diff --git a/mayan/apps/acls/models.py b/mayan/apps/acls/models.py
index 3e7cc833ff..e580c980e0 100644
--- a/mayan/apps/acls/models.py
+++ b/mayan/apps/acls/models.py
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ import logging
 from django.contrib.contenttypes.fields import GenericForeignKey
 from django.contrib.contenttypes.models import ContentType
 from django.db import models
-from django.utils.encoding import python_2_unicode_compatible
+from django.utils.encoding import force_text, python_2_unicode_compatible
 from django.utils.translation import ugettext_lazy as _
 
 from permissions.models import Role, StoredPermission
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ class AccessControlList(models.Model):
 
     def get_permission_titles(self):
         result = ', '.join(
-            [unicode(permission) for permission in self.permissions.all()]
+            [force_text(permission) for permission in self.permissions.all()]
         )
 
         return result or _('None')
diff --git a/mayan/apps/acls/views.py b/mayan/apps/acls/views.py
index 4e6747b432..b2913d940a 100644
--- a/mayan/apps/acls/views.py
+++ b/mayan/apps/acls/views.py
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ from django.contrib.contenttypes.models import ContentType
 from django.core.urlresolvers import reverse
 from django.http import Http404, HttpResponseRedirect
 from django.shortcuts import get_object_or_404
+from django.utils.encoding import force_text
 from django.utils.translation import ugettext_lazy as _
 
 from common.views import (
@@ -156,7 +157,7 @@ class ACLPermissionsView(AssignRemoveView):
 
         for namespace, permissions in itertools.groupby(entries, lambda entry: entry.namespace):
             permission_options = [
-                (unicode(permission.pk), permission) for permission in permissions
+                (force_text(permission.pk), permission) for permission in permissions
             ]
             results.append(
                 (PermissionNamespace.get(namespace), permission_options)
diff --git a/mayan/apps/checkouts/api_views.py b/mayan/apps/checkouts/api_views.py
index 6264dfc4a4..f41e76b0e4 100644
--- a/mayan/apps/checkouts/api_views.py
+++ b/mayan/apps/checkouts/api_views.py
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
 import pytz
 
 from django.shortcuts import get_object_or_404
+from django.utils.encoding import force_text
 
 from rest_framework import generics, status
 from rest_framework.response import Response
@@ -76,7 +77,7 @@ class APICheckedoutDocumentListView(generics.ListCreateAPIView):
                 )
             except Exception as exception:
                 return Response(
-                    data={'exception': unicode(exception)},
+                    data={'exception': force_text(exception)},
                     status=status.HTTP_400_BAD_REQUEST
                 )
 
diff --git a/mayan/apps/checkouts/exceptions.py b/mayan/apps/checkouts/exceptions.py
index 168090eed6..f5452e660c 100644
--- a/mayan/apps/checkouts/exceptions.py
+++ b/mayan/apps/checkouts/exceptions.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 from __future__ import unicode_literals
 
+from django.utils.encoding import python_2_unicode_compatible
 from django.utils.translation import ugettext
 
 
@@ -17,11 +18,12 @@ class DocumentNotCheckedOut(DocumentCheckoutError):
     pass
 
 
+@python_2_unicode_compatible
 class DocumentAlreadyCheckedOut(DocumentCheckoutError):
     """
     Raised when trying to checkout an already checkedout document
     """
-    def __unicode__(self):
+    def __str__(self):
         return ugettext('Document already checked out.')
 
 
diff --git a/mayan/apps/checkouts/models.py b/mayan/apps/checkouts/models.py
index 3ab39c28d3..9830154868 100644
--- a/mayan/apps/checkouts/models.py
+++ b/mayan/apps/checkouts/models.py
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ from django.conf import settings
 from django.core.exceptions import ValidationError
 from django.core.urlresolvers import reverse
 from django.db import models
-from django.utils.encoding import python_2_unicode_compatible
+from django.utils.encoding import force_text, python_2_unicode_compatible
 from django.utils.timezone import now
 from django.utils.translation import ugettext_lazy as _
 
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ class DocumentCheckout(models.Model):
     objects = DocumentCheckoutManager()
 
     def __str__(self):
-        return unicode(self.document)
+        return force_text(self.document)
 
     def clean(self):
         if self.expiration_datetime < now():
diff --git a/mayan/apps/common/classes.py b/mayan/apps/common/classes.py
index 03ed9f5331..d6ce37a3fe 100644
--- a/mayan/apps/common/classes.py
+++ b/mayan/apps/common/classes.py
@@ -3,9 +3,11 @@ from __future__ import unicode_literals
 from django.apps import apps
 from django.core.urlresolvers import reverse
 from django.db import models
+from django.utils.encoding import force_text, python_2_unicode_compatible
 from django.utils.translation import ugettext
 
 
+@python_2_unicode_compatible
 class Collection(object):
     _registry = []
 
@@ -22,8 +24,8 @@ class Collection(object):
         self._order = order or 99
         self.__class__._registry.append(self)
 
-    def __unicode__(self):
-        return unicode(self.label)
+    def __str__(self):
+        return force_text(self.label)
 
     def resolve(self):
         self.children = self._get_children()
@@ -61,6 +63,7 @@ class DashboardWidget(object):
         self.__class__._registry.append(self)
 
 
+@python_2_unicode_compatible
 class ModelAttribute(object):
     __registry = {}
 
@@ -98,7 +101,7 @@ class ModelAttribute(object):
         for count, attribute in enumerate(cls.get_for(model, type_names), 1):
             result.append(
                 '{}) {}'.format(
-                    count, unicode(attribute.get_display(show_name=True))
+                    count, force_text(attribute.get_display(show_name=True))
                 )
             )
 
@@ -112,9 +115,9 @@ class ModelAttribute(object):
                 self.name if show_name else self.label, self.description
             )
         else:
-            return unicode(self.name if show_name else self.label)
+            return force_text(self.name if show_name else self.label)
 
-    def __unicode__(self):
+    def __str__(self):
         return self.get_display()
 
     def __init__(self, model, name, label=None, description=None, type_name=None):
@@ -154,6 +157,7 @@ class MissingItem(object):
         self.__class__._registry.append(self)
 
