Being A Survivor Advocate

Evelyne Adhiambo John, Purity Mbogo, Catherine Muturi, Mercy Njeru, Margaret Njoroge & Brenda Odhiambo | September 22 | 9:45-10:45 am

Topic: Experience, International | Knowledge Level: Advanced

The presenters are Kenyan Human Rights Activists who experienced human trafficking. They formed the first HAART Survivor Advocate Group. They rose up to fight human trafficking with an interest to fight the traffickers and bring survivors’ perspectives to the movement. They are active as facilitators, research consultants, and trained paralegals. In this presentation, they reflect on their experiences as Survivor Advocates in the Anti-Trafficking Movement and on forming a more inclusive movement. The activists in this group met and started to network while or after they were in programs by HAART – Awareness Against Human Trafficking, a Kenyan NGO offering holistic support to survivors of human trafficking. After a certain time, they decided to take part in HAART’s Survivor Leadership Program. In this presentation, they share their perspective on chances and challenges they have encountered as Survivor Advocates. Based on examples of their work, they encourage other survivors of human trafficking to join the movement and give recommendations to organizations who wish to become more inclusive for survivors.

Presentation Objectives:

· Encourage survivors to join the movement

· Give recommendations to organizations for survivor inclusion

About the Presenters

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Evelyne Adhiambo John

Evelyne Adhiambo John realized that she could mobilize people in the community against human trafficking based on her two years of lived experience in Saudi Arabia. As a survivor advocate, her aim is to make people aware of their rights.

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Purity Mbogo

Purity Mbogo is a survivor advocate and facilitator on human rights. She was a victim of human trafficking for several years in different countries. Despite all that, she is a happy and smiling activist. She is currently a co- spokesperson of the HAART Kenya Survivor Advocate Group.

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Catherine Muturi

Catherine Muturi is a survivor advocate and an activist in Kenya. As a survivor of human trafficking, her aim is to support and advocate for others with similar experiences. She has engaged in different communities, school visits, campaigns, road shows and conferences to create awareness and prevent human trafficking.

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Mercy Njeru

Mercy Njeru is enthusiastic, confident, and articulate in her advocacy for survivors of human trafficking. She is an activist with lived experience with an urge to fight human trafficking and help other victims. Her vision is that through creating awareness, the world will be a better place.

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Margaret Njoroge

Margaret Njoroge is a survivor advocate engaging with communities and assisting survivors. She has experienced human trafficking in the Gulf for several years and wants to make the world free from modern slavery by reaching people and creating awareness. She is a founding member of HAART Kenya Survivor Advocates Group.

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Brenda Odhiambo

Brenda Odhiambo has a vision to create safe spaces for survivors that encourage and unify them in the fight against human trafficking. She is a survivor advocate, research consultant, and a commended speaker. Currently, she is a co-spokesperson of HAART Kenya Survivor Advocates Group.

2023Anna SchrammSeptember 22, 2023Evelyne John, Purity Mbogo, Catherine Muturi, Mercy Njeru, Margaret Njoroge & Brenda Odhiambo22:9:45