Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery: Looking Back, Looking Ahead
An assessment of 25 years under the UN Trafficking Palermo Protocol

Marking the 25th anniversary of the landmark Palermo Protocol, join human rights experts to examine its legacy, reflecting on the last quarter century and looking ahead to the next. 

Human trafficking and modern slavery are ubiquitous in the United Kingdom and across the globe. Over the last 25 years, advocates, policymakers, experts, and survivors have grappled with strategies to combat all forms of modern slavery: forced labour, sex trafficking, and forced criminality.

This year, the UN Palermo Protocol (the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime) will celebrate its 25th anniversary. We are taking a moment to examine the legacy of this landmark treaty, to both reflect on the last quarter century, and to look ahead to the next 25 years. 

To that aim, the Oxford Human Rights Hub, the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security, the Hillary Clinton Oral History Project, and the Human Trafficking Legal Center will host an expert convening to analyse the progress made in combatting human trafficking and modern slavery, bringing together leading scholars and practitioners to address the successes, the failures, and the implementation challenges. We are also very pleased to be collaborating with the Modern Slavery and Human Rights Policy and Evidence Centre for this event. We are delighted that Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton will contribute via video. 

Welcome and introductory remarks

1pm

• Professor John Armour, Dean of the Oxford University Law Faculty
• Sir Ernest Ryder, Master of Pembroke College

Panel 1 - Looking Backwards: the First Twenty Five Years

1.15pm - 2.45pm

Moderator: Sir Ernest Ryder, Master of Pembroke College

• Dr Allida Black, Special Advisor and Historian to former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton; Beth Newburger Schwartz Professor of Practice, Georgetown University  
• Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (video)
• Professor Parosha Chandran, Professor of Practice in Modern Slavery Law, The Dickson Poon School of Law, King's College London; barrister (One Pump Court)
• Professor Dame Sara Thornton, Professor of Practice in Modern Slavery Policy
• Dr Rosana Garciandia, Co-Director of the Centre for International Governance and Dispute Resolution (CIGAD)

Panel 2 - Current Developments

3.15pm - 4.45pm

Moderator: Professor Sandy Fredman, Director Oxford Human Rights Hub and Professor, Oxford University Law Faculty

• Martina E. Vandenberg, President, The Human Trafficking Legal Centre
• Marija Jovanovic, Research Fellow in Business and Human Rights, Modern Slavery and Human Rights Policy and Evidence Centre
• Benji Gourgey, Senior Associate, ​​Leigh Day Solicitors
• Avril Sharp, Immigration Lawyer & Policy Officer Kalayaan
• Jane Lasonder, Modern Slavery PEC and member of the Lived Experience Advisory Panel
• Rt Hon. Baroness Theresa May, Global Commission on Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking (video) (tbc)

Closing remarks

4.45pm

• Professor Murray Hunt, Modern Slavery and Human Rights Policy and Evidence Centre

The convening will be held in the Pichette Auditorium, Pembroke College from 1 – 5 pm on 21st November and will be followed by a drinks reception.

Register your attendance here.