International Women’s Day statement 2025: “Exploited women and girls are leading the fight against slavery but, too often, they are being failed”

Women impacted by modern slavery are a significant force for change. In our experience, many are exposing injustice, demanding better protections, and pushing for the inclusion of survivors’ voices in the charity sector and political life. Yet, many survivors face immigration restrictions^[1] or criminalisation^[2], which can bar them from work, including in the very sectors intending to support or represent them.

Women and girls can be victims of any or multiple types of exploitation, including sexual, criminal, labour exploitation or domestic servitude. Yet exploited women and girls, along with all survivors, are facing more barriers to support and protection. The Government now demands much more evidence from victims about their exploitation before they can access help. Meanwhile, survivors are denied support because of their offending history, despite a great number of women and girls being forced to commit crimes by their exploiters^[3]. Sadly, the new Border Security, Immigration and Asylum Bill fails to undo this damage.^[4]

There are practical, simple steps the government can take to improve things. For example, survivors of sexual exploitation are now less likely to be believed under guidance changes passed last year, which refuse victims based on there not being enough perpetrators or other victims involved in their case.This needless and unlawful evidence threshold subjects exploited women and girls to systemic disbelief when they need support. Reversing two sentences in this guidance could uphold the rights of thousands of women and girls.

Lastly, when talking about modern slavery through the lens of violence against women and girls (VAWG), language matters. Sex work and sexual exploitation mean very different things, yet political narratives are increasingly conflating these two terms.^[5] Sex workers have not all experienced conditions tantamount to modern slavery, and not all survivors of sexual exploitation identify with the label of sex work. Claiming otherwise creates confusion around survivor identification and entitlements, and shows a lack of understanding for both groups. We need policies rooted in rights, equality, and empowerment, not misinformation.[6]