 
+@python_2_unicode_compatible
 class Filter(object):
     _registry = {}
 
@@ -175,8 +179,8 @@ class Filter(object):
 
         self.__class__._registry[self.slug] = self
 
-    def __unicode__(self):
-        return unicode(self.label)
+    def __str__(self):
+        return force_text(self.label)
 
     def get_queryset(self, user):
         AccessControlList = apps.get_model(
diff --git a/mayan/apps/common/generics.py b/mayan/apps/common/generics.py
index 064b5f7622..b4dd86c7a0 100644
--- a/mayan/apps/common/generics.py
+++ b/mayan/apps/common/generics.py
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ from django.conf import settings
 from django.contrib import messages
 from django.contrib.contenttypes.models import ContentType
 from django.http import HttpResponseRedirect
+from django.utils.encoding import force_text
 from django.utils.translation import ugettext_lazy as _
 from django.views.generic import (
     FormView as DjangoFormView, DetailView, TemplateView
@@ -56,7 +57,7 @@ class AssignRemoveView(ExtraContextMixin, ViewPermissionCheckMixin, ObjectPermis
         results = []
         for choice in choices:
             ct = ContentType.objects.get_for_model(choice)
-            label = unicode(choice)
+            label = force_text(choice)
 
             results.append(('%s,%s' % (ct.model, choice.pk), '%s' % (label)))
 
diff --git a/mayan/apps/common/models.py b/mayan/apps/common/models.py
index 91168072fb..84a1f61f19 100644
--- a/mayan/apps/common/models.py
+++ b/mayan/apps/common/models.py
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ from pytz import common_timezones
 
 from django.conf import settings
 from django.db import models
-from django.utils.encoding import python_2_unicode_compatible
+from django.utils.encoding import force_text, python_2_unicode_compatible
 from django.utils.translation import ugettext_lazy as _
 
 from .runtime import shared_storage_backend
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ class SharedUploadedFile(models.Model):
         return self.filename
 
     def save(self, *args, **kwargs):
-        self.filename = unicode(self.file)
+        self.filename = force_text(self.file)
         super(SharedUploadedFile, self).save(*args, **kwargs)
 
     def delete(self, *args, **kwargs):
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ class UserLocaleProfile(models.Model):
     )
 
     def __str__(self):
-        return unicode(self.user)
+        return force_text(self.user)
 
     class Meta:
         verbose_name = _('User locale profile')
diff --git a/mayan/apps/common/templatetags/common_tags.py b/mayan/apps/common/templatetags/common_tags.py
index 70881111c9..2cb3733b73 100644
--- a/mayan/apps/common/templatetags/common_tags.py
+++ b/mayan/apps/common/templatetags/common_tags.py
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import sh
 from django.conf import settings
 from django.template import Context, Library
 from django.template.loader import get_template
+from django.utils.encoding import force_text
 
 import mayan
 
@@ -101,4 +102,4 @@ def build():
 
 @register.filter
 def get_type(value):
-    return unicode(type(value))
+    return force_text(type(value))
diff --git a/mayan/apps/common/utils.py b/mayan/apps/common/utils.py
index fb006f6d57..e24404368c 100644
--- a/mayan/apps/common/utils.py
+++ b/mayan/apps/common/utils.py
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ from django.conf import settings
 from django.core.urlresolvers import resolve as django_resolve
 from django.urls.base import get_script_prefix
 from django.utils.datastructures import MultiValueDict
+from django.utils.encoding import force_text
 from django.utils.http import urlquote as django_urlquote
 from django.utils.http import urlencode as django_urlencode
 
@@ -136,7 +137,7 @@ def return_attrib(obj, attrib, arguments=None):
         if settings.DEBUG:
             return 'Attribute error: %s; %s' % (attrib, exception)
         else:
-            return unicode(exception)
+            return force_text(exception)
 
 
 def urlquote(link=None, get=None):
diff --git a/mayan/apps/common/widgets.py b/mayan/apps/common/widgets.py
index 0355973315..b9a402f7c3 100644
--- a/mayan/apps/common/widgets.py
+++ b/mayan/apps/common/widgets.py
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ from __future__ import unicode_literals
 
 from django import forms
 from django.forms.utils import flatatt
-from django.utils.encoding import force_unicode, force_text
+from django.utils.encoding import force_text
 from django.utils.html import conditional_escape, format_html
 from django.utils.safestring import mark_safe
 from django.utils.translation import ugettext_lazy as _
@@ -122,7 +122,7 @@ class TextAreaDiv(forms.widgets.Widget):
             value = ''
 
         flat_attrs = flatatt(self.build_attrs(attrs, name=name))
-        content = conditional_escape(force_unicode(value))
+        content = conditional_escape(force_text(value))
         result = '<pre%s>%s</pre>' % (flat_attrs, content)
         return mark_safe(result)
 
diff --git a/mayan/apps/converter/apps.py b/mayan/apps/converter/apps.py
index a04056c761..f742adc89a 100644
--- a/mayan/apps/converter/apps.py
+++ b/mayan/apps/converter/apps.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 from __future__ import unicode_literals
 
+from django.utils.encoding import force_text
 from django.utils.translation import ugettext_lazy as _
 
 from common import MayanAppConfig, menu_object, menu_sidebar
@@ -26,7 +27,7 @@ class ConverterApp(MayanAppConfig):
         SourceColumn(source=Transformation, label=_('Order'), attribute='order')
         SourceColumn(
             source=Transformation, label=_('Transformation'),
-            func=lambda context: unicode(context['object'])
+            func=lambda context: force_text(context['object'])
         )
         SourceColumn(
             source=Transformation, label=_('Arguments'), attribute='arguments'
diff --git a/mayan/apps/document_indexing/forms.py b/mayan/apps/document_indexing/forms.py
index 8bdf0dd1b7..c44915b2f0 100644
--- a/mayan/apps/document_indexing/forms.py
+++ b/mayan/apps/document_indexing/forms.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
 
 from django import forms
+from django.utils.encoding import force_text
 from django.utils.translation import ugettext_lazy as _
 
