On 16 October, professionals working on addressing Modern Slavery from across Wales and beyond met at Conwy Business Centre in Llandudno Junction and online for Anti-Slavery Wales 2025.
This annual event, which was being held in North Wales for the first time, brings together organisations and experts to share learning and insights about tackling this crime. The conference was hosted in partnership between the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for North Wales and the Welsh Government. This year’s event also marked the 10th anniversary of the Modern Slavery Act 2015.
For the past three years, the Office of the PCC has held the very successful All for One conference around the same date and at the same location. This year’s Anti-Slavery Wales event continued the theme of All for One in seeking a multi-agency response to a key issue affecting Wales and how different stakeholders can come together to tackle Modern Slavery. The audience, which numbered nearly 100 in person and a similar number online, included representatives from across national, devolved and local government, the Police and Fire Services, health and social care, and a range of third sector and charity organisations.
Speakers at the conference included:
- Jane Hutt MS, Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Trefnydd and Chief Whip, who gave the opening address. The Cabinet Secretary announced the launch of Anti-Slavery Wales Online Learning – free online learning resources on Modern Slavery.
- Andy Dunbobbin, PCC for North Wales, who welcomed attendees.
- Juliet Odaro, from the Human Trafficking Foundation’s Lived Experience Advisory Panel, who discussed the importance of incorporating lived experience into anti-slavery work.
- Eleanor Lyons, the UK’s Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner, who gave a keynote address on modern slavery and chaired a panel discussion on child exploitation.
- Andrew Wallis, CEO of Unseen UK, who gave a keynote address on the economic impact of exploitation and chaired a panel discussion on adult exploitation.
- Albanian human rights activist Edlira Çepani, who looked at Modern Slavery from an international perspective.
Key themes emerging during the day included the fact that Modern Slavery is a crime that is found across Wales, the UK, and internationally, including in North Wales. People experiencing Modern Slavery can be found in industries such as the care sector and hospitality and places of work including car washes, nail bars, pubs and takeaways. People of all backgrounds and nationalities can experience exploitation. The largest number of people identified as potential victims of exploitation in Wales are UK nationals – including victims of child criminal exploitation.
Andy Dunbobbin, Police and Crime Commissioner for North Wales commented: “This year’s Anti-Slavery Wales conference demonstrates our region’s commitment to tackling issues such as Modern Slavery head-on. I appreciate and support the innovative approaches being developed across different sectors to protect our communities in the region and, by bringing together expertise from different organisations and professionals from across Wales, we’re building a more robust response to Modern Slavery. The stories shared at the event remind us why this work is so vital; it literally changes people’s lives.”
Wayne Jones, Deputy PCC for North Wales, who led the planning and organisation of the event in partnership with Welsh Government, said: “I was pleased to work with Welsh Government to make the first visit of the Anti-Slavery Wales conference to North Wales a success. We had a positive response locally and secured an excellent range of high-profile international speakers to share their expertise and experiences with delegates. I hope that the learnings from the conference will enable attendees to further help vulnerable people across North Wales and beyond, to recognise the signs of Modern Slavery and to help stop this terrible crime in its tracks.”
Jane Hutt MS, Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Trefnydd and Chief Whip, said: “Tackling Modern Slavery relies on sharing good practice, raising awareness and working together to protect victims and bring perpetrators to justice. That is why we continue to hold the annual Anti-Slavery Wales conferences and why we have now launched free online learning to strengthen understanding and action against Modern Slavery. I thank the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for North Wales for partnering with us in delivering this important conference, and am grateful to everyone who attended and contributed to a highly successful event.”
