30th July marked World Day Against Trafficking in Persons. Established by the United Nation, the purpose of this day purpose of it is to raise awareness of human trafficking, and to encourage governments to take steps to protect the rights of victim/survivors.
Human trafficking in the UK
Human trafficking not uncommon. In a report dated 8th December 2023, the UK government estimated that there are at least 100,000 victims of modern slavery and human trafficking in the UK. A 2022 report by the International Labour Organisation (ILO), IOM and the Walk Free Foundation (WFF) estimates that worldwide in 2021, 50 million people were victims of modern slavery on any given day.
Rights-based interventions and international co-operation is needed to end modern slavery and human trafficking. We also believe that significant changes are needed to the treatment of victim/survivors in the UK. At Hibiscus, we call for guaranteeing that all Black and minoritised migrant women have access to good support and to genuine justice (including representation where needed). In practice, we believe that victim/survivors of trafficking in the UK are being catastrophically failed by the absence of safe routes for those seeking asylum, failures to identify potential victim/survivors of trafficking, criminalisation, detention, deportation, failure to investigate allegations of trafficking, lack of access to legal aid, fear generated by hostile immigration policies and legislation, lack of capacity amongst first responders, slow decision times, and inadequate support. This list is not exhaustive.
How we marked the day
We believe that people who are victims of trafficking should be treated with respect and care, and provided with all the support they need to recover from what they have been through. This should not just include the urgent support needed when someone escapes from their traffickers but extend to supporting them in rebuilding their lives and empowering them to thrive.
To mark World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, we invited our service user to a zine making workshop in our Women’s Centre. We started by discussing the meaning of the day and the things victim/survivors of trafficking need to recover from their experiences and to reclaim their lives. We agreed that being safe, feeling cared for, and having a home was a good basis for recovery so used this as the theme for our zines.
At the end of the event, we shared some food and each woman presented their finished zine to the group. The results were beautiful, expressive and thought provoking. The fact that each interpretation of the theme was completely different reflected the need for support to be personalised and women centred. We, as a support service, learn from our service users. Those with the power to shape policy must do the same.