 from common.classes import ModelAttribute
@@ -27,7 +28,7 @@ class IndexTemplateNodeForm(forms.ModelForm):
         self.fields['parent'].widget = forms.widgets.HiddenInput()
         self.fields['expression'].help_text = ' '.join(
             [
-                unicode(self.fields['expression'].help_text),
+                force_text(self.fields['expression'].help_text),
                 ModelAttribute.help_text_for(
                     Document, type_names=['indexing']
                 ).replace('\n', '<br>')
diff --git a/mayan/apps/document_indexing/models.py b/mayan/apps/document_indexing/models.py
index 3cced84822..a785669604 100644
--- a/mayan/apps/document_indexing/models.py
+++ b/mayan/apps/document_indexing/models.py
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ import logging
 from django.core.urlresolvers import reverse
 from django.db import models, transaction
 from django.template import Context, Template
-from django.utils.encoding import python_2_unicode_compatible
+from django.utils.encoding import force_text, python_2_unicode_compatible
 from django.utils.translation import ugettext, ugettext_lazy as _
 
 from mptt.fields import TreeForeignKey
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ class Index(models.Model):
     def get_document_types_names(self):
         return ', '.join(
             [
-                unicode(document_type) for document_type in self.document_types.all()
+                force_text(document_type) for document_type in self.document_types.all()
             ] or ['None']
         )
 
@@ -314,9 +314,9 @@ class IndexInstanceNode(MPTTModel):
         result = []
         for node in self.get_ancestors(include_self=True):
             if node.is_root_node():
-                result.append(unicode(self.index()))
+                result.append(force_text(self.index()))
             else:
-                result.append(unicode(node))
+                result.append(force_text(node))
 
         return ' / '.join(result)
 
diff --git a/mayan/apps/document_indexing/widgets.py b/mayan/apps/document_indexing/widgets.py
index 24a44680ee..0e75c4f661 100644
--- a/mayan/apps/document_indexing/widgets.py
+++ b/mayan/apps/document_indexing/widgets.py
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 from __future__ import unicode_literals
 
 from django.apps import apps
+from django.utils.encoding import force_text
 from django.utils.html import mark_safe, escape
 
 
@@ -50,7 +51,7 @@ def node_level(node):
             [
                 '&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;' * node.get_level(),
                 '' if node.is_root_node() else '<i class="fa fa-level-up fa-rotate-90"></i> ',
-                unicode(node)
+                force_text(node)
             ]
         )
     )
diff --git a/mayan/apps/document_signatures/models.py b/mayan/apps/document_signatures/models.py
index fede657b90..0bd47554b1 100644
--- a/mayan/apps/document_signatures/models.py
+++ b/mayan/apps/document_signatures/models.py
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ import uuid
 
 from django.core.urlresolvers import reverse
 from django.db import models
-from django.utils.encoding import python_2_unicode_compatible
+from django.utils.encoding import force_text, python_2_unicode_compatible
 from django.utils.translation import ugettext_lazy as _
 
 from model_utils.managers import InheritanceManager
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 
 def upload_to(*args, **kwargs):
-    return unicode(uuid.uuid4())
+    return force_text(uuid.uuid4())
 
 
 @python_2_unicode_compatible
diff --git a/mayan/apps/document_signatures/views.py b/mayan/apps/document_signatures/views.py
index b556c4601a..8354baf618 100644
--- a/mayan/apps/document_signatures/views.py
+++ b/mayan/apps/document_signatures/views.py
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ from django.core.files import File
 from django.core.urlresolvers import reverse
 from django.http import HttpResponseRedirect
 from django.shortcuts import get_object_or_404
+from django.utils.encoding import force_text
 from django.utils.translation import ugettext_lazy as _
 
 from acls.models import AccessControlList
@@ -284,7 +285,7 @@ class DocumentVersionSignatureDownloadView(SingleObjectDownloadView):
         signature = self.get_object()
 
         return DocumentVersionSignatureDownloadView.VirtualFile(
-            signature.signature_file, name=unicode(signature)
+            signature.signature_file, name=force_text(signature)
         )
 
 
diff --git a/mayan/apps/document_states/models.py b/mayan/apps/document_states/models.py
index 6984cb15d9..05ae0b6581 100644
--- a/mayan/apps/document_states/models.py
+++ b/mayan/apps/document_states/models.py
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ from django.conf import settings
 from django.core.exceptions import PermissionDenied, ValidationError
 from django.core.urlresolvers import reverse
 from django.db import IntegrityError, models
-from django.utils.encoding import python_2_unicode_compatible
+from django.utils.encoding import force_text, python_2_unicode_compatible
 from django.utils.translation import ugettext_lazy as _
 
 from acls.models import AccessControlList
@@ -159,7 +159,7 @@ class WorkflowInstance(models.Model):
     )
 
     def __str__(self):
-        return unicode(self.workflow)
+        return force_text(self.workflow)
 
     def get_absolute_url(self):
         return reverse(
@@ -277,7 +277,7 @@ class WorkflowInstanceLogEntry(models.Model):
     comment = models.TextField(blank=True, verbose_name=_('Comment'))
 
     def __str__(self):
-        return unicode(self.transition)
+        return force_text(self.transition)
 
     class Meta:
         verbose_name = _('Workflow instance log entry')
diff --git a/mayan/apps/documents/api_views.py b/mayan/apps/documents/api_views.py
index a8ae03d5db..6a4c03462c 100644
--- a/mayan/apps/documents/api_views.py
+++ b/mayan/apps/documents/api_views.py
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import logging
 
 from django.http import HttpResponse
 from django.shortcuts import get_object_or_404
+from django.utils.encoding import force_text
 
 from django_downloadview import DownloadMixin, VirtualFile
 from rest_framework import generics, status
@@ -198,7 +199,7 @@ class APIDocumentVersionDownloadView(DownloadMixin, generics.RetrieveAPIView):
 
     def get_file(self):
         instance = self.get_object()
-        return VirtualFile(instance.file, name=unicode(instance))
+        return VirtualFile(instance.file, name=force_text(instance))
 
     def get_serializer_class(self):
         return None
diff --git a/mayan/apps/documents/models.py b/mayan/apps/documents/models.py
index 04325b8ed1..f3ba543f28 100644
--- a/mayan/apps/documents/models.py
+++ b/mayan/apps/documents/models.py
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ from django.conf import settings
 from django.core.files import File
 from django.core.urlresolvers import reverse
 from django.db import models, transaction
-from django.utils.encoding import python_2_unicode_compatible
+from django.utils.encoding import force_text, python_2_unicode_compatible
 from django.utils.timezone import now
 from django.utils.translation import ugettext, ugettext_lazy as _
 
