Southeast and East Asia regional report, Ling Li

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Report summary

Survivors of modern slavery are often asked to share traumatic experiences but are frequently excluded from discussions on the impact and effectiveness of the programmes and policies meant to support them. This exclusion, compounded by hierarchical relationships, language barriers, and cultural differences, weakens the global strategy against modern slavery. To address this, the University of Liverpool has launched a research project aimed at identifying the best ways to engage survivors, particularly survivor leaders, in international policy and programming.

As a researcher specialising in bride trafficking and forced labour in Southeast and East Asia, Ling Li conducted extensive data collection and analysis in Thailand, Cambodia, and China. The work seeks to provide a clear understanding of the complex terminology, cultural contexts, barriers, and power dynamics in counter modern slavery efforts within this region, with a focus on the impact of current policies and programmes on survivors and their communities.