An Occupational Justice Perspective in the Fight Against Human Trafficking: Lessons Learned from Research and Advocacy
Emma George, PhD, MPH, MHID, BAppSc(OT) | September 22 | 10:15-11:15 am
Topic: Healthcare, Research | Knowledge Level: Intermediate
Occupational therapy can contribute to recovery from exploitation through occupation-based approaches to recovery that promote health and wellbeing (George, 2019; World Federation of Occupational Therapists, 2010), with participation in activities of everyday life being the main goal. In this emerging area of practice, occupational therapists’ roles include the remediation of physical functions, modifications of activities, the facilitation of participation, and managing contextual factors (Cerny, 2016; Gorman & Hatkevich, 2016; Layton, 2014; Thompson, 2017; Trimboli et al., 2019), as survivors of exploitation reclaim their rights of meaningful occupation, health, and wellbeing. In addition, there is emerging dialogue regarding the occupational injustices of exploitation, which include experiences of marginalization, imbalance, deprivation, and alienation where people who are trafficked are over occupied with activities that are exploitative or lack meaning and purpose, or when people are prevented from engagement in meaningful activity (George & Stanley, 2018). In this presentation, the findings of 3 studies are discussed. The first explores the challenges facing service providers in Australia working with survivors of trafficking (George et al., 2018). The second highlights the occupational injustices of human trafficking using international case studies (George & Stanley, 2018). The third highlights the gap in evidence for occupational therapy in recovery and calls for global collaboration between clinicians and researchers (George & Stanhope, 2020). Finally, a reflection on the importance of advocacy shows how the criminal justice system can respond fairly to the needs of survivors.
Presentation Objectives:
· Highlight the occupational injustices of human trafficking
· Explore the role of occupational therapy in the recovery from exploitation
· Promote the importance of advocacy in the fight against human trafficking