Modern slavery prevention and responses in South Asia: An evidence map

This evidence map shows where evidence exists on interventions to tackle trafficking, child and forced labour in South Asia

Abstract

The Asia Pacific region has the highest numbers of both slavery and child labour victims in the world. The International Labour Organization (ILO) estimates that 16.5 million and 8.4 million persons were in situations of forced labour and forced marriage respectively in Asia Pacific, among 40.3 million in modern slavery globally. Although there is a growing body of research and evaluations in this area and systematic reviews on interventions to reduce prevalence of trafficking, forced or bonded labour or slavery exist, these have not focused on South Asia. As such there has not yet been a systematic scoping or synthesis of studies that would help policymakers understand ‘what works’ to reduce the prevalence of modern slavery in the countries of interest to DFID (India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan).

This evidence map was commissioned to address this gap and draw together studies about interventions to reduce the prevalence of modern slavery in South Asia.

The evidence map provides an outline of where evidence is concentrated and where it is missing by mapping out existing and ongoing impact evaluations and observational studies exploring different types of modern slavery interventions and outcomes for specific target populations (survivors, employers, landlords, services providers, criminal justice officials) and at different levels (individual, community, state). There is also a supporting report which includes an overview of the evidence map methodology and findings.

Citation

Oosterhoff, P., Yunus, R., Jensen, C., Somerwell, F., Pocock, N.S. (2018) Modern slavery prevention and responses in South Asia: An evidence map. London: Department for International Development

Modern slavery prevention and responses in South Asia: An evidence map (PDF, 1531KB)

South Asia Modern Slavery Evidence Map - interactive

South Asia Modern Slavery Evidence Map - static

Published 13 December 2018