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ def HASH_FUNCTION(data):
 
 
 def UUID_FUNCTION(*args, **kwargs):
-    return unicode(uuid.uuid4())
+    return force_text(uuid.uuid4())
 
 
 @python_2_unicode_compatible
@@ -433,7 +433,7 @@ class DocumentVersion(models.Model):
 
                     self.document.is_stub = False
                     if not self.document.label:
-                        self.document.label = unicode(self.file)
+                        self.document.label = force_text(self.file)
 
                     self.document.save()
         except Exception as exception:
@@ -584,7 +584,7 @@ class DocumentVersion(models.Model):
         """
         if self.exists():
             source = self.open()
-            self.checksum = unicode(HASH_FUNCTION(source.read()))
+            self.checksum = force_text(HASH_FUNCTION(source.read()))
             source.close()
             if save:
                 self.save()
@@ -682,7 +682,7 @@ class DocumentPage(models.Model):
         return _(
             'Page %(page_num)d out of %(total_pages)d of %(document)s'
         ) % {
-            'document': unicode(self.document),
+            'document': force_text(self.document),
             'page_num': self.page_number,
             'total_pages': self.document_version.pages.count()
         }
@@ -881,7 +881,7 @@ class RecentDocument(models.Model):
     objects = RecentDocumentManager()
 
     def __str__(self):
-        return unicode(self.document)
+        return force_text(self.document)
 
     def natural_key(self):
         return self.document.natural_key() + self.user.natural_key()
diff --git a/mayan/apps/documents/serializers.py b/mayan/apps/documents/serializers.py
index 77a5fcf08d..8def99ad0d 100644
--- a/mayan/apps/documents/serializers.py
+++ b/mayan/apps/documents/serializers.py
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 from __future__ import unicode_literals
 
+from django.utils.encoding import force_text
+
 from rest_framework import serializers
 from rest_framework.reverse import reverse
 
@@ -281,7 +283,7 @@ class NewDocumentSerializer(serializers.ModelSerializer):
             description=self.validated_data.get('description', ''),
             document_type=self.validated_data['document_type'],
             label=self.validated_data.get(
-                'label', unicode(self.validated_data['file'])
+                'label', force_text(self.validated_data['file'])
             ),
             language=self.validated_data.get(
                 'language', setting_language.value
diff --git a/mayan/apps/documents/tests/test_views.py b/mayan/apps/documents/tests/test_views.py
index edef13ce5d..4563612a77 100644
--- a/mayan/apps/documents/tests/test_views.py
+++ b/mayan/apps/documents/tests/test_views.py
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ from __future__ import unicode_literals
 
 from django.contrib.contenttypes.models import ContentType
 from django.test import override_settings
+from django.utils.encoding import force_text
 
 from common.tests.test_views import GenericViewTestCase
 from converter.models import Transformation
@@ -482,7 +483,7 @@ class DocumentsViewsTestCase(GenericDocumentViewTestCase):
         )
 
         self.assertContains(
-            response, unicode(self.document.pages.first()), status_code=200
+            response, force_text(self.document.pages.first()), status_code=200
         )
 
 
diff --git a/mayan/apps/documents/views/document_views.py b/mayan/apps/documents/views/document_views.py
index 8820992657..be3bb84833 100644
--- a/mayan/apps/documents/views/document_views.py
+++ b/mayan/apps/documents/views/document_views.py
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ from django.core.exceptions import PermissionDenied
 from django.core.urlresolvers import reverse, reverse_lazy
 from django.http import HttpResponseRedirect
 from django.shortcuts import get_object_or_404
+from django.utils.encoding import force_text
 from django.utils.http import urlencode
 from django.utils.translation import ugettext_lazy as _, ungettext
 
@@ -454,7 +455,7 @@ class DocumentDownloadView(SingleObjectDownloadView):
         if isinstance(item, Document):
             return item.label
         else:
-            return unicode(item)
+            return force_text(item)
 
     def get_document_queryset(self):
         id_list = self.request.GET.get(
diff --git a/mayan/apps/documents/widgets.py b/mayan/apps/documents/widgets.py
index 69f14a543d..90e1695563 100644
--- a/mayan/apps/documents/widgets.py
+++ b/mayan/apps/documents/widgets.py
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ from __future__ import unicode_literals
 
 from django import forms
 from django.core.urlresolvers import reverse
+from django.utils.encoding import force_text
 from django.utils.html import strip_tags
 from django.utils.http import urlencode
 from django.utils.safestring import mark_safe
@@ -308,7 +309,7 @@ class DocumentThumbnailWidget(BaseDocumentThumbnailWidget):
 
 class DocumentPageThumbnailWidget(BaseDocumentThumbnailWidget):
     def get_title(self, instance):
-        return unicode(instance)
+        return force_text(instance)
 
 
 class InteractiveDocumentPageWidget(BaseDocumentThumbnailWidget):
diff --git a/mayan/apps/dynamic_search/api_views.py b/mayan/apps/dynamic_search/api_views.py
index 0932b046e9..9313109b4f 100644
--- a/mayan/apps/dynamic_search/api_views.py
+++ b/mayan/apps/dynamic_search/api_views.py
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 from __future__ import unicode_literals
 
+from django.utils.encoding import force_text
+
 from rest_framework import generics
 from rest_framework.exceptions import ParseError
 
@@ -40,7 +42,7 @@ class APISearchView(SearchModelMixin, generics.ListAPIView):
                 query_string=self.request.GET, user=self.request.user
             )
         except Exception as exception:
-            raise ParseError(unicode(exception))
+            raise ParseError(force_text(exception))
 
         return queryset
 
@@ -83,7 +85,7 @@ class APIAdvancedSearchView(SearchModelMixin, generics.ListAPIView):
                 global_and_search=global_and_search
             )
         except Exception as exception:
-            raise ParseError(unicode(exception))
+            raise ParseError(force_text(exception))
 
         return queryset
 
diff --git a/mayan/apps/dynamic_search/classes.py b/mayan/apps/dynamic_search/classes.py
index bc706fd8bf..20b045c4ce 100644
--- a/mayan/apps/dynamic_search/classes.py
+++ b/mayan/apps/dynamic_search/classes.py
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import re
 
 from django.apps import apps
 from django.db.models import Q
+from django.utils.encoding import force_text
 from django.utils.module_loading import import_string
 from django.utils.translation import ugettext as _
 
