Modern Slavery and Human Rights Policy and Evidence Centre (PEC)
@modernslaverypec.bsky.social
Modern Slavery and Human Rights PEC produces research with focus on policy impact and brings people together to transform the response to modern slavery and exploitation. Part of the Humanities Division at the University of Oxford.
The report calls on the UK Government to introduce a clear, statutory definition of child exploitation and a national child exploitation strategy.
July 22, 2025 at 8:23 AM
The report calls on the UK Government to introduce a clear, statutory definition of child exploitation and a national child exploitation strategy.
☝️Age is a factor which clouds practice, for example the legal age of sexual consent being a barrier in the identification of child sexual exploitation for 16- and 17-year-olds.
👉85% of the children who had their NRM cases rejected on the definitional grounds were aged 15-17
👉85% of the children who had their NRM cases rejected on the definitional grounds were aged 15-17
July 22, 2025 at 8:23 AM
☝️Age is a factor which clouds practice, for example the legal age of sexual consent being a barrier in the identification of child sexual exploitation for 16- and 17-year-olds.
👉85% of the children who had their NRM cases rejected on the definitional grounds were aged 15-17
👉85% of the children who had their NRM cases rejected on the definitional grounds were aged 15-17
☝️In contrast to the international definition, domestic legal definitions of human trafficking focus on travel, which leads to UK practice often applying narrower thresholds and excluding children exploited online or locally.
July 22, 2025 at 8:23 AM
☝️In contrast to the international definition, domestic legal definitions of human trafficking focus on travel, which leads to UK practice often applying narrower thresholds and excluding children exploited online or locally.
☝️Statutory definition of CSE and guidance definition of CCE include coercion, deception or manipulation
☝️International definitions of trafficking underline children can never consent to being exploited.
☝️It means children often treated as making ‘choices’
☝️International definitions of trafficking underline children can never consent to being exploited.
☝️It means children often treated as making ‘choices’
July 22, 2025 at 8:23 AM
☝️Statutory definition of CSE and guidance definition of CCE include coercion, deception or manipulation
☝️International definitions of trafficking underline children can never consent to being exploited.
☝️It means children often treated as making ‘choices’
☝️International definitions of trafficking underline children can never consent to being exploited.
☝️It means children often treated as making ‘choices’
Definitions of different forms of child exploitation (criminal, labour, domestic, sexual) entail different elements in separate parts of legislation & statutory guidance, causing confusion:
👉 children not identified
👉investigations & prosecutions affected.
For example...👇
👉 children not identified
👉investigations & prosecutions affected.
For example...👇
July 22, 2025 at 8:23 AM
Definitions of different forms of child exploitation (criminal, labour, domestic, sexual) entail different elements in separate parts of legislation & statutory guidance, causing confusion:
👉 children not identified
👉investigations & prosecutions affected.
For example...👇
👉 children not identified
👉investigations & prosecutions affected.
For example...👇
The report found that out of 1,396 negative decisions for child referrals into the NRM in 2024, over 61% were rejected on the grounds that the case did not meet the definitional threshold required to proceed.
July 22, 2025 at 8:23 AM
The report found that out of 1,396 negative decisions for child referrals into the NRM in 2024, over 61% were rejected on the grounds that the case did not meet the definitional threshold required to proceed.
NEW RESEARCH!
Inconsistent definitions of child exploitation are undermining the identification and protection of children who were exploited in forms such as sexual, labour and criminal exploitation, or domestic servitude.
👇
www.modernslaverypec.org/resources/de...
Inconsistent definitions of child exploitation are undermining the identification and protection of children who were exploited in forms such as sexual, labour and criminal exploitation, or domestic servitude.
👇
www.modernslaverypec.org/resources/de...
July 22, 2025 at 8:23 AM
NEW RESEARCH!
Inconsistent definitions of child exploitation are undermining the identification and protection of children who were exploited in forms such as sexual, labour and criminal exploitation, or domestic servitude.
👇
www.modernslaverypec.org/resources/de...
Inconsistent definitions of child exploitation are undermining the identification and protection of children who were exploited in forms such as sexual, labour and criminal exploitation, or domestic servitude.
👇
www.modernslaverypec.org/resources/de...
ICYMI: sign up to our event launching new research on definitions of child exploitation.
📅 Tue 22 July, 12.30
👩💻Speakers:
👩💻 Eleanor Lyons, UK Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner
👩💻 Laura Duran & Patricia Durr, @ecpatuk.bsky.social
👇
www.modernslaverypec.org/latest/lunch...
