Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery,
Looking Back, Looking Ahead
An Assessment of 25 Years under the
UN Trafficking Palermo Protocol
Friday 21st November 2025
13:00 - 17:00
Pichette Auditorium
followed by a Drinks Reception
Human trafficking and modern slavery are ubiquitous in the United Kingdom and across the globe. Over the last 25 years, advocates, policymakers, experts, and survivors have grappled with strategies to combat all forms of modern slavery: forced labour, sex trafficking, and forced criminality.
This year, the UN Palermo Protocol (the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime) will celebrate its 25th anniversary. We are taking a moment to examine the legacy of this landmark treaty, to both reflect on the last quarter century, and to look ahead to the next 25 years.
To that aim, the Oxford Human Rights Hub, the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security, the Hillary Rodham Clinton Oral History Project, and the Human Trafficking Legal Centre will host an expert convening to analyse the progress made in combatting human trafficking and modern slavery, bringing together leading scholars and practitioners to address the successes, the failures, and the implementation challenges. We are also very pleased to be collaborating with the Modern Slavery and Human Rights Policy and Evidence Centre for this event.
The convening will be held in the Pichette Lecture theatre, Pembroke College from 1 – 5 pm on 21st November.
We will have two panels, “Looking Backwards” and “Current Developments. ” Panellists will be asked to present for about 8 – 10 minutes, followed by discussion between panellists and with the audience, organized through the moderator.
Register your attendance by Thursday 13th November, 12pm