@@ -220,7 +221,7 @@ class SearchModel(object):
 
             result_set = result_set | model_result_set
 
-        elapsed_time = unicode(
+        elapsed_time = force_text(
             datetime.datetime.now() - start_time
         ).split(':')[2]
 
diff --git a/mayan/apps/dynamic_search/mixins.py b/mayan/apps/dynamic_search/mixins.py
index a73206d764..631fa219ac 100644
--- a/mayan/apps/dynamic_search/mixins.py
+++ b/mayan/apps/dynamic_search/mixins.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 from __future__ import unicode_literals
 
 from django.http import Http404
+from django.utils.encoding import force_text
 
 from .classes import SearchModel
 
@@ -10,4 +11,4 @@ class SearchModelMixin(object):
         try:
             return SearchModel.get(self.kwargs['search_model'])
         except KeyError as exception:
-            raise Http404(unicode(exception))
+            raise Http404(force_text(exception))
diff --git a/mayan/apps/events/classes.py b/mayan/apps/events/classes.py
index 1cc0ad7df5..c54e7aa0ca 100644
--- a/mayan/apps/events/classes.py
+++ b/mayan/apps/events/classes.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 from __future__ import unicode_literals
 
 from django.apps import apps
+from django.utils.encoding import force_text
 from django.utils.translation import ugettext_lazy as _
 
 from actstream import action
@@ -27,7 +28,7 @@ class Event(object):
         try:
             return cls.get(name=name).label
         except KeyError as exception:
-            return unicode(exception)
+            return force_text(exception)
 
     def __init__(self, name, label):
         self.name = name
diff --git a/mayan/apps/linking/forms.py b/mayan/apps/linking/forms.py
index dad3d424cb..56f0f2195a 100644
--- a/mayan/apps/linking/forms.py
+++ b/mayan/apps/linking/forms.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 from __future__ import unicode_literals
 
 from django import forms
+from django.utils.encoding import force_text
 from django.utils.translation import ugettext_lazy as _
 
 from common.classes import ModelAttribute
@@ -14,7 +15,7 @@ class SmartLinkForm(forms.ModelForm):
         super(SmartLinkForm, self).__init__(*args, **kwargs)
         self.fields['dynamic_label'].help_text = ' '.join(
             [
-                unicode(self.fields['dynamic_label'].help_text),
+                force_text(self.fields['dynamic_label'].help_text),
                 ModelAttribute.help_text_for(
                     Document, type_names=['field', 'related', 'property']
                 ).replace('\n', '<br>')
@@ -36,7 +37,7 @@ class SmartLinkConditionForm(forms.ModelForm):
         )
         self.fields['expression'].help_text = ' '.join(
             [
-                unicode(self.fields['expression'].help_text),
+                force_text(self.fields['expression'].help_text),
                 ModelAttribute.help_text_for(
                     Document, type_names=['field', 'related', 'property']
                 ).replace('\n', '<br>')
diff --git a/mayan/apps/linking/models.py b/mayan/apps/linking/models.py
index 22e599d50d..7b89185370 100644
--- a/mayan/apps/linking/models.py
+++ b/mayan/apps/linking/models.py
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ from __future__ import unicode_literals
 from django.db import models
 from django.db.models import Q
 from django.template import Context, Template
-from django.utils.encoding import python_2_unicode_compatible
+from django.utils.encoding import force_text, python_2_unicode_compatible
 from django.utils.translation import ugettext_lazy as _
 
 from documents.models import Document, DocumentType
@@ -43,7 +43,9 @@ class SmartLink(models.Model):
                 return template.render(context=context)
             except Exception as exception:
                 return _(
-                    'Error generating dynamic label; %s' % unicode(exception)
+                    'Error generating dynamic label; %s' % force_text(
+                        exception
+                    )
                 )
         else:
             return None
diff --git a/mayan/apps/metadata/models.py b/mayan/apps/metadata/models.py
index b6aaeab76e..0fd67c9771 100644
--- a/mayan/apps/metadata/models.py
+++ b/mayan/apps/metadata/models.py
@@ -160,7 +160,7 @@ class DocumentMetadata(models.Model):
     )
 
     def __str__(self):
-        return unicode(self.metadata_type)
+        return force_text(self.metadata_type)
 
     def delete(self, enforce_required=True, *args, **kwargs):
         if enforce_required and self.metadata_type.pk in self.document.document_type.metadata.filter(required=True).values_list('metadata_type', flat=True):
@@ -209,7 +209,7 @@ class DocumentTypeMetadataType(models.Model):
     required = models.BooleanField(default=False, verbose_name=_('Required'))
 
     def __str__(self):
-        return unicode(self.metadata_type)
+        return force_text(self.metadata_type)
 
     class Meta:
         unique_together = ('document_type', 'metadata_type')
diff --git a/mayan/apps/metadata/views.py b/mayan/apps/metadata/views.py
index 8ddc570f1f..f42253180b 100644
--- a/mayan/apps/metadata/views.py
+++ b/mayan/apps/metadata/views.py
@@ -313,7 +313,7 @@ class DocumentMetadataEditView(MultipleObjectFormActionView):
                 if isinstance(error, ValidationError):
                     exception_message = ', '.join(error.messages)
                 else:
-                    exception_message = unicode(error)
+                    exception_message = force_text(error)
 
                 messages.error(
                     self.request, _(
diff --git a/mayan/apps/navigation/classes.py b/mayan/apps/navigation/classes.py
index e1a153d040..1a313d50e3 100644
--- a/mayan/apps/navigation/classes.py
+++ b/mayan/apps/navigation/classes.py
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ from django.core.exceptions import PermissionDenied
 from django.core.urlresolvers import resolve, reverse
 from django.template import VariableDoesNotExist, Variable
 from django.template.defaulttags import URLNode
-from django.utils.encoding import force_text, smart_str, smart_unicode
+from django.utils.encoding import force_text
 from django.utils.http import urlencode, urlquote
 
