Expert workshop "Measuring Modern Slavery"

The key objectives of these two days of consultation are to take stock of the current state of knowledge of tools and methodologies; to analyse the current limitations and challenges faced; to discuss the need for a unique operational definition of forced labour and for criteria for identifying modern slavery situations; and to identify partnerships and opportunities for further collaboration.

This workshop is one of the first event organized in the framework of the ILO Data Initiative on Modern Slavery, a multi-stakeholders process to harmonize data collection worldwide and generate better prevalence data.

In recent years, the International Labour Organization (ILO), other international organizations as well as NGOs have started to collect and analyse data on slavery or slavery-like practices through qualitative and quantitative surveys, leading to the publication of several estimates. At the same time, a debate on operational definitions has emerged within the community of researchers and in the media.

Moreover, during the 19th International Conference of Labour Statisticians held in Geneva in October 2013, a resolution was passed recommending, inter alia, that “the Office set up a working group with the aim of sharing best practices on forced labour surveys in order to encourage further such surveys in more countries.”

The key objectives of these two days of consultation with international experts are to:
  • Take stock of the current state of knowledge of tools and methodologies used in surveys on slavery, forced labour, trafficking as well as methodologies used for global estimates;
  • Analyse the current limitations and challenges faced in the design and implementation of such surveys and estimates;
  • Discuss the need for a unique operational definition of forced labour and for criteria for identifying modern slavery situations when implementing a survey;
  • Identify partnerships and opportunities for further collaboration to advance a common research agenda.