Matt Parker
- International Advisory Board member
- The Exodus Road, USA
Mr. Parker is a globally recognized leader and former nonprofit CEO with over 20 years of experience in human trafficking investigation and advocacy. He has collaborated across 8+ countries on policy, training, and capacity-building efforts, partnering with global organizations to combat trafficking and support vulnerable communities.
A current member of The Exodus Road’s International Advisory Board, Mr. Parker has also chaired the Freedom Foundation in Thailand and The Exodus Road USA. Through his consulting firm, Nonprofit Growth Solutions, he advises on nonprofit growth and leadership development, continuing his mission to strengthen the fight against human trafficking worldwide.
Sessions
-
Trends in Irregular and Mass Migration and THB
According to UNHCR figures by May 2024, more than 120 million people were forcibly displaced worldwide as a result of persecution, conflict, violence or human rights violations. This includes 43.4 million refugees, 63.3 million internally displaced people, 6.9 million asylum seekers and 5.8 million people in need of international protection.
But it is not just conflict and persecution that drives migration. Economic and educational opportunities are also major drivers and, in the years to come, climate change will play an increasing role in setting people on the move. Human traffickers exploit these people at their most vulnerable to extort money and drive migrants into slave labour and the sex trade.
Whether it is conflicts, natural disasters or economics, the flow of migrants from poor southern countries to rich northern ones is probably only going to increase.
So, what are current trends in migration and what further can be done to tackle those bad actors that are ready to exploit these people when they are at their most vulnerable.