Trafficking & Migration: What Can Be Done?

south west | globalisation | event notice Friday May 02, 2008 16:02 by Nick Thomas - The Pierian Centre The Pierian Centre, 27 Portland Square, St Pauls, Bristol BS2 8SA 0117 924 4512

A Public Discussion on Global Justice, Migration & Trafficking for Forced Labour

Trafficking in human beings is largely seen as an issue concerning the sex industry: a small number of women from a small number of countries. A public discussion on Tuesday 13th May will reveal the larger picture, and will give the general public a chance to question experts and contribute to the debate.

Human Trafficking

Recent research shows that far from being a limited problem, trafficking actually occurs in a wide range of industries and affects a large number of people from all round the world. The University of the West of England is bringing a panel of specialists to the Pierian Centre in St Pauls to reveal the truth of the issue and to discuss the implications. Contributors are coming from Anti-Slavery International, the Gangmasters Licensing Authority, and from Trinity College, Dublin. The evening is chaired by Dr Christien van den Anker (Reader in Global Ethics, UWE).

Bristol has just finished celebrating the 200th anniversary of the Abolition of the Slave Trade – and yet in our city, as in every other city in the UK, there are human beings trapped in conditions of severe exploitation and slavery-like proportions. Expert perspectives on this will be provided on 13th May by Mike Kaye (Anti-Slavery International, London) talking on “Trafficking and Migration”; by David Nix (Gangmasters Licensing Authority) talking on “Regulating Gangmasters”; and by Deirdre Coghlan, a Trinity College Dublin researcher talking on “Trafficking and Forced Labour in Ireland”.

This public discussion takes place in the context of a 2-day workshop on Global Justice, Borders and Migration, organised by the University of the West of England at the Pierian Centre and sponsored by the British International Studies Association. Esteemed contributors from International Political Theory together with recognised specialists in migration from the UK and other European countries will aim to bring together the insights on global justice and migration to develop multi-disciplinary frameworks for an ethical approach to migration and to sketch public policy implications in this area. Several of the speakers are collaborating on a European-wide research project, led by Dr van den Anker at UWE, on Trafficking for Forced Labour in Europe. This aims to compare the occurrence of trafficking and labour exploitation, policy approaches and victim support provisions. The project will make recommendations to policy-makers and raise public awareness.

The 2-day workshop will result in a set of high-quality papers to be published in specialist journals and in an edited collection for Taylor & Francis. But the evening discussion on Tuesday is for the general public, and everyone is welcome to come along to listen and discuss. The event is from 8pm to 10pm on Tuesday 13th May, and it takes place at the Pierian Centre, 27 Portland Square, St Pauls, Bristol BS2 8SA. Entry is free (donations very welcome!); and parking is available right outside (free after 6pm). To book a place ring 0117 924 4512 or info@pieriancentre.com.