Laura Sawyer

Rights Lab PhD Student in Politics and International Relations

Email: laura.sawyer@nottingham.ac.uk

Laura is a PhD student in Politics and International Relations, supervised by Professor Kevin Bales CMG and Dr Andera Nicholson.  Her research monitors the implementation of recent legislative changes to identify arising impacts on the UK's response to tackling modern slavery and supporting survivors. This research aims to fill important evidence gaps of survivor support, experiences, and challenges, whilst also aiming to inform policy by recommending changes to the UK's national response and the NRM process. 

During her career, Laura has worked in a number of roles directly supporting survivors of modern slavery for eight years, working with both adult and child survivors. Most recently Laura co-authored a report addressing the use of digital payment methods in cases of online sexual exploitation of children in Europe and the Philippines. Laura is currently assisting research on prevention and identification of children and young adults experiencing, or at risk of, modern slavery in the UK.