Slavery survivors demand lead role in fight against trafficking

Countries must enable victims of human trafficking to play a key role in programmes and policies to tackle the crime, the first global alliance of survivorsturned-advocates said.

The 21-member International Survivors of Trafficking Advisory Council (Istac) aims to help governments improve their anti-trafficking efforts and ensure they are focused on victims.

The council was set up by the human rights arm of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE)

a watchdog covering 57 member states — amid growing calls for trafficking survivors to be trained as leaders in the movement.

While survivors of modern slavery are often relied upon to share their stories and support other victims, few are given the chance to influence or spearhead anti-trafficking initiatives.

During the virtual launch, speakers ranging from UN and US officials to Britain’s Princess Eugenie — who campaigns on the issue — said the council should inspire countries to ensure such efforts were not only informed by survivors but led by them.

“Engagement of survivors must be substantive and not tokenistic,” OSCE special representative Valiant Richey said.

UN special rapporteur on trafficking, Siobhan Mullally, said survivor-led initiatives were best placed to respond to changing trends, reach out to victims and challenge stigma as the coronavirus pandemic left more people vulnerable globally.

The economic slowdown caused by Covid-19 has made countless people jobless and destitute, while trafficking victims are less likely to be found or receive help, with attention and resources diverted elsewhere, various UN experts have said.

About 25-million people are victims of labour and sex trafficking, according to the UN.

While acknowledging the challenging climate, experts spoke of increased survivor engagement and leadership — from domestic worker alliances to national councils including victims from Albania to Canada.

Last year, a project in India trained 50 female survivors to be campaigners in communities at high risk of modern slavery.

“When we support the growth and leadership development of survivors, we open ourselves to the possibility of a world in which trafficking ceases to exist,” a survivor of sex trafficking and the USbased chair of Istac, Lisa C Williams said.