📅 Tue 22 July, 12.30
👩💻Speakers:
👩💻 Eleanor Lyons, UK Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner
👩💻 Laura Duran & Patricia Durr, @ecpatuk.bsky.social
👇
www.modernslaverypec.org/latest/lunch...
July 17, 2025 at 9:58 AM
ICYMI: sign up to our event launching new research on definitions of child exploitation.
📅 Tue 22 July, 12.30
👩💻Speakers:
👩💻 Eleanor Lyons, UK Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner
👩💻 Laura Duran & Patricia Durr, @ecpatuk.bsky.social
👇
www.modernslaverypec.org/latest/lunch...
📅 Tue 22 July, 12.30
👩💻Speakers:
👩💻 Eleanor Lyons, UK Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner
👩💻 Laura Duran & Patricia Durr, @ecpatuk.bsky.social
👇
www.modernslaverypec.org/latest/lunch...
Today is World Youth Skills Day, recognising the importance of equipping young people with skills for employment and decent work.
For people who experienced modern slavery, access to decent work is a key factor in rebuilding their lives and be protected from exploitation.
For people who experienced modern slavery, access to decent work is a key factor in rebuilding their lives and be protected from exploitation.
July 15, 2025 at 9:01 AM
Today is World Youth Skills Day, recognising the importance of equipping young people with skills for employment and decent work.
For people who experienced modern slavery, access to decent work is a key factor in rebuilding their lives and be protected from exploitation.
For people who experienced modern slavery, access to decent work is a key factor in rebuilding their lives and be protected from exploitation.
NEW EVENT! Definitions of child exploitation.
📅 Tue 22 July, 12.30
👩💻 Presentation: Laura Duran, @ecpatuk.bsky.social
👩💻 Opening: Eleanor Lyons, UK Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner
👩💻 Closing: Patricia Durr, ECPAT UK.
👇
www.modernslaverypec.org/latest/lunch...
📅 Tue 22 July, 12.30
👩💻 Presentation: Laura Duran, @ecpatuk.bsky.social
👩💻 Opening: Eleanor Lyons, UK Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner
👩💻 Closing: Patricia Durr, ECPAT UK.
👇
www.modernslaverypec.org/latest/lunch...
July 10, 2025 at 11:07 AM
NEW EVENT! Definitions of child exploitation.
📅 Tue 22 July, 12.30
👩💻 Presentation: Laura Duran, @ecpatuk.bsky.social
👩💻 Opening: Eleanor Lyons, UK Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner
👩💻 Closing: Patricia Durr, ECPAT UK.
👇
www.modernslaverypec.org/latest/lunch...
📅 Tue 22 July, 12.30
👩💻 Presentation: Laura Duran, @ecpatuk.bsky.social
👩💻 Opening: Eleanor Lyons, UK Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner
👩💻 Closing: Patricia Durr, ECPAT UK.
👇
www.modernslaverypec.org/latest/lunch...
We are delighted to report that the team behind our funded research on preventing debt bondage in the healthcare supply chains spoke at the ILO Regulating Decent Work Conference in Geneva on the ‘Worker Voice and Labour Governance’ panel on including survivors in the research
🧵
🧵
July 4, 2025 at 1:29 PM
We are delighted to report that the team behind our funded research on preventing debt bondage in the healthcare supply chains spoke at the ILO Regulating Decent Work Conference in Geneva on the ‘Worker Voice and Labour Governance’ panel on including survivors in the research
🧵
🧵
Congratulations to Jane Lasonder, member of our Lived Experience Advisory Panel, who spoke about meaningfully engaging people with lived experience of exploitation in the work and policies addressing modern slavery at the UN Global Forum for Human Trafficking Survivors by UNODC.
June 26, 2025 at 9:25 AM
Congratulations to Jane Lasonder, member of our Lived Experience Advisory Panel, who spoke about meaningfully engaging people with lived experience of exploitation in the work and policies addressing modern slavery at the UN Global Forum for Human Trafficking Survivors by UNODC.
Important research from the Passage Charity in partnership with the UK Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner on prevention of exploitation in the context of homelessness, is being published on Monday, still time to register! 👇
events.teams.microsoft.com/event/8a21f1...
events.teams.microsoft.com/event/8a21f1...
June 20, 2025 at 4:10 PM
Important research from the Passage Charity in partnership with the UK Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner on prevention of exploitation in the context of homelessness, is being published on Monday, still time to register! 👇
events.teams.microsoft.com/event/8a21f1...
events.teams.microsoft.com/event/8a21f1...
