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| Human trafficking: stories from the frontline | Human trafficking: stories from the frontline |
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| Friday is world anti-slavery day, dedicated to raising awareness of people trapped in forced labour, manifestations of which are often referred to as modern-day slavery. To mark the day, we asked campaigners and activists around the world to nominate examples of campaigns or individuals that have had a positive impact on fighting human trafficking. | Friday is world anti-slavery day, dedicated to raising awareness of people trapped in forced labour, manifestations of which are often referred to as modern-day slavery. To mark the day, we asked campaigners and activists around the world to nominate examples of campaigns or individuals that have had a positive impact on fighting human trafficking. |
| The Nepali trade union federation – ensuring safe migration | The Nepali trade union federation – ensuring safe migration |
| Vittorio Longhi says: In Nepal the majority of migrants move through private recruitment agencies. These have offices throughout the country, even in the remotest areas, in the countryside, where they take advantage of ignorance and naivety. Contracts often turn out to be bogus or will tie someone to high-debt burden or labour they are forced to accept. | Vittorio Longhi says: In Nepal the majority of migrants move through private recruitment agencies. These have offices throughout the country, even in the remotest areas, in the countryside, where they take advantage of ignorance and naivety. Contracts often turn out to be bogus or will tie someone to high-debt burden or labour they are forced to accept. |
| In 2008 the General Federation of Nepalese Trade Unions (Gefont) started the safe migration campaign, sending representatives from village to village to provide information on the safest way to emigrate. | In 2008 the General Federation of Nepalese Trade Unions (Gefont) started the safe migration campaign, sending representatives from village to village to provide information on the safest way to emigrate. |
| ''We cannot stop this flow of migrants leaving, because our economy is too weak and we depend on remittances," says the general secretary of Gefont, Umesh Upadhyaya, "but we must do what we can to make work safe.'' | ''We cannot stop this flow of migrants leaving, because our economy is too weak and we depend on remittances," says the general secretary of Gefont, Umesh Upadhyaya, "but we must do what we can to make work safe.'' |
| Nepali unions create links with other organisations to accompany their workers. There is a specific agreement with Malaysian wood trade unions so that registered Nepali workers are followed individually. And in Hong Kong the organisation of construction workers has united locals and migrants. | Nepali unions create links with other organisations to accompany their workers. There is a specific agreement with Malaysian wood trade unions so that registered Nepali workers are followed individually. And in Hong Kong the organisation of construction workers has united locals and migrants. |
| Federation of Former Slaves – brick kiln solidarity | Federation of Former Slaves – brick kiln solidarity |
| Kevin Bales says: In the state of Odisha, an estimated 200,000 low-caste and impoverished families are taken to south India each year and enslaved to work at brick kilns for six months. They work up to 15 hours a day and are given food, but no pay, returning to Odisha penniless when the brickmaking season ends. Odisha's perilous economic conditions means it continues to happen each year. | Kevin Bales says: In the state of Odisha, an estimated 200,000 low-caste and impoverished families are taken to south India each year and enslaved to work at brick kilns for six months. They work up to 15 hours a day and are given food, but no pay, returning to Odisha penniless when the brickmaking season ends. Odisha's perilous economic conditions means it continues to happen each year. |
| But this year, some of the workers finally got paid after organising themselves during the off-season. Later this month they will hold a "freedom" convention. | But this year, some of the workers finally got paid after organising themselves during the off-season. Later this month they will hold a "freedom" convention. |
| When the emerging Federation of Former Slaves – themselves former brick kiln workers – heard about this they decided to created a gesture of solidarity and hope. | When the emerging Federation of Former Slaves – themselves former brick kiln workers – heard about this they decided to created a gesture of solidarity and hope. |
| They created a painting that depicts communities getting organised, demanding their rights, and overcoming the agents of slavery. Children painted a tree of freedom, showing employment, health, food, land, human rights and schooling as the fruits of independence . | They created a painting that depicts communities getting organised, demanding their rights, and overcoming the agents of slavery. Children painted a tree of freedom, showing employment, health, food, land, human rights and schooling as the fruits of independence . |
| The villagers of Odisha are just beginning to get organised to resist traffickers and slavery. These inspirational canvases help communicate that those who are now free stand ready to help. | The villagers of Odisha are just beginning to get organised to resist traffickers and slavery. These inspirational canvases help communicate that those who are now free stand ready to help. |
