Laura Sawyer
Thesis Title: The UK's Response to Tackling Modern Slavery: Global Leader or Domestic Disaster?
The UK continues to be seen as a global leader in its efforts to tackle modern slavery, however the domestic reality appears very different. Over the past two years, the UK has introduced legislation that has radically shifted its response to immigration and modern slavery, conflating the two issues and moving towards an increasingly hostile environment towards refugees and enslaved persons who are trafficked to the UK. This research aims to explore the implementation and arising impacts of legislation on the UK’s response to modern slavery and supporting survivors.
Utilising longitudinal interviews and data analysis, this research is split into two distinct elements. Firstly, the research will establish the physical, mental and social support needs of modern slavery survivors and the ways that legislative changes have affected survivor support. Secondly, it will address the UK’s role as a global leader in the international efforts to tackle modern slavery. Primary research will be conducted with survivors of modern slavery and human trafficking, Non-Governmental Organisations, and international monitoring bodies to explore these questions and understand the UK’s shifting response towards modern slavery.
The findings of this research aim be used to impact and inform policymaking in order to develop the UK’s response to modern slavery and supporting survivors.
Biography
For the past 9 years I have worked within the anti-human trafficking sector, most recently as a Senior Caseworker for a charity providing long term support for survivors of modern slavery. Throughout this work I have encountered the challenges that survivors of modern slavery encounter, and also the challenges that support services also face whilst providing support.
I graduated from the University of Nottingham with an MA in Slavery and Liberation in 2018, and more recently with an MA in Social Science Research in 2023.
I am currently based in Chesterfield, with my husband and daughter. In my spare time I enjoy walking in the Peak District, making my own clothes, home brewing and board games.
Publications
Celiksoy, E., Schwarz, K., and Sawyer, L. 2023. Legal and institutional responses to the online sexual exploitation of children: The United Kingdom country case study The University of Nottingham.
Celiksoy, E., Schwarz, K., Sawyer, L., and Ciucci, S. 2023. Payment methods and investigation of financial transactions in online sexual exploitation of children cases The University of Nottingham.
Political Science & International Relations
University of Nottingham
2022 Cohort, 1+3
www.linkedin.com/in/laura-sawyer
Supervisory Team
Prof Kevin Bales
Assistant Prof Andrea Nicholson