Reflecting on a Decade of Action: 10 Years of the Human Trafficking and Exploitation (Scotland) Act 2015

As part of Anti-Slavery Month 2025, the Tumbling Lassie Foundation is proud to partner with the University of Glasgow for a special event marking ten years since the enactment of the Human Trafficking and Exploitation (Scotland) Act 2015.

This landmark legislation represented Scotland’s commitment to combating human trafficking and modern slavery, ensuring victims are protected and perpetrators held accountable. A decade on, it’s time to take stock - to reflect on the progress made, the challenges that remain, and the future of anti-trafficking work in Scotland.

Panel Discussion – Thursday 23rd October, 6:00 PM at the University of Glasgow’s ARC Building, featuring leading voices from law enforcement, advocacy, and the legal profession:

• Detective Superintendent Steven Bertram, Police Scotland

• Joy Gillespie, Survivors of Human Trafficking in Scotland

• Andy Sirel, JustRight Scotland

• Melissa Rutherford, Rutherford Sheridan

The panel will be chaired by Sheriff Maryam Labaki, Chair of the Tumbling Lassie Committee. Together, they will explore how Scotland’s response to trafficking and exploitation has evolved over the past decade — from early implementation of the Act to current frontline realities.

The session offers 1.5 hours of CPD and will foster open discussion and reflection among practitioners, academics, and members of the public committed to ending modern slavery.

Event Details

📅 Date: Thursday 23rd October 2025

🕠 Time: Registration from 5:30 PM | Discussion at 6:00 PM

📍 Location: ARC Building, University of Glasgow (directions)

💻 Hybrid Format: Attend in-person or virtually

🥂 Reception: Drinks and canapés kindly sponsored by Pinsent Masons LLP

Join the Conversation

This event is part of a broader commitment by the Tumbling Lassie Foundation and its partners to honour Scotland’s continuing fight against human trafficking. We’re proud to bring together practitioners, survivors, academics, and policymakers to discuss what the next decade of anti-slavery action should look like.

➡️ Register now: 10 Years of the Human Trafficking and Exploitation (Scotland) Act 2015 – Eventbrite