 from common.utils import return_attrib
@@ -351,11 +351,11 @@ class Link(object):
         # Lets a new link keep the same URL query string of the current URL
         if self.keep_query:
             # Sometimes we are required to remove a key from the URL QS
-            previous_path = smart_unicode(
+            previous_path = force_text(
                 urllib.unquote_plus(
-                    smart_str(
+                    force_text(
                         request.get_full_path()
-                    ) or smart_str(
+                    ) or force_text(
                         request.META.get(
                             'HTTP_REFERER',
                             reverse(settings.LOGIN_REDIRECT_URL)
diff --git a/mayan/apps/ocr/forms.py b/mayan/apps/ocr/forms.py
index 939e19a741..8d1729138c 100644
--- a/mayan/apps/ocr/forms.py
+++ b/mayan/apps/ocr/forms.py
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 from __future__ import unicode_literals
 
 from django import forms
-from django.utils.encoding import force_unicode
+from django.utils.encoding import force_text
 from django.utils.html import conditional_escape
 from django.utils.safestring import mark_safe
 from django.utils.translation import ugettext_lazy as _, ugettext
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ class DocumentContentForm(forms.Form):
             except DocumentPageContent.DoesNotExist:
                 pass
             else:
-                content.append(conditional_escape(force_unicode(page_content)))
+                content.append(conditional_escape(force_text(page_content)))
                 content.append(
                     '\n\n\n<hr/><div class="document-page-content-divider">- %s -</div><hr/>\n\n\n' % (
                         ugettext(
diff --git a/mayan/apps/ocr/models.py b/mayan/apps/ocr/models.py
index 9b9cdf77d1..f0723c4cfe 100644
--- a/mayan/apps/ocr/models.py
+++ b/mayan/apps/ocr/models.py
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 from __future__ import unicode_literals
 
 from django.db import models
-from django.utils.encoding import python_2_unicode_compatible
+from django.utils.encoding import force_text, python_2_unicode_compatible
 from django.utils.translation import ugettext_lazy as _
 
 from documents.models import DocumentPage, DocumentType, DocumentVersion
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ class DocumentVersionOCRError(models.Model):
     result = models.TextField(blank=True, null=True, verbose_name=_('Result'))
 
     def __str__(self):
-        return unicode(self.document_version)
+        return force_text(self.document_version)
 
     class Meta:
         ordering = ('datetime_submitted',)
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ class DocumentPageContent(models.Model):
     content = models.TextField(blank=True, verbose_name=_('Content'))
 
     def __str__(self):
-        return unicode(self.document_page)
+        return force_text(self.document_page)
 
     class Meta:
         verbose_name = _('Document page content')
diff --git a/mayan/apps/ocr/utils.py b/mayan/apps/ocr/utils.py
index 809ae16b83..b2b9d19a03 100644
--- a/mayan/apps/ocr/utils.py
+++ b/mayan/apps/ocr/utils.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 from __future__ import unicode_literals
 
-from django.utils.encoding import force_unicode
+from django.utils.encoding import force_text
 from django.utils.html import conditional_escape
 
 
@@ -11,4 +11,4 @@ def get_document_ocr_content(document):
         except DocumentPageContent.DoesNotExist:
             pass
         else:
-            yield conditional_escape(force_unicode(page_content))
+            yield conditional_escape(force_text(page_content))
diff --git a/mayan/apps/permissions/classes.py b/mayan/apps/permissions/classes.py
index 32cf056d67..7ee6eea93e 100644
--- a/mayan/apps/permissions/classes.py
+++ b/mayan/apps/permissions/classes.py
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import logging
 
 from django.apps import apps
 from django.core.exceptions import PermissionDenied
+from django.utils.encoding import force_text, python_2_unicode_compatible
 from django.utils.translation import ugettext_lazy as _
 
 from .exceptions import InvalidNamespace
@@ -11,6 +12,7 @@ from .exceptions import InvalidNamespace
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 
+@python_2_unicode_compatible
 class PermissionNamespace(object):
     _registry = {}
 
@@ -35,8 +37,8 @@ class PermissionNamespace(object):
         self.permissions = []
         self.__class__._registry[name] = self
 
-    def __unicode__(self):
-        return unicode(self.label)
+    def __str__(self):
+        return force_text(self.label)
 
     def add_permission(self, name, label):
         permission = Permission(namespace=self, name=name, label=label)
@@ -44,6 +46,7 @@ class PermissionNamespace(object):
         return permission
 
 
+@python_2_unicode_compatible
 class Permission(object):
     _permissions = {}
     _stored_permissions_cache = {}
@@ -105,11 +108,8 @@ class Permission(object):
     def __repr__(self):
         return self.pk
 
-    def __unicode__(self):
-        return unicode(self.label)
-
     def __str__(self):
-        return str(self.__unicode__())
+        return force_text(self.label)
 
     @property
     def stored_permission(self):
diff --git a/mayan/apps/permissions/models.py b/mayan/apps/permissions/models.py
index 0099eb2d81..47ffc81912 100644
--- a/mayan/apps/permissions/models.py
+++ b/mayan/apps/permissions/models.py
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ import logging
 from django.contrib.auth.models import Group
 from django.core.urlresolvers import reverse
 from django.db import models
-from django.utils.encoding import python_2_unicode_compatible
+from django.utils.encoding import force_text, python_2_unicode_compatible
 from django.utils.translation import ugettext_lazy as _
 
 from .classes import Permission
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ class StoredPermission(models.Model):
             pass
 
     def __str__(self):
-        return unicode(getattr(self, 'volatile_permission', self.name))
+        return force_text(getattr(self, 'volatile_permission', self.name))
 
     def natural_key(self):
         return (self.namespace, self.name)
diff --git a/mayan/apps/permissions/views.py b/mayan/apps/permissions/views.py
index f04eaf82b0..7722b5df21 100644
--- a/mayan/apps/permissions/views.py
+++ b/mayan/apps/permissions/views.py
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import itertools
 from django.contrib.auth.models import Group
 from django.core.urlresolvers import reverse_lazy
 from django.shortcuts import get_object_or_404
+from django.utils.encoding import force_text
 from django.utils.translation import ugettext_lazy as _
 
