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Modern slavery and human trafficking will be the focus of this year’s WA Migration and Mobilities Update forum, to be held on Tuesday 24 July at The University of Western Australia. It will be followed by a half-day workshop on Wednesday 25 July where modern slavery will be discussed.

Although slavery was abolished more than 150 years ago, 40 million people worldwide still live and work in slave-like conditions. Modern slavery, and the human trafficking associated with it, involves situations of exploitation, where one person’s freedom is taken away by another – freedom to control their body, to refuse certain work or to stop working.

The annual Migration Update will showcase global research and spark discussion on important challenges and ways they can be addressed. The forum is an initiative of the UWA Migration, Mobilities and Belonging Research Network and will bring together Federal and State Government policy makers, community organisations and researchers.

For those in the community wishing to register for the conference click here

Key presentations at the forum (24 July) include:

9.00am Opening address from Hon. Paul Papalia CSC, MLA, Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Interests.
9.30am Professor Jennifer Burn from the University of Technology Sydney has had an active involvement in the development of Australia’s response to human trafficking and slavery. Professor Burn will discuss her work on trafficking and slavery and the protection of human rights.
1.30pm Professor Marie Segrave from Monash University will examine human trafficking, migrant labour exploitation, women prisoners and policing challenges that come with this.

Media references

Donella Caspersz (UWA Business School) 0448 772 018
Jess Reid (UWA Media and PR Adviser) 08 6488 6876