Australian Institute of Criminology releases research report into labour trafficking

The Australian Institute of Criminology has released a report, number 108 in its research and public policy series, assessing the known or likely incidence of trafficking in persons.

Since July 2007, the Institute has been conducting research into the trafficking of persons in the Asia–Pacific region in order to contribute to the evidence base supporting efforts to combat human trafficking. This report examines what is known about labour trafficking, based on incidences of reported crimes, but also by drawing on information about unreported crime.

The report illuminates the difficulties in detecting labour trafficking, particularly in circumstances that may not provide obvious external indicators of exploitation. It also sets out some suggested policy and legislation changes to help combat trafficking:

As noted in the research, vulnerability to exploitation may not result from a single factor; it can reflect multiple individual characteristics, a situation or a relationship. As such, the detection of labour trafficking remains a complex task, which needs to be supported by the development of operational tools that aid identification, training in the use of these tools and standard operating procedures for processes of cross-referrals between relevant agencies. In the Australian context, many front-line agencies, including state and territory police and in some jurisdictions, labour inspectors and unions, operate primarily within a state or territory regulatory framework. It is vital to ensure that these agencies have a basic awareness of the relevance of the federal anti-trafficking response to their daily work.

A full copy of the report is available from the official AIC site.

Taking action against human trafficking is part of LexisNexis' global corporate social responsibility initiatives. LexisNexis is committed to combating human trafficking by offering direct financial support and legal and technical advice to organisations working in the field to eradicate the illegal trade wherever it exists. For more information, please visit our corporate site.