Bringing data and evidence to the fight against human trafficking

Each year, an estimated 50 million people worldwide are held in modern slavery, generating billions of dollars in illicit profits. Globally, policy makers are eager to find solutions to combat human trafficking, but a lack of data  and an almost complete lack of effective policies grounded in quantitative evidence greatly impede anti-trafficking efforts. As a result, anti-trafficking policy around the world has been uncoordinated and unguided by data- informed impact assessment.

The Stanford Human Trafficking Data Lab is committed to fighting human trafficking through rigorous multidisciplinary research, close partnerships with frontline stakeholders, and large scale, research-driven policy interventions. 

We are a passionate group of economists, statisticians, computer scientists, and policy experts committed to real-world impact. Our research aims to understand and highlight the most effective policies and actions aimed at combating and preventing human trafficking, devising strategies to reduce potential exploitation, and championing survivor-centered initiatives.

For the past four years, the Lab has strategically focused its effort in Brazil, where trafficking prevalence is significant. The country’s robust administrative record-keeping environment and well-established transparency laws make it an ideal environment for this work, which has been made possible through a strong partnership with Brazil’s Federal Labor Prosecution Office, a key actor in the country’s anti-trafficking response and policy agenda.