A frank discussion of CTIP challenges identifies a path for meaningful progress
Freedom Collaborative hosts an honest conversation on the tricky aspects of anti-trafficking work, the UK’s controversial migration bill becomes law, and The Freedom Fund launches an online resource for donors supporting frontline organizations.
Freedom Collaborative’s panel discussion at last week’s Asia Region Anti-Trafficking (ARAT) Conference in Bali raised important talking points for the future of anti-trafficking work. Titled “Brave Conversations”, the event was the latest step in our strategy to bring together leaders and create spaces in which to have the frank, honest and open conversations required to move the sector forward. The panelists were all members of Freedom Collaborative’s Advisory Community.
A recent shift in focus towards the root causes of trafficking, and the centering of local communities in decision-making and strategy development, means that an examination of the mindsets and biases within the anti-trafficking sector, and meaningful analysis of its processes and practices, must now take place. Complex questions, such as what leadership looks like, how programs ignore or reinforce colonialist notions, and how storytelling and framing sustain these harmful narratives, need to be asked, and the ARAT panel discussion was designed to help kick-start the conversation.
The challenges shared by the panelists were in some instances specific to their region, but most were recognized by all. For instance, gaps in service provision, sometimes due to a lack of understanding of on-the-ground realities by larger organizations and funders, mean that survivors’ needs often go unmet. However, translating research insights on these realities into impactful advocacy can be challenging, and finding innovative ways in which to communicate complex results to policymakers, donors and the public has become an essential focus for research-based groups.
The attitudes of the wider community can also pose problems, and a lack of public awareness creates obstacles in mobilizing support and resources for anti-trafficking initiatives, especially in regions where the problem is more prevalent. Furthermore, in consumer-based cultures, broaching the subject of how purchasing choices can inadvertently perpetuate exploitation involves the difficult task of encouraging individuals to reflect on the ethical implications of their consumption patterns. Meanwhile, in India, the caste system plays a significant role in maintaining bonded labour, and addressing this deeply entrenched social structure is challenging, particularly as law enforcement officers and those in other positions of authority are very rarely from marginalized communities themselves.
Restrictions on funding is another issue – in India, the Foreign Currency Regulation Act (FCRA) requires a wait of three years before organizations become eligible to receive foreign funds; this delay can hinder their ability to hire staff and carry out essential initiatives during the initial years of operation. When funding opportunities are limited, and the political environment is unfavorable, international collaboration and solidarity, and the ability to connect with peers, become vital.
The panel concluded that unless the sector can be honest about the impact of its work, and recognize the complexities of CTIP efforts and survivor care, it risks doing further harm. It recommended, among other things, that the anti-trafficking sector: foster survivor inclusion and leadership in decision-making processes, empowering survivors to shape initiatives and ensure that programs are trauma-informed and survivor-centered; collaborate with governments and businesses to advocate for comprehensive legislation, strict enforcement against trafficking, and ethical labour practices; enhance awareness campaigns that educate the public about human trafficking and its root causes, e.g. through social media platforms, events, and educational materials that create opportunities for conversations on responsible consumption choices; address structural causes such as poverty, caste-based discrimination, and demand for cheap products, collaborating with other sectors including poverty alleviation programs and responsible supply chain initiatives to help create sustainable solutions; create spaces for brave conversations – the sector, funders, and CSOs must enable difficult discussions to take place, and engage the public in conversations about the complexities of trafficking, including consumer responsibility and the structural factors contributing to the issue.
Here’s a round-up of other noteworthy news and initiatives:
The UK Government has succeeded in passing its Illegal Migration Bill, despite disagreements within Parliament over amendments concerning the treatment of women, children, the LGBTQ+ community, and victims of modern slavery. A coalition of 290 organizations representing the human rights, migrant rights, refugee and asylum, anti-trafficking, children’s, violence against women and girls, LGBTQ+, and disability rights sectors, among many others, issued a joint statement to condemn the passage of the bill and stand in solidarity with all who will be affected.
A group of anti-trafficking organizations has issued an open letter on a recent movie which, they say, has the potential to widen the gap between general knowledge and the actual complexities of human trafficking. Sound of Freedom: A Joint Statement from Anti-trafficking Organizations includes a list of points for viewers to consider as they process the movie’s content; it can be co-signed in the comments in support of survivors and anti-trafficking organizations around the world. And this article explains why, in the wake of Hollywood movies and online conspiracy theories around trafficking, anti-trafficking professionals have had to work harder than they otherwise would have to counter widespread misinformation about how trafficking happens.
At an international conference hosted by Italy to fight human trafficking and prevent illegal migration, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni stated that, “Europe and Italy needed immigration”. Meloni, who attracted attention with her softened rhetoric, added that it is necessary to ensure the entry of migrants to Europe through legal means. Last week, the EU and Tunisia signed a “strategic partnership” agreement on tough measures against people smugglers and the tightening of borders, with the EU pledging 1 billion Euros (US$1.1 billion) in aid to Tunisia, a major departure point for migrants.
Meanwhile, UN experts expressed serious concern about the situation of migrants and refugees in Libya who were allegedly held captive and tortured, subsequently released by Libyan authorities, and transferred to unknown places of detention where they are reportedly at risk of further serious human rights violations, including acts tantamount to enforced disappearance.
About 90 Uyghur teenage girls are locked up in a Chinese-run garment factory in Xinjiang, where they are forced to toil for 14 hours a day, seven days a week, and routinely face verbal and physical abuse, an investigation by Radio Free Asia has found. The RFA investigation uncovered a secret agreement between the factory and a local high school to supply workers to the site.
On 18 July, the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) hosted experts from Southeast Asia for a conversation on cyber-enabled transnational crime in the region. The discussion examined the connection between human trafficking and cybercrime, explored links to regional criminal networks, and assessed the peace and security threats to the region, the U.S., and the rest of the world.
The Freedom Fund is excited to announce the launch of Funding Frontline Impact, an online resource for donors who support or wish to support frontline organizations. The new site features stories, tools and resources to help funders and philanthropic professionals pursue effective frontline grant-making journeys, no matter the cause or geography.
As we prepare for USAID Asia CTIP’s Evidence2Action (E2A) Summit 2023, we invite suggestions for topics on which participants can actively engage and learn from one another, in order to effectively take action to reduce trafficking in persons.
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