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Policy & Research
Throughout this page you’ll find a wealth of knowledge and insight that we are excited to share with you.
We believe that research needs to be informed by need and policies need to be shaped by research and practice. Because of that we do our own research and look at the evidence from our own work and other sectoral specialists to develop a deeper understanding of the systems and conditions that encourage modern slavery. We distil this learning and use it to influence conversations, decision-making and ultimately shape action at scale.
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Published July 2023Forced scamming has emerged in the last few years as a new form of modern slavery. In the post-pandemic landscape, hundreds of thousands of people from all over the world have been lured to scamming compounds in Southeast Asia and Africa via false job advertisements. Upon their arrival, the victims…Read report
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Issue Brief – Labour migration and modern slavery victimisation: Bangladesh as a case study
Published June 2023Labour migration is a key driver of the growth in international migration flows. While migrant workers contribute to the economic development of both their origin and host societies, the characteristics of labour migrants, the predominance of temporary migration cycles and the prevalence of fraudulent practices in the overseas labour recruitment…Read report -
Issue Brief – Climate- and conflict-induced migration and modern slavery: challenges and opportunities for action
Published March 2023Climate change and armed conflict are becoming increasingly important drivers of internal displacement and cross-national migratory flows. Individuals displaced due to environmental disasters and conflict lack family and community networks in their new destinations, have limited opportunities for employment and income generation, and limited access to legal and labour protection.Read report -
Slavery at Home: a new bill to tackle slavery in Britain
Published February 2023This paper calls for new momentum in the fight against modern slavery happening in communities across Britain. Building on earlier research by the Modern Slavery Policy Unit, the paper urges the Government to introduce the proposed new modern slavery bill and recommends four areas to strengthen the modern slavery system…Read report -
Issue Brief – Addressing vulnerability to modern slavery in a growing tide of migration
Published January 2023Large-scale migration is one of the key global economic, political and security challenges of the twenty-first century, with migrants and displaced persons reaching unprecedented levels in recent years. While the role of push and pull factors is well recognised, the underlying characteristics that render migrants vulnerable to modern slavery victimisation are…Read report -
Issue Brief – Modern Slavery and Forced Marriage: Examining the relationship
Published November 2022Although the drivers and consequences of forced marriage are correlated with those of modern slavery, there is little consensus regarding whether and to what extent the two phenomena intersect.Read report -
Research Brief – Modern Slavery in Global Supply Chains: The State of Evidence for Key Government and Private Approaches
Published July 2022The globalisation of supply chains has contributed to a deterioration of labour standards worldwide, exacerbating workers’ vulnerability to modern slavery and human trafficking. Governments, private actors and worker organisations have adopted a variety of approaches aimed at tackling modern slavery in supply chains. However, available evidence on their effectiveness is still scarce, and our understanding of “what works” remains limited.Read report -
A Path to Freedom and Justice: a new vision for supporting victims of modern slavery
Published February 2022This report builds on the Modern Slavery Policy Unit’s 2020 report It Still Happens Here which explored the progress that has been made in the UK’s response, five years on from the Modern Slavery Act, but also identifies the key challenges faced by frontline professionals who are working to fulfil their…Read report -
Issue Brief – Digital Intelligence: New Opportunities to be harnessed in the fight against human trafficking
Published January 2022This Issue Brief explores the opportunities that the digital revolution has created to more effectively, and efficiently combat human trafficking, and – importantly – to respond to the increasing use of technologies by traffickers in the advertisement, recruitment and exploitation of victims. It examines the opportunities created by the digital trail left by traffickers, and considers the key technological, legal and financial challenges that need to be addressed in order to fully harness these opportunities.Read report -
Out from the Shadows: Transforming support for victims of Modern Slavery and Domestic Abuse with No Recourse to Public Funds
Published December 2021This report explores the shared experiences of the victims of these hidden crimes, to understand and compare the support available and the impact of immigration status and having no recourse to public funds, on recovery and the pursuit of justice. Our paper outlines how enabling these victims to access support,…Read report