Modern slavery – but let us remember the trafficked

This piece is published as a response to the LSE Human Rights Blog September/October 2015 series on Modern Slavery, and points out some potential complications associated with the widespread use of the term ‘Modern Slavery’

Operationalising Human Security in the Contemporary Operating Environment: Proposing Population Intelligence (POPINT)

Drawing upon primary research funded by the UK Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA), this article is about using data analytics and artificial intelligence (AI) for operationalising human security in the contemporary operating environment. The idea of human security has gained much traction in the international community since its introduction in a 1994 United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) report and has more recently become a military concern. Yet, the core tenets of this idea remain contested, and the military role in support of human security remains an open question. Nonetheless, the concurrent increase in Open Data and AI does give rise to new opportunities to understand the various human security concerns. In response, DASA funded Projects SOLEBAY and HAMOC to research these concerns and the possibilities of data analytics for human security. Drawing on the research findings, we propose the idea of Population Intelligence (POPINT) as a new intelligence discipline to operationalise human security

Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the asylum system

Recent years have seen rapid developments in the mobilising of Artificial Intelligence (AI) for the purposes of regulating migration, asylum decision-making, and border control. This paper reviews the applications of AI tools in the asylum context and considers their impact across diverse zones of human activity, including law, governance, and administration. Examples from human trafficking and modern slavery are also drawn upon to illustrate the potential of AI to assist more broadly in assessing risk and identifying support needs. Our aim is to review existing research and implementation of AI and its likely impact on outcomes for individuals seeking asylum and victims of trafficking.<br/

Irregular Migration, Trafficking and Smuggling of Human Beings: Policy Dilemmas in the EU. CEPS Paperback, 22 February 2016

The expert contributors to this edited volume, representing a multidisciplinary selection of academics, examine the treatment of irregular migration, human trafficking and smuggling in EU law and policy. The various chapters explore the policy dilemmas encountered in efforts to criminalise irregular migration and humanitarian assistance to irregular immigrants. The book aims to provide academic input to informed policy-making in the next phase of the European Agenda on Migration. In his Foreword, Matthias Ruete, Director General of DG Home Affairs of the European Commission, writes: “This initiative aims to stimulate evidence-based policy-making and to bring fresh thinking to develop more effective policies. The European Commission welcomes the valuable contribution of this initiative to help close the wide gap in our knowledge about the smuggling of migrants, and especially the functioning of smuggling networks.

