STATIP: Standard tools for analysis of trafficking in persons

Objective

Trafficking in persons, forced labour and trafficking for forced labour are closely related concepts, but their measurement requires clear and consistent statistical definitions.

The STATIP project aims to develop operational definitions, tools, methodologies and uniform guidance for measuring these phenomena. The guidance will explain how to use the tools and how to incorporate ethical considerations into research in this area.

The project is based on two key legal instruments: the UN Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children (UN Trafficking Protocol), which provides the international definition of trafficking in persons, and the ILO Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29), which provides the definition of forced labour.

Forced labour is one of the forms of exploitation covered by the UN Trafficking Protocol, understood in line with Convention No. 29. International statistical guidelines for measuring forced labour were adopted by the 20th International Conference of Labour Statisticians (ICLS) in 2018. No equivalent standard exists for measuring trafficking in persons victimization on the basis of the international legal definition. As a result, estimates of forced labour and trafficking in persons are often used interchangeably, although they measure different phenomena.

Further work is therefore needed to clarify how the UN Trafficking Protocol definition relates to the existing guidance on measuring forced labour and what this means for the statistical measurement of trafficking in persons. This work also needs to be consistent with related statistical standards, in particular the International Classification of Crime for Statistical Purposes (ICCS) and the International Classification for the Statistical Measurement of Trafficking in Persons (IC-TIP). Survey-based measurement of victimization complements these standards by covering cases that are not recorded by the authorities. Greater clarity in measurement is expected to inform more effective responses.

The project is implemented by the ILO and organized around two complementary workstreams, each carried out in partnership with different institutions.

Workstream 1 – Measurement

Develop statistical standards and tools to support consistent measurement of forced labour, trafficking in persons and trafficking for forced labour.

The workstream is implemented in partnership with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Center on Human Trafficking Research and Outreach (CenHTRO) at the University of Georgia.

Key results

• Statistical guidelines are developed, including a statistical definition, counting rules and minimum indicators.
• An implementation package is developed for national statistical offices, including a questionnaire, analysis plan, training and adaptation guidance.
• Complementary products on administrative data and ethics are developed.
• The statistical guidelines are developed jointly with UNODC and IOM and tested with national statistical offices before submission to the United Nations Statistical Commission.
• CenHTRO coordinates the academic input to this workstream.

Workstream 2 – Evidence base

Strengthen the evidence base on interventions to reduce forced labour and trafficking in persons and support the accumulation of comparable evidence on their effectiveness.

The workstream is implemented with Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA) through its Human Trafficking Research Initiative (HTRI).

Key results

• A research framework on interventions to reduce forced labour and trafficking in persons is developed.
• A prioritized research agenda is developed.
• The accumulation of comparable evidence on the effectiveness of interventions to reduce forced labour and trafficking in persons is supported.
• Evidence generated through this workstream contributes to informing programme design and evaluation.

Methodological approach

The project is built around five methodological principles:

• Universal statistical standards
• Partnership with UN agencies, academia and research organizations
• A bottom-up approach
• n integrated methods approach
• Ethical safeguards

Ethical considerations are an integral part of the project. The uniform guidance developed through STATIP will address how ethical considerations should be incorporated into research.

Working with Member States and other stakeholders

The support of Member States is crucial throughout the implementation of STATIP, particularly for the development, establishment and acceptance of international standards and for testing appropriate instruments and methodologies to measure trafficking in persons, forced labour and trafficking for forced labour.

The project will also consult employers’ and workers’ organizations, civil society, academia, survivors and other experts. Their contributions will help deepen knowledge and assess the relevance of the project’s results.

Through this collaborative approach, STATIP seeks to establish statistical definitions and measurement tools that can support more consistent analysis of trafficking in persons, forced labour and trafficking for forced labour, and to strengthen the evidence base for effective responses.

Development partner

The project "Standard tools for analysis of trafficking in persons (STATIP)" is funded by the United States Department of State, Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons (TIP Office) under Award No. SSJTIP22CA0028. The content of this project page is the sole responsibility of the project team and does not necessarily reflect the views of the United States Department of State.