The Rights Lab and the School of Geography at the University of Nottingham, Transparentem, and International Justice Mission (IJM UK) will work together on a research project to integrate climate change and modern slavery policies - known as ‘mainstreaming’, to improve anti-slavery efforts in the UK.
As climate change impacts increase in severity and occurrence, the potential vulnerability of populations already subject to economic and social exploitation increases. A clearer understanding of the intersection between anti-slavery interventions and climate change mitigation is crucial. The project will investigate how the UK Government and devolved administrations can better enhance support for people exposed to the impacts of both modern slavery and climate change by “mainstreaming” legislation and policies to address the inter-related issues.
Researchers will draw together expertise on both modern slavery and climate change by evaluating current legislation, gathering evidence on countries that have produced effective actions, stakeholder mapping and focus groups with key government departments. They will also produce a risk assessment which will look at the unintended consequences of climate policies that increases modern slavery risk, and finally recommendations of areas for improvement and new potential actions to address the issue.
The research includes the recruitment involvement of two survivor consultants and will ensure that best practice is undertaken and adhered, in cooperation with Survivor Alliance.
Research team:
PI Dr Bethany Jackson (Rights Lab), Co-I Dr Meghan Alexander (School of Geography), Co-I Vicky Brotherton (Rights Lab), Prof. Doreen Boyd (School of Geography), Esther Weir (Rights Lab)
Jonathan Mead (Partner Project Lead), Claudia Baethgen, Anthony DiPreta and Peter Bengtsen (Transparentem)
Mary Sebastian (Partner Project Lead), Andrew Bevan and Euan Fraser (IJM UK)