What does child criminal exploitation look like in Northern Ireland?
Newly published research points overwhelmingly to the context of drugs and paramilitaries.
However, these cases aren't recognised as modern slavery.
Read more 👇
www.modernslaverypec.org/resources/id...
Newly published research points overwhelmingly to the context of drugs and paramilitaries.
However, these cases aren't recognised as modern slavery.
Read more 👇
www.modernslaverypec.org/resources/id...
June 13, 2025 at 12:51 PM
What does child criminal exploitation look like in Northern Ireland?
Newly published research points overwhelmingly to the context of drugs and paramilitaries.
However, these cases aren't recognised as modern slavery.
Read more 👇
www.modernslaverypec.org/resources/id...
Newly published research points overwhelmingly to the context of drugs and paramilitaries.
However, these cases aren't recognised as modern slavery.
Read more 👇
www.modernslaverypec.org/resources/id...
ICYMI, research we published yesterday found that children in Northern Ireland exploited in criminal activities are not being identified as victims of modern slavery and human trafficking – despite indications they may meet the criteria.
Read more 👇
www.modernslaverypec.org/resources/id...
Read more 👇
www.modernslaverypec.org/resources/id...
June 12, 2025 at 12:44 PM
ICYMI, research we published yesterday found that children in Northern Ireland exploited in criminal activities are not being identified as victims of modern slavery and human trafficking – despite indications they may meet the criteria.
Read more 👇
www.modernslaverypec.org/resources/id...
Read more 👇
www.modernslaverypec.org/resources/id...
"Congratulations to the research team for their research on identifying child criminal exploitation in Northern Ireland, co-commissioned with @justice-ni.bsky.social.
We hope it helps to protect children from criminal exploitation more effectively” - our Head of Policy Impact Liz Williams.
We hope it helps to protect children from criminal exploitation more effectively” - our Head of Policy Impact Liz Williams.
June 12, 2025 at 10:15 AM
"Congratulations to the research team for their research on identifying child criminal exploitation in Northern Ireland, co-commissioned with @justice-ni.bsky.social.
We hope it helps to protect children from criminal exploitation more effectively” - our Head of Policy Impact Liz Williams.
We hope it helps to protect children from criminal exploitation more effectively” - our Head of Policy Impact Liz Williams.
➡️ The research calls for urgent policy changes both for the UK and Northern Ireland governments that recognise the post-conflict context of Northern Ireland, alongside increased investment in frontline capacity and tailored referral processes.
June 11, 2025 at 10:06 AM
➡️ The research calls for urgent policy changes both for the UK and Northern Ireland governments that recognise the post-conflict context of Northern Ireland, alongside increased investment in frontline capacity and tailored referral processes.
Barriers to identification:
➡️Some expressed safety concerns about referring children to NRM, incl. fear of reprisals.
➡️ Legal duty to identify potential victims not yet in force in NI
➡️Focus on travel within definition of trafficking vs very local nature of exploitation.
➡️Some expressed safety concerns about referring children to NRM, incl. fear of reprisals.
➡️ Legal duty to identify potential victims not yet in force in NI
➡️Focus on travel within definition of trafficking vs very local nature of exploitation.
June 11, 2025 at 10:06 AM
Barriers to identification:
➡️Some expressed safety concerns about referring children to NRM, incl. fear of reprisals.
➡️ Legal duty to identify potential victims not yet in force in NI
➡️Focus on travel within definition of trafficking vs very local nature of exploitation.
➡️Some expressed safety concerns about referring children to NRM, incl. fear of reprisals.
➡️ Legal duty to identify potential victims not yet in force in NI
➡️Focus on travel within definition of trafficking vs very local nature of exploitation.
➡️Paramilitaries and organised criminal groups still exert significant control over some communities, perpetuating harm that happens within local communities, even within families, and is often normalised and overlooked - even by those directly affected.
June 11, 2025 at 10:06 AM
➡️Paramilitaries and organised criminal groups still exert significant control over some communities, perpetuating harm that happens within local communities, even within families, and is often normalised and overlooked - even by those directly affected.
➡️98% research respondents said they encountered cases of criminal exploitation in the context of drugs
➡️79% noted the context of paramilitary activity ➡️Others included anti-social behaviour (70%), forced shoplifting (30%) and money laundering (26%).
➡️79% noted the context of paramilitary activity ➡️Others included anti-social behaviour (70%), forced shoplifting (30%) and money laundering (26%).