| Stop the Traffick: My advice is to get involved | Stop the Traffick: My advice is to get involved |
| Samuel Fitzgerald says: I started a voluntary role in the research team of Stop the Traffik in 2011. This involved taking part in call-up sessions in the southwest London region. The work involved calling up known so-called massage parlours – we found names and numbers in phoneboxes and the back of local papers – and posing as a potential customer to gain information about the services and more importantly the women and girls working there. | Samuel Fitzgerald says: I started a voluntary role in the research team of Stop the Traffik in 2011. This involved taking part in call-up sessions in the southwest London region. The work involved calling up known so-called massage parlours – we found names and numbers in phoneboxes and the back of local papers – and posing as a potential customer to gain information about the services and more importantly the women and girls working there. |
| Sometimes the results were vague, but more often than not they were shocking to volunteers not used to such scenarios or conversations. Any indications that trafficking was potentially being used or encouraged would be sent to the relevant authorities. | Sometimes the results were vague, but more often than not they were shocking to volunteers not used to such scenarios or conversations. Any indications that trafficking was potentially being used or encouraged would be sent to the relevant authorities. |
| I was amazed by the devotion and resilience of both the permanent and voluntary members of the organisation. The process also opened my eyes to a side of living in a big city I and perhaps most people would otherwise overlook. | I was amazed by the devotion and resilience of both the permanent and voluntary members of the organisation. The process also opened my eyes to a side of living in a big city I and perhaps most people would otherwise overlook. |
| The Salvation Army – repatriating trafficked children in Malawi | The Salvation Army – repatriating trafficked children in Malawi |
| Alec Leggat says: In Malawi, children as young as 10 can be trafficked to work long hours on farms as house girls or in local bars. This can often lead to prostitution. Boys working on farms tend large herds of cattle for 10-hour shifts. They are fed one meal of maize porridge a day, not clothed properly and don't go to school. They don't get paid. | Alec Leggat says: In Malawi, children as young as 10 can be trafficked to work long hours on farms as house girls or in local bars. This can often lead to prostitution. Boys working on farms tend large herds of cattle for 10-hour shifts. They are fed one meal of maize porridge a day, not clothed properly and don't go to school. They don't get paid. |
| In 2006 the Salvation Army set up a residential centre in Mchinji for children rescued from exploitative labour | In 2006 the Salvation Army set up a residential centre in Mchinji for children rescued from exploitative labour |
| For a few months at the centre they attend the local school, live in a caring environment, play with their peers and prepare to be reunited with their family. Children learn vocational skills such as bike maintenance, tailoring, carpentry and gardening. These skills help them become productive members of their family when they return home, reducing the likelihood they will be trafficked again. | For a few months at the centre they attend the local school, live in a caring environment, play with their peers and prepare to be reunited with their family. Children learn vocational skills such as bike maintenance, tailoring, carpentry and gardening. These skills help them become productive members of their family when they return home, reducing the likelihood they will be trafficked again. |
| Community development officers recruit teams of volunteers to raise awareness and report cases of children suspected of being trafficked. As a result of sensitisation to child trafficking, village heads introduced new rules – enforced by the fine of a chicken – to deter parents from allowing children to be trafficked. | Community development officers recruit teams of volunteers to raise awareness and report cases of children suspected of being trafficked. As a result of sensitisation to child trafficking, village heads introduced new rules – enforced by the fine of a chicken – to deter parents from allowing children to be trafficked. |
| Anti-slavery International – Niger School project | Anti-slavery International – Niger School project |
| Jakub Sobik says: Anti-Slavery International and its Nigerian partner organisation Timidria provide education in communities that recently emerged from slavery in six remote villages in northern Niger. | Jakub Sobik says: Anti-Slavery International and its Nigerian partner organisation Timidria provide education in communities that recently emerged from slavery in six remote villages in northern Niger. |
| Education isn't usually allowed for people from the slave-caste so this is the first time anyone from these communities has had access to formal education. Over 400 children attend the schools. | Education isn't usually allowed for people from the slave-caste so this is the first time anyone from these communities has had access to formal education. Over 400 children attend the schools. |
