Survivors and Organizations Working Together Against Human Trafficking: Insights from East and Central Africa
Marta Furlan, PhD; Wanja (Patriciah) Kimani; Radoslaw Malinowski, PhD; Brenda Odhiambo & Dorothee Hasskamp, PhD | September 19 | 9:45-10:45 am
Topic: Research, International | Knowledge Level: Advanced
People who have experienced a human rights violation are the ones who best know its root causes, consequences, implications, and solutions. Therefore, survivors should be at the heart of approaches to combat human trafficking. In fact, research in other human rights fields has documented successful outcomes of survivor inclusion. Free the Slaves and HAART Kenya initiated this research across East and Central Africa to better understand: 1) Which gaps and challenges limit inclusive survivor engagement in the counter trafficking sector? 2) How are organizations currently engaging survivors? and 3) How can organizations in East & Central Africa improve their inclusion of survivors? All presenters were part of the research team. From the start of the research, people with lived experience of trafficking were active as consultants, researchers, and interviewees. The research design followed a trauma-informed approach throughout. Findings and recommendations are based on interviews with 18 survivor advocates and survivor leaders from Cameroon, DRC, Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Uganda, and South Sudan. Additionally, the counter-trafficking organizations they engaged with answered an online survey. The research lead to practical recommendations on how organizations can enhance survivor inclusion. The report also hopes to strengthen and encourage survivors of trafficking, survivor advocates, and leaders in their engagements with organizations. While research and recommendations are particularly informative for survivor advocates/leaders and counter trafficking organizations in Central and East Africa, it may also inspire others who wish to work for human rights more inclusively.
Presentation Objectives:
• Inspire and inform survivors of trafficking, survivor advocates, and leaders in their engagement with organizations
• Share findings and recommendations with organizations and individuals who want to improve and professionalize their survivor engagement
• Describe the inclusive and trauma-informed methodology used for this research