 from common.views import (
@@ -61,12 +62,12 @@ class SetupRoleMembersView(AssignRemoveView):
 
     def left_list(self):
         return [
-            (unicode(group.pk), group.name) for group in set(Group.objects.all()) - set(self.get_object().groups.all())
+            (force_text(group.pk), group.name) for group in set(Group.objects.all()) - set(self.get_object().groups.all())
         ]
 
     def right_list(self):
         return [
-            (unicode(group.pk), group.name) for group in self.get_object().groups.all()
+            (force_text(group.pk), group.name) for group in self.get_object().groups.all()
         ]
 
     def remove(self, item):
@@ -102,7 +103,7 @@ class SetupRolePermissionsView(AssignRemoveView):
 
         for namespace, permissions in itertools.groupby(StoredPermission.objects.exclude(id__in=self.get_object().permissions.values_list('pk', flat=True)), lambda entry: entry.namespace):
             permission_options = [
-                (unicode(permission.pk), permission) for permission in permissions
+                (force_text(permission.pk), permission) for permission in permissions
             ]
             results.append(
                 (PermissionNamespace.get(namespace), permission_options)
@@ -114,7 +115,7 @@ class SetupRolePermissionsView(AssignRemoveView):
         results = []
         for namespace, permissions in itertools.groupby(self.get_object().permissions.all(), lambda entry: entry.namespace):
             permission_options = [
-                (unicode(permission.pk), permission) for permission in permissions
+                (force_text(permission.pk), permission) for permission in permissions
             ]
             results.append(
                 (PermissionNamespace.get(namespace), permission_options)
diff --git a/mayan/apps/rest_api/classes.py b/mayan/apps/rest_api/classes.py
index 6a47538bbe..8e359f7108 100644
--- a/mayan/apps/rest_api/classes.py
+++ b/mayan/apps/rest_api/classes.py
@@ -2,9 +2,11 @@ from __future__ import unicode_literals
 
 from django.conf.urls import include, url
 from django.conf import settings
+from django.utils.encoding import force_text, python_2_unicode_compatible
 from django.utils.module_loading import import_string
 
 
+@python_2_unicode_compatible
 class APIEndPoint(object):
     _registry = {}
 
@@ -16,8 +18,8 @@ class APIEndPoint(object):
     def get(cls, name):
         return cls._registry[name]
 
-    def __unicode__(self):
-        return unicode(self.app.name)
+    def __str__(self):
+        return force_text(self.app.name)
 
     def __init__(self, app, version_string, name=None):
         self.app = app
diff --git a/mayan/apps/smart_settings/classes.py b/mayan/apps/smart_settings/classes.py
index c12e50f57b..b7f89c26c8 100644
--- a/mayan/apps/smart_settings/classes.py
+++ b/mayan/apps/smart_settings/classes.py
@@ -9,11 +9,12 @@ import yaml
 from django.apps import apps
 from django.conf import settings
 from django.utils.functional import Promise
-from django.utils.encoding import force_text
+from django.utils.encoding import force_text, python_2_unicode_compatible
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 
+@python_2_unicode_compatible
 class Namespace(object):
     _registry = {}
 
@@ -42,8 +43,8 @@ class Namespace(object):
         for namespace in cls.get_all():
             namespace.invalidate_cache()
 
-    def __unicode__(self):
-        return unicode(self.label)
+    def __str__(self):
+        return force_text(self.label)
 
     def __init__(self, name, label):
         if name in self.__class__._registry:
@@ -63,6 +64,7 @@ class Namespace(object):
             setting.invalidate_cache()
 
 
+@python_2_unicode_compatible
 class Setting(object):
     _registry = {}
 
@@ -89,8 +91,8 @@ class Setting(object):
         namespace.settings.append(self)
         self.__class__._registry[global_name] = self
 
-    def __unicode__(self):
-        return unicode(self.global_name)
+    def __str__(self):
+        return force_text(self.global_name)
 
     def cache_value(self):
         environment_value = os.environ.get('MAYAN_{}'.format(self.global_name))
diff --git a/mayan/apps/sources/classes.py b/mayan/apps/sources/classes.py
index beea517edf..6df53aa478 100644
--- a/mayan/apps/sources/classes.py
+++ b/mayan/apps/sources/classes.py
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ except ImportError:
     from StringIO import StringIO
 
 from django.core.files import File
+from django.utils.encoding import force_text, python_2_unicode_compatible
 
 from converter import TransformationResize, converter_class
 
@@ -39,6 +40,7 @@ class Attachment(File):
         )
 
 
+@python_2_unicode_compatible
 class StagingFile(object):
     """
     Simple class to extend the File class to add preview capabilities
@@ -57,8 +59,8 @@ class StagingFile(object):
                 filename.encode('utf8')
             )
 
-    def __unicode__(self):
-        return unicode(self.filename)
+    def __str__(self):
+        return force_text(self.filename)
 
     def as_file(self):
         return File(
diff --git a/mayan/apps/sources/forms.py b/mayan/apps/sources/forms.py
index 8b555d345e..53fa556139 100644
--- a/mayan/apps/sources/forms.py
+++ b/mayan/apps/sources/forms.py
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ from __future__ import unicode_literals
 import logging
 
 from django import forms
+from django.utils.encoding import force_text
 from django.utils.translation import ugettext
 from django.utils.translation import ugettext_lazy as _
 
@@ -59,7 +60,7 @@ class StagingUploadForm(UploadBaseForm):
 
         try:
             self.fields['staging_file_id'].choices = [
-                (staging_file.encoded_filename, unicode(staging_file)) for staging_file in self.source.get_files()
+                (staging_file.encoded_filename, force_text(staging_file)) for staging_file in self.source.get_files()
             ]
         except Exception as exception:
             logger.error('exception: %s', exception)
diff --git a/mayan/apps/sources/models.py b/mayan/apps/sources/models.py
index e069ad1051..9bd935264f 100644
--- a/mayan/apps/sources/models.py
+++ b/mayan/apps/sources/models.py
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ from django.core.exceptions import ValidationError
 from django.core.files import File
 from django.core.files.base import ContentFile
 from django.db import models, transaction
-from django.utils.encoding import python_2_unicode_compatible
+from django.utils.encoding import force_text, python_2_unicode_compatible
 from django.utils.timezone import now
 from django.utils.translation import ugettext_lazy as _
 
