Empowerment of survivors of human trafficking and sexual exploitation and their impact on the fight against trafficking
Date of Meeting: 23 March 2021
Meeting Organizer: United Justice Justicia Unida, Rescue: Freedom, Emargi, Escuela Abolicionista Internacional, Comisión Unidos Vs Trata, Alas Abiertas, Corporación Anne Frank, Alika Kinan Fundación, Willow International
ISJC Staff Present: Ursula van Nieuwenhuijzen-Maris
Reporter: Ursula van Nieuwenhuijzen-Maris
Which SDG does this topic cover? 5 Gender Equality, 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
Type of meeting: Commission on the Status of Women Side Event
Brief summary of presentation of information made
Six survivors of human trafficking speak about their empowerment process and the impact they are having in the fight against trafficking.
- The importance of not speaking about victims, but survivors; they have a voice that needs to be heard, they are experts in human trafficking. A call to governments to not see them as feminists, but as people who contribute to justice. Survivors should be asked for political decisions to improve criminal policies.
- Colombia: Many years of conflict due to drug trafficking. People have to move, migration makes people, especially women, vulnerable for human trafficking. At the moment we see this in Venezuela. In a conflict there is little support from the government.
- One woman (United Justice – Justicia Unida) told about how she was forced into sexual and criminal exploitation. When she came out of jail, her greatest empowerment was her mother who unconditionally believed in her. She emphasised how important it is to believe in survivors, before they even believe in themselves, to help them to dream again.
- United Justice – Justicia Unida believes in prevention; a lack of food is the first thing that makes people vulnerable, this organisation provides basic opportunities to prevent people from falling in the hands of traffickers (Venezuela).
- Another woman (Willow International) told about how she was trafficked from Uganda to China and forced into prostitution. She then first realised she had become a victim of trafficking, until that moment she didn’t know what trafficking was. She was befriended to the couple that trafficked her, this resulted in difficulties to trust other people.
What was of particular significance to share with The Salvation Army globally?
Highlights the importance of raising awareness of human trafficking, in order that people earlier recognise the tactics that traffickers use and the importance of having staff and volunteers trained on human trafficking.
Tags: SDG16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions, SDG5: Gender Equality