A ‘whole systems’ approach to modern slavery prevention

It examined what has been tried and shown promise in prevention programmes, projects and initiatives.

It concluded that a ‘whole systems’ approach to modern slavery prevention is required which is informed by people with lived experience and includes intervening before harm occurs, intervening early and treating harms after they have occurred.

The report outlines five key pathways to prevention and 25 types of interventions. The pathways include:

• enabling all people to have access to the fundamental things in life e.g. basic financial resources, a secure and safe home, access to essential services, dignity and rights
• promoting literacy and building understanding of exploitation, harms and rights among victims, survivors, people at risk, statutory and non-statutory agencies and the public, as well as the skills to take action at personal, community or organisational levels.
• building individual and community control, power, resilience and opportunities to thrive, particularly among people and communities at risk and those who had already been exploited.
• impeding, disrupting and deterring perpetration e.g. through law enforcement practices or initiatives for early detection.
• building partnerships and the pooling of resources enhances the preventative response - local anti-slavery partnerships or networks are a good example of this

The researchers spoke to many people working in the counter-slavery sector as well as survivors of exploitation. As they reflected on these conversations and reviewed literature, they landed on a new definition of prevention which they believe has not been previously articulated: “Prevention is an on-going process of avoiding and minimising exploitation and harm. This can be achieved by intervening before harm occurs, by intervening early and by treating harms. It also includes action to prevent re-exploitation and re-trafficking. Prevention includes enabling people to exercise choice and control over their lives and to thrive.”

Liz Such of the University of Sheffield adds: “This definition of prevention could guide future prevention strategy and action plans at national and local levels. It fits with a public health approach to modern slavery - a framework with prevention at its core. It highlights both a traditional prevention message – to stop bad things from happening and minimising harms – and an optimistic, health promoting one; it should promote healthy and fulfilling lives.”

At The Clewer Initiative, we have been massively helped by this research. The five key pathways echo much of our strategy. The emphasis on caring for vulnerable people and ensuring they have access to the fundamental things of life, education and awareness-raising, strengthening community resilience and building partnerships are all key tenets in our work. It is encouraging to have independent and robust research backing up our preventative strategy.

To read the report in full, go to Modern Slavery PEC | Prevention of adult sexual and labour…