Rebecca Brown

Contact

• workRoom A19
  University Park
  Nottingham
  NG7 2RD
  UK
• Rebecca.Brown@nottingham.ac.uk
• https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/research/beacons-of-excellence/rights-lab/our-team/rebecca-brown/index.

Biography

Rebecca Brown is a PhD student in Politics and International Relations, supervised by Professor Todd Landman and Dr Alison Gardner. Her PhD project explores the journey behind the passage of Modern Slavery Acts in the UK and Australia. Her research background is in modern slavery and human trafficking policy, and she works part-time as a Research Fellow in the Law and Policy Programme. Prior to joining the Rights Lab, Rebecca spent six years at King's College London, working in PGR Records and as a Political Events Coordinator.

Expertise Summary

Policy Process Theory; Policy Diffusion; Social movements; Modern Slavery/Human Trafficking policy; Human Rights policy

Research Summary

The UK Modern Slavery Act (MSA) (2015) and the Australian MSA (2018) represent significant national political developments aligned with the United Nations commitment to "end modern slavery" as set… read more

Current Research

The UK Modern Slavery Act (MSA) (2015) and the Australian MSA (2018) represent significant national political developments aligned with the United Nations commitment to "end modern slavery" as set out in Sustainable Development Goal 8.7. To date, they remain the only national pieces of modern slavery legislation, although countries such as Canada and New Zealand look set to follow suit. Several policymakers and NGOs have claimed roles in enabling each MSA's passage, but as of yet, no research has explored the journey and politics behind this "world-leading" legislation. What explains the genesis and success of both Acts' passage, and to what degree are their policy processes comparable? In addition to making a valuable literary contribution to each Act's history, this research aims to offer a unique international, comparative perspective not yet evident in existing scholarship with a view to aid policymakers in better understanding the contextual conditions and processes that enable or restrict human rights legislation.

Past Research

Understanding the Relationship between Forced Marriage and Modern Slavery: In partnership with the charity Karma Nirvana.

Policing Modern Slavery: In collaboration with Dame Sara Thornton, former UK Antislavery Commissioner (publication forthcoming).

What has prompted and motivated members of the British public to host Ukrainians fleeing war?: In collaboration with the charity Hope at Home.