support to strengthen national capabilities to detect and counter the movement of terrorists as well as enhancing inter-agency, regional, and international cooperation in the area of passenger data exchange. 
 

‘’The importance of regional and global cooperation between national passenger targeting centers cannot be overstated. In an era where the movement of people across borders is both a necessity and a risk, our ability to detect and prevent the travel of terrorists and organized crime groups is paramount. It is imperative that all ASEAN member states have functional API and PNR capabilities. This collective strength is what will safeguard our region and provide a secure environment for travel across borders,’’ said Mr. Sarun Benjanirat, Ph.D., Deputy Director General of the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT).
Pol. Maj. Gen. Choengron Rimpadee, Commander of Immigration Division 2, of the Immigration Bureau of the Kingdom of Thailand highlighted that ‘’In today's interconnected world, the role of immigration services extends far beyond the simple processing of entry and exit. At Thai Immigration, we are leveraging advanced technologies, such as Advanced Passenger Information (API) systems, to enhance our border security measures. The launch of regional informal working group in Southeast Asia last December, connecting national passenger targeting centers, is a significant step forward in enhancing regional coordination."