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ class Source(models.Model):
 
     @classmethod
     def class_fullname(cls):
-        return unicode(dict(SOURCE_CHOICES).get(cls.source_type))
+        return force_text(dict(SOURCE_CHOICES).get(cls.source_type))
 
     def __str__(self):
         return '%s' % self.label
@@ -133,7 +133,7 @@ class Source(models.Model):
             try:
                 compressed_file = CompressedFile(file_object)
                 for compressed_file_child in compressed_file.children():
-                    kwargs.update({'label': unicode(compressed_file_child)})
+                    kwargs.update({'label': force_text(compressed_file_child)})
                     self.upload_document(
                         file_object=File(compressed_file_child), **kwargs
                     )
@@ -315,9 +315,9 @@ class StagingFolderSource(InteractiveSource):
 
     def get_preview_size(self):
         dimensions = []
-        dimensions.append(unicode(self.preview_width))
+        dimensions.append(force_text(self.preview_width))
         if self.preview_height:
-            dimensions.append(unicode(self.preview_height))
+            dimensions.append(force_text(self.preview_height))
 
         return DIMENSION_SEPARATOR.join(dimensions)
 
@@ -556,7 +556,7 @@ class EmailBaseModel(IntervalBaseModel):
 
         headers = decode_header(header_text)
         header_sections = [
-            unicode(text, charset or default) for text, charset in headers
+            force_text(text, charset or default) for text, charset in headers
         ]
         return ''.join(header_sections)
 
@@ -740,7 +740,7 @@ class WatchFolderSource(IntervalBaseModel):
     def check_source(self):
         # Force self.folder_path to unicode to avoid os.listdir returning
         # str for non-latin filenames, gh-issue #163
-        for file_name in os.listdir(unicode(self.folder_path)):
+        for file_name in os.listdir(force_text(self.folder_path)):
             full_path = os.path.join(self.folder_path, file_name)
             if os.path.isfile(full_path):
                 with File(file=open(full_path, mode='rb')) as file_object:
diff --git a/mayan/apps/sources/tasks.py b/mayan/apps/sources/tasks.py
index 6d26b7fa8d..b5301668c0 100644
--- a/mayan/apps/sources/tasks.py
+++ b/mayan/apps/sources/tasks.py
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ from django.apps import apps
 from django.contrib.auth import get_user_model
 from django.core.files import File
 from django.db import OperationalError
+from django.utils.encoding import force_text
 from django.utils.translation import ugettext_lazy as _
 
 from mayan.celery import app
@@ -128,8 +129,10 @@ def task_source_handle_upload(self, document_type_id, shared_uploaded_file_id, s
                 for compressed_file_child in compressed_file.children():
                     # TODO: find way to uniquely identify child files
                     # Use filename in the mean time.
-                    if unicode(compressed_file_child) not in skip_list:
-                        kwargs.update({'label': unicode(compressed_file_child)})
+                    if force_text(compressed_file_child) not in skip_list:
+                        kwargs.update(
+                            {'label': force_text(compressed_file_child)}
+                        )
 
                         try:
                             child_shared_uploaded_file = SharedUploadedFile.objects.create(
@@ -153,7 +156,7 @@ def task_source_handle_upload(self, document_type_id, shared_uploaded_file_id, s
                             )
                             return
                         else:
-                            skip_list.append(unicode(compressed_file_child))
+                            skip_list.append(force_text(compressed_file_child))
                             task_upload_document.delay(
                                 shared_uploaded_file_id=child_shared_uploaded_file.pk,
                                 **kwargs
diff --git a/mayan/apps/sources/wizards.py b/mayan/apps/sources/wizards.py
index fb8c58b893..ebdbd263f6 100644
--- a/mayan/apps/sources/wizards.py
+++ b/mayan/apps/sources/wizards.py
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ from __future__ import unicode_literals
 from django.contrib import messages
 from django.core.urlresolvers import reverse
 from django.http import HttpResponseRedirect
+from django.utils.encoding import force_text
 from django.utils.http import urlencode
 from django.utils.translation import ugettext_lazy as _
 
@@ -118,7 +119,7 @@ class DocumentCreateWizard(ViewPermissionCheckMixin, SessionWizardView):
             pass
 
         try:
-            query_dict['tags'] = ([unicode(tag.pk) for tag in self.get_cleaned_data_for_step(STEP_TAGS)['tags']])
+            query_dict['tags'] = ([force_text(tag.pk) for tag in self.get_cleaned_data_for_step(STEP_TAGS)['tags']])
 
         except AttributeError:
             pass
diff --git a/mayan/apps/statistics/classes.py b/mayan/apps/statistics/classes.py
index 31257e6a0e..6c66e231b4 100644
--- a/mayan/apps/statistics/classes.py
+++ b/mayan/apps/statistics/classes.py
@@ -3,12 +3,14 @@ from __future__ import unicode_literals
 import json
 
 from django.apps import apps
+from django.utils.encoding import force_text, python_2_unicode_compatible
 
 from celery.schedules import crontab
 
 from mayan.celery import app
 
 
+@python_2_unicode_compatible
 class StatisticNamespace(object):
     _registry = {}
 
@@ -26,8 +28,8 @@ class StatisticNamespace(object):
         self._statistics = []
         self.__class__._registry[slug] = self
 
-    def __unicode__(self):
-        return unicode(self.label)
+    def __str__(self):
+        return force_text(self.label)
 
     def add_statistic(self, *args, **kwargs):
         statistic = Statistic(*args, **kwargs)
@@ -39,6 +41,7 @@ class StatisticNamespace(object):
         return self._statistics
 
 
+@python_2_unicode_compatible
 class Statistic(object):
     _registry = {}
 
@@ -108,8 +111,8 @@ class Statistic(object):
 
         self.__class__._registry[slug] = self
 
-    def __unicode__(self):
-        return unicode(self.label)
+    def __str__(self):
+        return force_text(self.label)
 
     def execute(self):
         self.store_results(results=self.func())