In considering the activities that constitute exploitation, we have included human trafficking, modern slavery, sex exploitation, gender-based violence, child exploitation, forced labor, forced criminality, forced marriage and online exploitation. This list is not exhaustive;

Context is important and so key information and data is provided describing specific challenges faced by each government and its vulnerable communities;

The three primary areas of data gathering and analysis are (i) the nature of dedicated plans and strategies and the objectives and commitments proposed; (ii) the measures and mechanisms initiated from objectives and commitments; and (iii) the availability of dedicated resources;

Only publicly-available disclosure and reporting issued by the government have been used. Restricting our research to publicly-available disclosure also provides a clearer understanding of a government’s administrative structure and capacity, and their resourcing for this issue;

There are instances where it is clear that activities addressing exploitation form only part of a ministry’s, department’s or agency’s other work. If a government has identified and disclosed distinct cost allocations for a relevant portion of shared resources then this has been included in our calculations. But where there is no disclosure of budgetary allocations, specific activities or outcomes/impact then we have not included any allocation but have noted this. For example, a number of governments have a trafficking in persons office or centre positioned within their ministry or department responsible for migration or for the interior but do not provide any disclosure on the dedicated budgets. We would be grateful to discuss updates to our data and information from officers of the relevant governments on dedicated resources and budget allocations;

The focus of this first stage of the platform’s development is of planning and strategy formulation at the national/federal level, however where state/provincial/county activities are expressly highlighted then these have been included in the data collection and analysis;

The data and information provided has been designed to encourage a better understanding of each government’s objectives, commitments, resourcing and implementation to prevent the exploitation of both those in their jurisdiction and those outside. For example, a government may contemplate measures to protect those working within its borders but also its citizens working abroad, who are remitting monies back home, from exploitation. Contemporaneously, the same government may seek to prevent its international trade and supply chains from exploiting workers in other countries;

Where no disclosure has been identified then users will find a conspicuous blank. Any updates or clarifications on the location of disclosure/reports and updated data from relevant government officers are very welcome, please contact us here;

Supply chains and organized crime are deliberately structured to be transnational, designed to successfully move resources and execute complicated plans regionally and globally. They can be very quick to adapt. Governments however cannot act unilaterally within another’s borders and must coordinate and cooperate with each other on issues like exploitation. The necessary intra and inter-governmental cooperation and activity often increases organizational and administrative processes and costs, restricting the capacity to adapt, which then culminate in a reduced likelihood of short or long term positive impact;

Units of measurement used by each government are not consistent. For example, some governments publish the number of victims assisted, some use potential victims and others have a structured national referral mechanism. At the same time, some governments publish the number of trafficking crimes, some use perpetrators arrested and others perpetrators convicted;

We have not created a ranking or rating system of countries but we have provided our analyses, observations and conclusions. We will be publishing more in due course; and

The platform has been designed with a normative framework regarding prevention of exploitation. There is no political or ideological alignment.