Groundbreaking anti-slavery research from Rights Lab

We spoke to Professor Zoe Trodd, Director of the Rights Lab, and Dr. Mariana Crespi de Valldaura, a Research Fellow, to find out more.

Based at the University of Nottingham, the Rights Lab houses the world’s largest group of modern slavery researchers and aims to help the global anti-slavery community tackle and end all forms of slavery, trafficking and exploitation, by providing evidence-based research and strategies. 

Zoe Trodd has been at the University of Nottingham since 2012 and founded the Rights Lab in 2017. She explains the rationale behind the new research project: "We know that faith and religion have played a significant part in efforts to tackle all forms of human trafficking, modern slavery and related forms of severe exploitation throughout history and across the world. Thanks to funding from Templeton Religion Trust, we are conducting a three-year project that will explore in depth the theological motivations, beliefs and values of people of faith working in the anti-slavery sector, as well as the different approaches they take to anti-slavery action. This is the biggest research project of its kind and addresses a significant gap in our understanding. When faith has been studied, it has sometimes been from a negative or critical perspective. Our starting point is different: we recognise the enormous contribution faith-based organisations have made to tackling modern slavery and want to better understand the beliefs and values that underpin that work."

For the first year of the project, Mariana has been mapping out and analysing the work done by more than 1,000 faith-based organisations who work to tackle slavery, forced labour, and human trafficking around the world. This has been a mammoth undertaking, speaking to small and large organisations from every major religion and denomination. Mariana shares: "As part of our global survey, we have spoken to staff and volunteers from faith networks, coalitions, charities and grassroots organisations, finding out what sort of work they do and what motivates them, something that can vary according to role. For example, volunteers within a faith-based organisation may have a different understanding and inspiration to staff within the same organisation. Some people may see their anti-slavery action as part of their vocation, others part of their paid work. Some may be driven by their faith, for others, faith is secondary. All of our preliminary research has informed the next stage of the project, the FREE Survey (Faith Responses and Efforts against Exploitation)."

Zoe adds: "The FREE Survey has been piloted and we hugely appreciated early feedback from the team at The Clewer Initiative. We are now sharing it widely with faith-based organisations, large and small, in the hope that we will get thousands of responses that help everyone understand the important role of faith and religion in tackling exploitation. The survey takes around 20 minutes to complete and is available in 25 languages. It contains simple questions to help us understand how people's faith motivates them and shapes their approaches and understanding of slavery and exploitation. We are gathering responses from now until March 2027 so there is plenty of time for people to share the link with anyone of faith or anyone based with a faith-based group who is involved in this vital work.

"We really want this research to be of benefit to everyone in the sector. Our hope is that once the survey is complete, we will be able to tailor the anonymous data and provide insight to individual networks, groups and organisations that could help them with their strategy and work."

Lois Bosatta, director of The Clewer Initiative, concludes: "As someone who is both motivated by faith and wants to use our biblical foundation as a way to mobilise church action, I found it incredibly interesting to reflect on my own practice of faith, my work in the anti-trafficking sector, the theological grounds which reflect my motivation to act, and the priorities and practice areas we focus on as an organisation. 

"I really value the project's honour for people of faith in our sector, as there is such a strong history and current practice of people who love God (whatever that means to them) and commit to serving God through this issue of deep injustice, in small and in enormous ways! Please share with friends and colleagues you know around the world working in anti-slavery efforts."

The survey is straightforward to answer and thought-provoking. We would encourage everyone in our network to complete it to help provide the Rights Lab with insight into our work and motivations.

Complete the survey today: The FREE Survey

Find out more: Measuring Motivations: The Underlying Orientations of Religious Anti-Slavery Action