Disrupting Illicit Supply Networks: New Applications of Operations Research and Data Analytics to End Human Trafficking
National Science Foundation Workshop
Sponsored by
Operations Engineering Program (ENG) and the Law and Social Sciences Program (SBE)
December 1 – 2, 2017
Washington, DC
Workshop Summary
The Challenge
Social science researchers and advocates believe that if policymakers and abolitionists fully understand how widespread the phenomena of forced labor and sex trafficking are in developing and industrialized countries, public awareness, and political pressure could eradicate it. Undoubtedly, efforts to end modern slavery must involve effective interdiction and judicial sanctions. Nonetheless, the best estimates using sophisticated statistical methodologies find the number of human trafficking victims continuously rising, increased public awareness has not resulted in reduced incidence and prevalence rates. Innovative and timely research strategies are needed to develop approaches that disrupt illicit supply networks to substantially raise the cost of trafficking operations to deter trafficking in human beings.