MP action: Please sign and share!
Campaign toolkit: Posters, social media graphics, petition sheet, and explainers
Further reading: Joint letter (supported by 40 NGOs), PoliticsHome and the I Paper
How has the Government u-turned on survivor support?
In December last year, the UK Government confirmed it will scrap two forms of support promised to survivors of modern slavery.
The first promise of 12 months’ support has been scrapped. This leaves people recovering from severe exploitation with only 30 days of guaranteed access to the basics, such as advice and safe housing. This is nowhere near long enough for survivors to rebuild their lives after the abuse they have experienced, whether that is psychological, physical, or sexual.
Survivors were also promised support would be available earlier in their recovery journey, in the days after reporting modern slavery. The ‘Places of Safety’ scheme could have offered urgent advice, shelter, and medical intervention but the Government says there are no funds available to move forward with the plan.
Why does support matter?
The financial, physical and mental health toll on survivors of modern slavery cannot be overstated. After being robbed of their freedom, survivors also have no guaranteed safeguards in the days after reporting modern slavery, leaving them open to reprisals by traffickers, labour abusers or criminal gangs. In the worst cases, the UK’s failure to support survivors leaves them at risk of homelessness and destitution. In some cases, survivors are compelled to return to their traffickers for some form of stability and shelter.
How is modern slavery defined in the UK?
Modern slavery includes various forms of exploitation, such as human trafficking, forced labour, sexual exploitation, criminal exploitation, domestic servitude, and organ harvesting. Survivors often face severe vulnerabilities due to the trauma endured during exploitation, making the need for timely and comprehensive support vital.
What should support look like?
In a fair and functioning system, survivors of modern slavery should have access to robust support including specialist counselling, basic financial support and appropriate accommodation urgently and for a reasonable length of time. Sadly, in light of the Government’s U-turn on support, these essential services are not accessible to all survivors when they need them.
What can I do?
Ask your MP to raise their voice for survivors of modern slavery and take a stand against the Government’s broken promise on support. You can sign the MP action here:
https://afterexploitation.eaction.org.uk/keepyourpromise
You can also raise awareness about this issue by sharing the MP link on social media and signing up for updates from NGOs like After Exploitation. Together, we can work towards a system which treats modern slavery survivors with dignity.
After Exploitation 