| Since the schools project began, community leaders have reported that these six villages are now considered to have risen up. The so-called slave-owning masters no longer regard them as under their control or enter the villages. | Since the schools project began, community leaders have reported that these six villages are now considered to have risen up. The so-called slave-owning masters no longer regard them as under their control or enter the villages. |
| Recent school inspection showed an end of year test pass rate of 88% in comparison to the national average pass rate of less than 60%. | Recent school inspection showed an end of year test pass rate of 88% in comparison to the national average pass rate of less than 60%. |
| Students and families are taught of the risks of early and forced marriage, and as a result none of the girls or women from these villages have been forced into marriage or sold as wahaya. | Students and families are taught of the risks of early and forced marriage, and as a result none of the girls or women from these villages have been forced into marriage or sold as wahaya. |
| Ecpat youth group: There are people I can talk to who understand me | Ecpat youth group: There are people I can talk to who understand me |
| Debbie Beadle says: The Ecpat UK youth group is a peer support community of young women and girls who are victims of trafficking in the UK. The group meet on a weekly basis. This helps them build resilience, recover from their experiences and understand their rights. | Debbie Beadle says: The Ecpat UK youth group is a peer support community of young women and girls who are victims of trafficking in the UK. The group meet on a weekly basis. This helps them build resilience, recover from their experiences and understand their rights. |
| Jackie was trafficked from Nigeria for sexual exploitation when she was 14. She was controlled through the use of juju, a traditional west African belief, which involved some of her blood and hair being taken in a terrifying ceremony performed by a witch doctor. Jackie was forced to have sex with adult men when she was brought to the UK. The false documents she was using led to her arrest by police at the airport en route to Spain where her trafficker was intending to re-exploit her. | Jackie was trafficked from Nigeria for sexual exploitation when she was 14. She was controlled through the use of juju, a traditional west African belief, which involved some of her blood and hair being taken in a terrifying ceremony performed by a witch doctor. Jackie was forced to have sex with adult men when she was brought to the UK. The false documents she was using led to her arrest by police at the airport en route to Spain where her trafficker was intending to re-exploit her. |
| Jackie was referred to social services and joined the Ecpat UK youth group. At first Jackie was very traumatised and scared of everybody. She was also very frightened of the juju curse she believed she was under. By coming to the youth group she met other young people who had been through a similar experience to her. | Jackie was referred to social services and joined the Ecpat UK youth group. At first Jackie was very traumatised and scared of everybody. She was also very frightened of the juju curse she believed she was under. By coming to the youth group she met other young people who had been through a similar experience to her. |
| By learning from others in the group Jackie became more confident. She agreed to work with the police and testify against her trafficker who was sentenced to a long spell in prison. Jackie is now a lot happier, she is in college studying social work and is working part-time. Jackie says: "I feel happy when I come to the group. I feel comfortable and there are people I can talk to who understand me" | By learning from others in the group Jackie became more confident. She agreed to work with the police and testify against her trafficker who was sentenced to a long spell in prison. Jackie is now a lot happier, she is in college studying social work and is working part-time. Jackie says: "I feel happy when I come to the group. I feel comfortable and there are people I can talk to who understand me" |
| Kalayaan – the original UK overseas domestic worker visa | Kalayaan – the original UK overseas domestic worker visa |
| Kate Roberts says: Migrant domestic workers have historically and internationally been recognised as vulnerable to abuse. At Kalayaan we often see workers, mainly women, who are paid little or nothing for years yet who have been working seven days a week for more than 16 hours a day. They are hit or verbally abused for a small mistake. They do the work because they can't see any other way for their families back home to survive. | Kate Roberts says: Migrant domestic workers have historically and internationally been recognised as vulnerable to abuse. At Kalayaan we often see workers, mainly women, who are paid little or nothing for years yet who have been working seven days a week for more than 16 hours a day. They are hit or verbally abused for a small mistake. They do the work because they can't see any other way for their families back home to survive. |
