Migration and Modern Slavery: Voicing the Journeys' Conference, 27-28 March, 2023

This two-day conference brings together leading academics and practitioners to explore issues of modern slavery and migration through the voices of those on migratory journeys. It will pay particular attention to their journeys, their treatment on arrival at their destinations, and how survivors of modern slavery and practitioners can help to improve these aspects of survivors’ experiences.

To practically implement obligations imposed by international and domestic laws, criminological and socio-legal research, along with policymakers and legislators, must be aware of victims' backgrounds, lived experiences, and needs. Research and practice must be informed by insights from individuals with experience of modern slavery and those who may be vulnerable to exploitation. Each person affected holds crucial qualitative evidence that academics, policymakers, and practitioners must listen to and incorporate into their work.

This conference will therefore explore the following key issues:

• The importance of engaging survivors with precarious immigration status;
• National and international legal obligations and slavery vulnerabilities;
• How to minimise risks of modern slavery within supply chains;
• How to develop multi-agency strategic partnerships to bring together a diverse range of stakeholders including those with lived experience.

Over the course of the two days, attendees will hear from academic and professional experts and will be invited to engage in discussions to help better understand the correlations between migration and modern slavery and to share best practice in supporting those who are subject to these processes.

Confirmed Speakers:

Day 1: Academic focused day

• Keynote speaker, Dr Cristiano D'Orsi , University of Johannesburg - 'The New Slave Trade: Migration and Modern Slavery in Africa'
• The Subedi Essay Prize talk and presentation

Day 2: Practitioner focused day

• Dr Alicia Heys and Andrew Smith, University of Hull – ‘Using survivor voices to inform practice’
• Dr Zahra Shirgholami, University of Hull – ‘Global labour exploitation and plausible deniability of multinational corporations’

Workshops:

Day 1:

• Migrant workers' voice: Minimizing risks of modern slavery within supply chains through inclusive and innovative approaches.
• Climate Change and Modern Slavery: What Role for Human Rights Law?

Day 2:

•  What can trauma-informed approaches offer to the victims of modern slavery and migration?  A panel discussion with audience questions led by Professor Simon Green.
• Using survivor voices to inform practice. How policy, sharing best practice, and survivor voices can impact the quality of support.

To sign up for this conference, please click here.

About the venue

This two-day interactive conference will be held at the Wilberforce Institute located on High Street in the old town of Kingston Upon Hull. The Wilberforce Institute makes up part of a small but unique museum quarter that includes the Wilberforce House Museum, birthplace of William Wilberforce, famous abolitionist and campaigner against the transatlantic slave trade.

There are various large public car parks located a few minutes’ walk from the building. If you travel by train, you can enjoy a 10 to 15-minute walk through the centre of Hull taking in either Queens Gardens and the statute of Wilberforce, or if you prefer, you can make your way past the Marina and through the cobbled streets of the Old Town. The full address is The Wilberforce Institute, Oriel Chambers, 27 High Street, Hull, HU1 1NE.

Food and drink

Lunch and refreshments will be provided on both days, and we will be hosting a conference dinner on the evening of 27th March, the cost of which will also be covered. Please let us know in advance if you have any specific dietary requirements and/or would like to attend the conference dinner by emailing sophie.blanchard@hull.ac.uk

Travel Bursaries

We are able to offer funds to cover national and international travel and accommodation on a first-come first-served basis. If you would like to take advantage of this offer, please contact us to let us know an estimation of your travel costs and if you would like accommodation.

Please email sophie.blanchard@hull.ac.uk for further information.

Event notes

This is a two-day event which is suitable for academics and practitioners. However, Day 1 is more academic focused, and Day 2 more practitioner focused. Please feel free to attend either one or both of the days.

Day 1 will begin at 11:00 with registration, tea, and coffee and close around 17:15 for drinks and then dinner for those who wish.

Day 2 will begin at 09:00 for tea or coffee and close around 16:30.

Building Access

The University of Hull has increased accessibility to Oriel Chambers by including a platform lift to gain access to the building's ground floor area. However, fire safety measures mean that in the event of a fire alarm activation this platform and the main lift cannot be used. At present therefore, the Institute can only be deemed accessible to anyone that is able to use stairs to perform a safe exit. However, we are working with the University of Hull Estates and Health and Safety teams to ensure that, as a listed building, and where reasonably practicable, further improvements will be made within the parameters of the planning regulations for future events.