Dr. Ludmila Bogdan is an independent researcher and policy consultant specializing in human trafficking, labor migration, and international security. Trained in diplomacy and political science, she combines rigorous academic research with hands-on policy work to bridge the gap between scholarship and real-world impact. Her research focuses on labor exploitation, migration governance, and human rights, offering…
Written by Elisa Garbil – 21.11.2025 Human trafficking remains one of the most pressing human rights and security challenges in the European Union. Despite decades of legislation and anti-trafficking initiatives, significant gaps persist in the identification and assistance of victims. Statistical evidence from 2017 to 2018 demonstrates a disproportionate focus on female victims of sexual exploitation, leaving…
Coordinated and Produced by Elisa Garbil Human trafficking isn’t a single story, it’s a global web of exploitation that takes many forms. In this episode with Dr. Ludmila Bogdan, we explore the different types of human trafficking and the challenges in accurately estimating its scope. We dive into the contrasts between sex trafficking and labour trafficking, uncover…
Jacob Sims is a columnist for The Diplomat and a founding partner of Operation Shamrock, which is a global public-private coalition working to disrupt Southeast Asia’s organised cybercrime epidemic. He also acts in a formal advisory capacity to numerous other leading organisations and governments in the global fight against modern slavery. Jacob previously served in…
Coordinated and Produced by Elisa Garbil This episode dive into cybercrime and how it can affect all of us! We have Jacob Sims on, who discusses how common cybercrime is in South East Asia. He explains the ties between the government of Laos, Cambodia, and Myanmar, and the organised crime bosses. Moreover, how the money is…
Written by Elisa Garbil – 03.03.2025 Global internet scams are more and more prevalent in the world, especially after the digitalisation of everything. With AI being used to interview candidates for new roles in businesses for example, one can assume that AI is also being used for other means. The UNODC mentions that especially the…
A few weeks ago, we spoke to Nathan Paul Southern, who gave us a deep dive into the links transnational criminal organisations have to China’s Belt and Road Initiative. Transnational crime is a topic so vast, it would be an injustice to only cover one aspect of it, given its impact on international risk. Today,…
Human trafficking survivors face societal stigma when escaping the grips of their traffickers and re-entering into society. Using an objective definition of human trafficking, survivors are not recognised as victims but rather criminals themselves. Without sufficient support infrastructure, survivors are left in the open for further exploitation and abuse, where in some cases re-entering into…
The International Risk Podcast is a weekly podcast for senior executives, board members and risk advisors. In these podcasts, we speak with risk management specialists from around the world. Our host is Dominic Bowen, one of Europe’s leading international risk specialists. Having spent the last 20 years successfully establishing large and complex operations in the…
In 2014, Norma Bastidas a single-mother, a survivor of sexual violence, human trafficking and ultra athlete broke the Guinness World Record for Longest Triathlon after swimming, biking and running 3,762 miles (6,054 km) from Cancún, Mexico to Washington, D.C. She views this incredible athletic feat as a metaphor for the incredible trials faced every day…