| For 10 years until 2012 the UK had a system of protection for migrant domestic workers in place, of which we were rightly proud; this was the original Overseas Domestic Worker visa. It allowed migrant domestic workers to change employers and if they had a full-time job offer as a domestic worker in a different household, to apply to renew their visa. It worked well. When domestic workers came to Kalayaan having escaped, they were often dressed poorly for the weather, without their passports and holding only a plastic bag with all their belongings. We could find a way to support them, help them report abuse to the police, move on and rebuild their lives. | For 10 years until 2012 the UK had a system of protection for migrant domestic workers in place, of which we were rightly proud; this was the original Overseas Domestic Worker visa. It allowed migrant domestic workers to change employers and if they had a full-time job offer as a domestic worker in a different household, to apply to renew their visa. It worked well. When domestic workers came to Kalayaan having escaped, they were often dressed poorly for the weather, without their passports and holding only a plastic bag with all their belongings. We could find a way to support them, help them report abuse to the police, move on and rebuild their lives. |
| But now it has changed for the worse. The protections were removed in April 2012. Now migrant domestic workers enter on a six-month, non-renewable visa and are prohibited from changing employers. Domestic workers who escape on this visa have few options and as immigration advisers we have to tell them this. Numbers coming to us have dropped as workers disappear underground, vulnerable to further exploitation. | But now it has changed for the worse. The protections were removed in April 2012. Now migrant domestic workers enter on a six-month, non-renewable visa and are prohibited from changing employers. Domestic workers who escape on this visa have few options and as immigration advisers we have to tell them this. Numbers coming to us have dropped as workers disappear underground, vulnerable to further exploitation. |
| Eaves Poppy Family and Reunification Project | |
| Suzanne Thompson says: The Poppy Project was set up in 2010 after increasingly receiving referrals of trafficked women who were pregnant or who had a young child, sometimes as a result of rape during trafficking. While women may see their pregnancy as the chance for a new beginning and a reason to keep going, trafficked women frequently suffer from complex post-traumatic stress disorder and chronic depression. This can impact on their ability to parent and bond with their child. The project has dedicated workers who offer one-to-one support, group workshops and social events to mothers. Through these the women learn to connect and empathise with their child through play sessions, art therapy, discussions, videos and writing. | |
| Some mothers who were trafficked may have been torn apart from their children and may have had limited contact for many months and often years. | Some mothers who were trafficked may have been torn apart from their children and may have had limited contact for many months and often years. |
| Reunification workers assist women in bringing their child to join them in the UK, and supports the process of rebuilding their relationship. We recently reunited a woman who had not seen her child for 10 years. Her daughter is now a young mother of her own and though Fatima see challenges ahead, she said of the reunification: "She is my daughter, I am her mother but we don't know each other … it took Poppy a long time to get us together – two years we were trying to get her to me. I am so happy." | Reunification workers assist women in bringing their child to join them in the UK, and supports the process of rebuilding their relationship. We recently reunited a woman who had not seen her child for 10 years. Her daughter is now a young mother of her own and though Fatima see challenges ahead, she said of the reunification: "She is my daughter, I am her mother but we don't know each other … it took Poppy a long time to get us together – two years we were trying to get her to me. I am so happy." |
| Some names have been changed | |
| Join the conversation | Join the conversation |
| Do you think global initiatives work or are community approaches more successful to disrupt trafficking? Can we really hope to fight anti-slavery without addressing development issues first? We'd also like to hear what you have done to mark anti-slavery day. | Do you think global initiatives work or are community approaches more successful to disrupt trafficking? Can we really hope to fight anti-slavery without addressing development issues first? We'd also like to hear what you have done to mark anti-slavery day. |
| Add your thoughts in the comment thread below. You can also contribute on Twitter @GdnDevelopment or using the hashtag #modernslavery. As always, if you have any problems posting a comment, or would prefer to comment anonymously, email us at development@theguardian.com and we'll add your views to the thread. | Add your thoughts in the comment thread below. You can also contribute on Twitter @GdnDevelopment or using the hashtag #modernslavery. As always, if you have any problems posting a comment, or would prefer to comment anonymously, email us at development@theguardian.com and we'll add your views to the thread. |
| This article was amended on 21 October 2013 to correct the name of the Eaves Poppy Family and Reunification Project. We also stated that Eaves was previously known as the Poppy project. We now know this is not the case. | |
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