A recent report from the UK government suggested there are over 10,000 victims of modern slavery in the country, which marks a considerable rise in recent years. A recent paper from the University of Manchester argues, however, that the remedies suggested by the government, such as tougher border controls and longer sentences for offenders, are unlikely to make the difference they believe they will.
Modern slavery is nothing if not complex and involves various crimes of exploitation, including domestic servitude, sexual exploitation, and labor exploitation. The authors argue that the government has long claimed that modern slavery is something that hides in plain sight, and its “hostile environment” policy will help to tackle a problem they believe is caused primarily by foreign criminals.
Misrepresenting the problem
The researchers believe, however, that this hostile environment has served instead to make undocumented migrant workers’ lives significantly more precarious and open to exploitation by criminals as they often have little choice but to work in the gray economy.
“Our research has shown that we are deceiving ourselves by thinking that modern slavery can be eradicated by toughening up border controls and extending sentence lengths for convicted offenders,” they explain. “Instead, we need to face up to the complexities that lead to some people being convicted of people trafficking and smuggling offenses. We need to ask why these kinds of exploitation are persisting, despite a decade of efforts to out-police modern slavery.”
The paper explains that many of the victims of modern slavery have a long history of victimization and trauma, which has led them into wholly exploitative relationships and debt that leaves them dependent upon their abusers.
The researchers believe that many of the causes of modern slavery could be challenged by providing a more welcoming and hospitable environment for new arrivals. For instance, if people were able to work and weren’t so terrified of being deported that they were reluctant to talk to the authorities, this would help. As would being able to access things like healthcare and housing so weren’t reliant on favors from people who often act outside of the law.
“Recognizing the rights of children, migrants and sex workers would protect many from the horrors of modern slavery,” the researchers conclude. “The perpetrators often come from these vulnerable groups as well, but they are not a homogenous group. Their motives for exploiting others are varied, and can even be morally comprehensible if one pays attention to the complexity of the difficulties they have faced throughout their lives. Their stories can reveal unpalatable truths about the world we live in.”
You can learn more about the research and the topic itself via the video below.
