The cover of human trafficking report "Inaccurate Numbers, Inadequate Policies" by Jessie Brunner.
Combatting human trafficking through research and policy advocacy is one of the core areas of Handa Center programming. This is evidenced by research projects, events programming, and Handa Center affiliates.
Local and International Convenings
The Handa Center co-hosts the annual Freedom from Slavery Forum at Stanford University through a partnership with Washington, DC-based Free the Slaves. This convening brings together key leaders of anti-slavery organizations from around the world to share best practices, lessons learned, and increase their collective impact. The 2016 Forum, attended by anti-slavery experts from 45 different organizations, was a two-day event comprised of several closed-door sessions on subjects such as aftercare, prevalence, M&E, and community-building in the anti-trafficking field, as well as a public panel discussion on the ways the electronics and fishing industries deal with issues of forced labor in their supply chains. Stanford Professor Katherine Jolluck and Program Manager Jessie Brunner serve as members of the advisory committee for the annual Freedom from Slavery Forum.
The Center also co-hosts the Annual Summer Institute for International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights, in partnership with the Human Rights Resource Centre for ASEAN. The program is developed in close participation with Association of Southeast Asian Nations’ human rights bodies: the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights, the ASEAN Commission on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women and Children, and the ASEAN Committee on Migrant Workers. The 8th annual Summer Institute, held in Bali, Indonesia, focused on Preventing Slavery and Trafficking in Persons in ASEAN. Dozens of representatives from ASEAN’s human rights-related bodies attended alongside Handa Center leadership; Jessie Brunner presented her research on prevalence data and policy recommendations to those gathered. The Summer Institute is now in its tenth year.
Policy Advocacy
The Handa Center plays an active role in public policy forums to inform policy at local, national, and global levels. Currently the Handa Center participates in the San Francisco Mayor’s Task Force on Anti-Human Trafficking and Alliance 8.7 to support the Sustainable Development Goals. Expert consultations inform national and international legislation.
Research
To strengthen anti-trafficking programs and policies, the Handa Center conducts research on the collection and analysis of accurate, standardized, and quality data. The Handa Center report, “Inaccurate Numbers, Inadequate Policies: Enhancing Data to Evaluate the Prevalence of Human Trafficking in ASEAN,” written by Jessie Brunner, provides analysis and recommendations to support ASEAN regional anti-trafficking efforts. A follow-on study designed to promote best practices on data collection and government collaboration to combat human trafficking in Southeast Asia is underway. The Center will also publish a report from Research Fellow Natasha Dolby on the challenge of commercial sexual exploitation of children in Brazil later this year.
