People who have experienced a human rights violation are the ones who best know its root causes, consequences, implications, and solutions. Therefore, survivors should be at the heart of approaches to combat human trafficking. In fact, research in other human rights fields has documented successful outcomes of survivor inclusion. Free the Slaves and HAART Kenya initiated this research across East and Central Africa to better understand: 1) Which gaps and challenges limit inclusive survivor engagement in the counter trafficking sector? 2) How are organizations currently engaging survivors? and 3) How can organizations in East & Central Africa improve their inclusion of survivors? All presenters were part of the research team. From the start of the research, people with lived experience of trafficking were active as consultants, researchers, and interviewees. The research design followed a trauma-informed approach throughout. Findings and recommendations are based on interviews with 18 survivor advocates and survivor leaders from Cameroon, DRC, Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Uganda, and South Sudan. Additionally, the counter-trafficking organizations they engaged with answered an online survey. The research lead to practical recommendations on how organizations can enhance survivor inclusion. The report also hopes to strengthen and encourage survivors of trafficking, survivor advocates, and leaders in their engagements with organizations. While research and recommendations are particularly informative for survivor advocates/leaders and counter trafficking organizations in Central and East Africa, it may also inspire others who wish to work for human rights more inclusively.
Marta Furlan is the Senior Program Manager for Research at Free the Slaves. Her areas of expertise include human rights protection, armed groups, and conflicts. Marta holds a PhD in International Relations from the University of St. Andrews, where she wrote her dissertation on armed groups-civilian relations in the Middle East.
Wanja (Patriciah) Kimani is a writer, leader, orator, and author of "Greener Pastures in the Desert" which is a memoir of her experience as a domestic servant in Saudi Arabia. As a research assistant, she conducted interviews and analyzed this recently-launched Survivor Engagement Research. She continues to present the research findings and recommendations at different forums.
Dr. Radoslaw Malinowski is a passionate human rights advocate who founded HAART Kenya in 2010, an organization dedicated to fighting human trafficking. He is also a researcher, lecturer, editor, and author. He holds a PhD in History and Masters in International Relations and Peace Studies, Church History and Law.
Brenda Odhiambo is a Kenyan survivor leader with a vision to create safe spaces for survivors that encourage and unify them in the fight against human trafficking. She was co-researcher on Survivors and Organizations in East and Central Africa and is a Survivor Advisory Board Member for HAART Kenya.
Dr. Dorothee Hasskamp works with HAART Kenya, participating in research and closely cooperating with survivor advocates. She is committed to enhancing diversity and inclusivity also within the human rights movement. An experienced activist, she draws on advocacy and communication as tools for (self-)empowerment and the promotion of justice.