June 11, 2025 at 10:06 AM
➡️98% research respondents said they encountered cases of criminal exploitation in the context of drugs
➡️79% noted the context of paramilitary activity ➡️Others included anti-social behaviour (70%), forced shoplifting (30%) and money laundering (26%).
➡️79% noted the context of paramilitary activity ➡️Others included anti-social behaviour (70%), forced shoplifting (30%) and money laundering (26%).
Key findings:
➡️Until the end 2024, no UK or Irish male child had ever been referred to the NRM for criminal exploitation in Northern Ireland.
☝️In contrast, over 11,000 British children referred to NRM in the rest of UK for criminal exploitation since 2014.
➡️Until the end 2024, no UK or Irish male child had ever been referred to the NRM for criminal exploitation in Northern Ireland.
☝️In contrast, over 11,000 British children referred to NRM in the rest of UK for criminal exploitation since 2014.
June 11, 2025 at 10:06 AM
Key findings:
➡️Until the end 2024, no UK or Irish male child had ever been referred to the NRM for criminal exploitation in Northern Ireland.
☝️In contrast, over 11,000 British children referred to NRM in the rest of UK for criminal exploitation since 2014.
➡️Until the end 2024, no UK or Irish male child had ever been referred to the NRM for criminal exploitation in Northern Ireland.
☝️In contrast, over 11,000 British children referred to NRM in the rest of UK for criminal exploitation since 2014.
NEW RESEARCH! Identifying child criminal exploitation in Northern Ireland.
Children in Northern Ireland exploited in criminal activities are not being formally identified as victims of modern slavery and human trafficking – despite indications they may meet the criteria.
🧵
Children in Northern Ireland exploited in criminal activities are not being formally identified as victims of modern slavery and human trafficking – despite indications they may meet the criteria.
🧵
June 11, 2025 at 10:06 AM
NEW RESEARCH! Identifying child criminal exploitation in Northern Ireland.
Children in Northern Ireland exploited in criminal activities are not being formally identified as victims of modern slavery and human trafficking – despite indications they may meet the criteria.
🧵
Children in Northern Ireland exploited in criminal activities are not being formally identified as victims of modern slavery and human trafficking – despite indications they may meet the criteria.
🧵
One of the problems with prosecutions under the Modern Slavery Act has been that the traffickers have often been charged for lesser offences in order to increase the chances of successful prosecutions.
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🧵
June 10, 2025 at 11:35 AM
One of the problems with prosecutions under the Modern Slavery Act has been that the traffickers have often been charged for lesser offences in order to increase the chances of successful prosecutions.
🧵
🧵
It's been great to be take part in the event 'Ethics for Social Justice Research: Learning from Creative Approaches' at @liverpooluni.bsky.social today.
The workshop aimed to open up a space to think about what it means to conduct research ethically with affected communities.
The workshop aimed to open up a space to think about what it means to conduct research ethically with affected communities.
June 9, 2025 at 4:07 PM
It's been great to be take part in the event 'Ethics for Social Justice Research: Learning from Creative Approaches' at @liverpooluni.bsky.social today.
The workshop aimed to open up a space to think about what it means to conduct research ethically with affected communities.
The workshop aimed to open up a space to think about what it means to conduct research ethically with affected communities.
📣 Lunchtime Seminar: Identifying Child Criminal Exploitation in Northern Ireland
📅 Thursday 13 June | 🕛 12:30 BST
👩💻 Dr Gillian Kane from Ulster University and Andrew Chisholm from the International Organization for Migration United Kingdom.
🔗 Register: www.modernslaverypec.org/latest/lunch...
📅 Thursday 13 June | 🕛 12:30 BST
👩💻 Dr Gillian Kane from Ulster University and Andrew Chisholm from the International Organization for Migration United Kingdom.
🔗 Register: www.modernslaverypec.org/latest/lunch...
June 6, 2025 at 10:47 AM
📣 Lunchtime Seminar: Identifying Child Criminal Exploitation in Northern Ireland
📅 Thursday 13 June | 🕛 12:30 BST
👩💻 Dr Gillian Kane from Ulster University and Andrew Chisholm from the International Organization for Migration United Kingdom.
🔗 Register: www.modernslaverypec.org/latest/lunch...
📅 Thursday 13 June | 🕛 12:30 BST
👩💻 Dr Gillian Kane from Ulster University and Andrew Chisholm from the International Organization for Migration United Kingdom.
🔗 Register: www.modernslaverypec.org/latest/lunch...