The anti-trafficking field increasingly calls for survivor inclusion in organizational leadership, yet little empirical research examines the actual working conditions survivor leaders face. This mixed-methods study investigated the professional experiences, compensation structures, and organizational relationships of trafficking survivor leaders worldwide, guided by two central questions: What are the labor conditions of survivor leaders in anti-trafficking work, and do organizations that advocate against exploitation reproduce exploitative dynamics in their own workforce practices? A 39-item survey was administered to 98 survivor leaders across 15 countries and four continents, recruited through survivor-led networks. Quantitative analysis of 175 variables was integrated with reflexive thematic analysis of qualitative responses across seven domains: identity, organizational relationships, compensation, mental health, system change, community support, and voice and agency. Results reveal a professional paradox: those with the deepest expertise and closest proximity to the work are systematically positioned in the most precarious labor conditions. While 92.9% find the work rewarding, 53% report insufficient organizational support, 47% describe financial exploitation, and 44% report unauthorized use of their intellectual property. Qualitative findings demonstrate that what survivor leaders request — fair compensation, professional autonomy, trauma-informed supervision — maps directly onto established occupational and public health standards for any comparable professional role. The field does not lack knowledge of what survivors need; it applies a different standard to survivor labor. These findings challenge organizations to examine whether their engagement practices meet the same professional standards they would apply to any other employee, reframing survivor workforce conditions as a labor rights issue rather than a matter of gratitude or charity.
Trigger Warning: This presentation contains information (written, spoken, or visual) that may be triggering or (re)traumatizing to attendees.
Jarrett Davis is a Senior Research Scholar with the Global Association of Human Trafficking Scholars (GAHTS) whose work focuses on marginalized populations in the sex trade, including boys, men, and gender-diverse youth across Southeast Asia and the United States.
Helen Stiver is the U.S. Programs Coordinator at EverFree, managing anti-trafficking partnerships focused on prevention and aftercare. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Human Services and has worked in the nonprofit sector for 18 years, focusing on disability accessibility. Combining her professional and lived experience, she advances survivor leadership in anti-trafficking work.
Mike Chapman is a recovery life coach and brainspotting provider residing in coastal North Carolina. A survivor of childhood sexual abuse, family-controlled sex trafficking, and clergy sexual assault, he is a member of the Speakers Bureau with Survivor Network North Carolina and a podcast host interviewing abuse and trafficking survivors.