Towards principles for equitable engagement

This research covers six projects from 2023 titled ‘Towards Principles for Equitable Engagement’. This project was led by the University of Liverpool, with six international experts in the field of modern slavery and human trafficking.

The projects provide unique insights into how ethical and equitable engagement of lived experiences can enhance policy and practice in addressing modern slavery and human trafficking. The findings highlight the transformative potential of lived experience engagement, reinforcing guiding principles from a 2022 report on avoiding tokenism, being trauma-informed, and preventing harm.

The collaborative nature of the project also offered new insights into knowledge production’s role in achieving structural change. Central to this is co-production, emphasising the importance of inclusive research that aligns with the needs of those with lived experience, the flexibility required for equitable and ethical research, the value of authenticity and diversity in co-development, and the broader implications for building a global research agenda.

The team included from the University of Liverpool: Professor Alex Balch, Dr. Wendy Asquith, Dr. Allen Kiconco, Helen Bryant (Policy Officer), and Adam Burns (Policy Officer). 

The research was co-funded by the Modern Slavery and Human Rights Policy and Evidence Centre and Research England through the University of Liverpool's Public Policy Pump-Prime funding.

You can read a summary of the reports and access them below.