Effective action against modern slavery depends on reliable, accessible, and high-quality data. Yet this data isn’t always available. This research project examines current data gaps regarding modern slavery, including identifying gaps that could, if filled, contribute to improved anti-slavery interventions and policies in the UK.
Project team: Dr Patrick Burland (IOM UK), with support from the PEC’s Research, Policy Impact and other teams.
The project is commissioned by the Modern Slavery and Human Rights Policy and Evidence Centre, which is funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council.
This research will draw on findings including more than 50 projects funded by the Modern Slavery and Human Rights Policy and Evidence Centre (the PEC). It will identify where information is missing or incomplete across areas such as victim identification, criminal justice responses, labour exploitation, survivor outcomes, compensation, prevention and immigration processes, and explore how these gaps affect policymaking and practice.
This project seeks to go beyond identifying missing data, to explain why these gaps matter. Weak or incomplete evidence can limit policy evaluation, obscure patterns of exploitation, reduce accountability, and hinder effective resource allocation. By reviewing existing evidence, assessing progress in data collection and reporting, and drawing on international standards for trafficking data, the research will provide practical recommendations for strengthening the quality, governance and use of modern slavery data. The findings will support policymakers, practitioners and researchers in developing more effective and evidence-informed responses to modern slavery while recognising the importance of ethical safeguards and the perspectives of people with lived experience.
Call for Evidence
The research team is calling for evidence to help inform understanding of data that is collected and analysed but not normally published as part of the project. The researchers are particularly interested in receiving the responses to any Freedom of Information requests for data on modern slavery that individuals or organisations have submitted. If you have such responses, please contact Patrick Burland at purland@iom.int
