Prevention of modern slavery. How research considers prevention of adult exploitation and trafficking.
Friday 13 December 2024, 12.30 - 1.15 pm
Dr Liz Such, University of Nottingham.
About the event
Even though we like to say prevention is better than cure, prevention of modern slavery remains poorly understood and even more poorly implemented. Most actions focus on post-exploitation, mainly to support survivors.
New research confirmed this tendency. Commissioned by the Modern Slavery and Human Right Policy and Evidence Centre (PEC), the research looked at how teams funded by the Centre itself considered prevention. It found that almost all research in the portfolio was relevant to prevention, but most reporting was implicit. Evidence base was limited on the effectiveness of prevention before exploitations starts or early in the process, as well as preventing re-trafficking.
Evidence indicates that on the most basic level, to prevent people getting exploited, people need opportunities for good lives, from basic financial security to safe homes, basic services and access to their rights. The previous research identified five pathways through which this can be achieved, from enabling access to these opportunities, to developing literacy of the issue, building power and control of people at risk, deterrence and partnership. However, although the full range of pathways to prevention were often implied across the research, they need a clearer articulation in future studies.
In this lunchtime seminar, Dr Liz Such, the author of the study, will present the findings and consider how we could potentially reframe modern slavery prevention.
Modern Slavery PEC lunchtime seminar series
At the Modern Slavery PEC we believe in increasing the understanding of modern slavery, particularly through promoting the latest robust and relevant evidence in a way that is accessible to everyone.
This is why we have started a series of monthly lunchtime seminars, at which modern slavery researchers can share their latest findings with a diverse audience - everyone is welcome! The format is deliberately accessible and concise: no more than 15 minutes to present, followed by questions and discussion. Each seminar will last no longer than 45 minutes, which we hope will fit nicely into your lunch break!
We’ll be asking researchers who present to explain their findings in plain language that non-experts can easily understand, focusing on the real-world implications of their work and potential for impact on policy or practice, and, above all, on people and communities affected by modern slavery.
The seminars are open to anyone to join – you don’t have to be a researcher yourself. We encourage everyone interested to come along.
For those who can't make it, we will record the presentations and publish them on our YouTube channel and as short podcasts.
