Monday 9 December 2024
On 4 December, Transcrime – Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, coordinator of the project, presented the INVERT approach to combating human trafficking and labour exploitation at a double event in Canberra. Co-organised with the Australian Institute of Criminology (AIC), the events involved Australian institutions and researchers working in the field of human trafficking.
In the morning session, as part of the AIC Occasional Seminar series, Prof. Francesco Calderoni introduced Australian government officials to INVERT’s risk-based approach and its AI-powered suite of tools. This methodology leverages risk indicators to help public authorities allocate resources and efforts more effectively. By processing large datasets, the INVERT suite generates risk scores and alerts, identifying businesses potentially linked to illicit practices or individuals at risk of exploitation.
Often these criminal practices and networks operate behind convoluted supply chains, governance and corporate structures to evade scrutiny. Tools to extract and interpret relevant data are therefore essential, and the INVERT early warning system provides a solid foundation to guide investigations and penetrate these opaque schemes.
The afternoon session, held within the Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery Research Network, broadened the discussion to include civil society, academia, the private sector, and welfare organisations dealing with THB issues. It provided a unique forum for international exchange among experts in the field, discussing INVERT’s and the EU’s risk-based strategies to dismantle the financial infrastructure that supports the exploitation of child and adult labour.
