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Using Systems Thinking to Advance the Prevention of Human Trafficking: Examples and a Call to Action

Author

Listed:
  • Elizabeth Such

    (Policy Institute, King’s College London, London WC2B 4LL, UK
    School of Health Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2HA, UK)

  • Mollie Gordon

    (Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA)

  • Phuong Thanh Nguyen

    (Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA)

  • Lila Pavey

    (Government of Nova Scotia, Halifax, NS B3J 2T3, Canada)

  • Jenna Hopson

    (IWK Health Centre, Halifax, NS B3K 6R8, Canada)

  • Alys McAlpine

    (Department of Social Policy and Intervention, Social Sciences Division, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 2JD, UK
    Institute for Global Health, Faculty of Population Health Sciences, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK)

  • Habiba Aminu

    (School of Health Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2HA, UK)

  • Frances Recknor

    (Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
    Dalla Lana School of Public Health, Toronto, ON M5T 3M7, Canada)

Abstract

Human trafficking is a complex global problem maintained by a web of interacting individual, community, national and international factors. Its complexity is not always robustly addressed in policy, practice and research, with issues commonly approached in silos. This commentary creates the case for more intentional application of systems thinking in the counter-trafficking field. We do this by describing some of the origins of a more systemic focus in counter-trafficking work including the emergence of public health approaches, survivor- or lived-experience leadership and developments in the research domain. We then provide three case examples of how a systems lens has been applied in research, in policy and in practice across three countries, the UK, Canada and the US. We conclude with reflections on the promise of and challenges for systems thinking and a call to action for more systems-informed counter-trafficking work.

Suggested Citation

  • Elizabeth Such & Mollie Gordon & Phuong Thanh Nguyen & Lila Pavey & Jenna Hopson & Alys McAlpine & Habiba Aminu & Frances Recknor, 2026. "Using Systems Thinking to Advance the Prevention of Human Trafficking: Examples and a Call to Action," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-16, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jscscx:v:15:y:2026:i:7:p:474-:d:1990718
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