Historia 400 ofiar: wnioski dla właściwej interwencji

This article speaks to a world order where forced labour is in plain sight. The starting point for the crime and recruitment of victims of human trafficking is often on the street. Homeless persons and individuals who have recently left correctional institutions are approached and swiftly transported to countries of destination. There, again in plain sight, they are taken to legal and regulated recruitment agencies and are found jobs. In many instances, they are placed in factories, recycling plants, and warehouses. Although these jobs are legitimate, what happens behind the scenes is not: individuals working have no access to their wages, suffer psychological and physical abuse, threats, coercive control, and their documents are taken from them. These clear components of forced labour are perfectly illustrated in the plight of vulnerable polish men recruited and transported to the UK who were discovered in UK’s largest police investigation into forced labour: Operation Fort. This exposé investigates and explores three key points where intervention is needed: two related to the recruitment of certain subgroups – the targeting of homeless individuals and those with a relationship with the criminal justice system, and a third, where forced labour is facilitated through the use of legitimate recruitment agencies.This article speaks to a world order where forced labour is in plain sight. The starting point for the crime and recruitment of victims of human trafficking is often on the street. Homeless persons and individuals who have recently left correctional institutions are approached and swiftly transported to countries of destination. There, again in plain sight, they are taken to legal and regulated recruitment agencies and are found jobs. In many instances, they are placed in factories, recycling plants, and warehouses. Although these jobs are legitimate, what happens behind the scenes is not: individuals working have no access to their wages, suffer psychological and physical abuse, threats, coercive control, and their documents are taken from them. These clear components of forced labour are perfectly illustrated in the plight of vulnerable polish men recruited and transported to the UK who were discovered in UK’s largest police investigation into forced labour: Operation Fort. This exposé investigates and explores three key points where intervention is needed: two related to the recruitment of certain subgroups – the targeting of homeless individuals and those with a relationship with the criminal justice system, and a third, where forced labour is facilitated through the use of legitimate recruitment agencies.   Artykuł opisuje realia pracy przymusowej, która odbywa się na naszych oczach, a często zaczyna się na ulicach. Osoby bezdomne, a także osoby, które niedawno opuściły zakłady karne, są werbowane na ulicach miast i miasteczek, a następnie szybko przewożone do miejsc docelowych, gdzie są wykorzystywane. Za pośrednictwem legalnie działających agencji rekrutacyjnych, znajdują pracę. W wielu przypadkach jest to praca w fabrykach, zakładach zajmujących się recyklingiem lub w magazynach. Chociaż sama praca jest legalna, to co się dzieje za jej kulisami, już nie. Ludzie nie otrzymują wynagrodzenia, są wykorzystywani fizycznie i psychicznie, podlegają przymusowym kontrolom, są zastraszani i pozbawiani własnych dokumentów. Te elementy pracy przymusowej są dobrze widoczne wśród jednej z grup narażonych na stanie się ofiarami takiego procederu – Polaków rekrutowanych i przewożonych do Wielkiej Brytanii. Na podstawie ich historii, w niniejszym artykule zostały wskazane trzy kluczowe obszary, w jakich potrzebna jest interwencja. Dwa z nich dotyczą rekrutacji osób z grup wrażliwych na pokrzywdzenie – osób bezdomnych oraz osób mających za sobą przeszłość kryminalną. Trzecim obszarem jest ułatwienie świadczenia pracy tym osobom poprzez zaangażowanie legalnych agencji rekrutacyjnych. By ułatwić dyskusję nad tym tematem, w artykule została przedstawiona historia, która wydarzyła się niedawno, a w której 400 osób w wieku od 17 do 60 lat zostało zrekrutowanych i wykorzystanych do pracy przymusowej w Wielkiej Brytanii przez dwie polskie rodziny zaangażowane w przestępczość zorganizowaną

Civil society organisations in counter-trafficking governance: when long-standing interactions lead to solid partnerships,

Civil society involvement in counter-trafficking governance has substantially evolved, and today reaches an unprecedented level. The present paper aims at discussing different aspects of their involvement and their unique position across multiple levels of governance: i) their role in drafting legal instruments; ii) their role in EU’s policy and iii) their impact in securing the rights of victims, using the example of the trafficked person’sright not to be punished. We highlight that civil society actors, at all multi-governance levels from the global to the local, play an integral role in securing an effective comprehensive counter-trafficking response.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

Behind Battle Lines Analysing Commanders' Decisions Around Conflict-Related Sexual Violence And Exploitation And Their Penal Consequence

This paper analyses the motivation behind military commanders’ perpetration, facilitation and tolerance of conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV), and considers the decision making behind the imposing of punitive measures. It begins by investigating macro-level criminological perspectives behind CRSV, focusing on understandings of gender, masculinities and power in conflict settings. Meso-level conflict dynamics are subsequently explored to navigate the strategic motives behind CRSV, relating to its deployment to meet military objectives, and its use in regulating and building cohesion among troops. Consideration is then given to micro-level psychological perspectives to elucidate individual decision-making that leads to commanders tolerating or encouraging CRSV. This includes an analysis of some of the most relevant theories within social psychology including social identity theory and moral disengagement. Finally, case law from the International Criminal Court is scrutinised to understand the current approaches towards punishing CRSV, before arguing that a lack of knowledge on when and how CRSV will be committed means that punishment should be influenced by a victim-centric approach.The paper provides an original, multidisciplinary understanding of the state of the academic literature on military command and CRSV. It uniquely brings together criminological theory, conflict analysis and psychological understandings to provide a holistic overview, before investigating approaches towards punishment and prevention. In providing a rigorous review of current understandings and highlighting the limitations of extant knowledge, the paper holds value in paving the way for research to better understand and improve interventions regarding commanders committing CRSV