Work made in isolation only highlights part of an issue. At worst, it means research carries recommendations with a narrow, muted impact. Meanwhile, campaigns may carry calls to action for the benefit of those in power, rather than those with lived experience. For this reason, we constantly learn from – and join forces with – others in charity, legal, academic, media and survivor leadership spaces.
Taskforce on Survivors of Trafficking in Immigration Detention
After Exploitation has been a member of the Taskforce on Survivors of Trafficking in Immigration Detention since 2021. The Taskforce aims to document and challenge the immigration detention of modern slavery survivors in the UK. Members join forces in order to submit joint evidence to Parliament and international bodies like United Nations or Council of Europe.
Climate Justice Coalition
As climate change destabilises economies and communities, it also uproots people and livelihoods. In many cases, forced migration due to climate change is interlinked with exploitation, as extreme weather creates the financial instability and desperation needed to allow exploitation to flourish. After Exploitation joins the Climate Justice Coalition in calling for meaningful action against climate change and to recognise migration as a form of climate adaptation.
Migration + domestic abuse sector collaboration
Often, struggles facing survivors of modern slavery are shared by others. Issues such as systemic disbelief and access to support / compensation are battles shared with survivors of other forms of abuse, including domestic violence, female genital mutilation (FGM), torture and forced marriage. Victims of trafficking without secure immigration status struggle to disclose abuse due to the threat of deportation, just as victims of domestic abuse do. For this reason, we are keen to join forces across the sector on issues including safe reporting, immigration insecurity, or ‘root causes’ of exploitation including poverty. Email info@afterexploitation.org to arrange a meeting with your community group or charity.
Spotlight: #ScrapPart5
In 2022, the Government passed a law reducing the number of modern slavery survivors who could access help. This was achieved by demanding more evidence from survivors, making it easier to turn them away from support. Near-impossible criteria for survivors to ‘prove’ their victimhood included deadlines on sharing information about their abuse, as well as background checks on the offending history of victims themselves.
We worked with 50+ NGOs, law firms, corporations, and community groups to challenge the changes, raising the alarm in the press. Working alongside Lush Cosmetics, we produced in-staff training materials and undertook a ‘store-front takeover’ in more than 100 shop fronts across the UK.
Survivor spotlight: General election 2024
Almost all of our work is made possible by the contributions of experts with lived experience of modern slavery or exploitation, who support our work as research participants, freelance consultants, researchers, Advisory Group members or as fellow campaigners.
Ahead of the general election this year, we asked a network of survivors of modern slavery to share what they hoped to see from the incoming government. Many shared our calls for guaranteed survivor support, including mental health and legal advice. The contributions helped shape our pre-election focus, taking centre-stage in our leaflets and posters in the run-up to polling day.
In the press
After Exploitation supports and leads on sector responses to fast-moving changes when it comes to modern slavery. Some examples of our joint press working include:
- Illegal Migration Act: Co-ordinating the charity sector response to Government plans to further criminalise survivors of modern slavery living with immigration insecurity. This included a joint letter signed by 50+ organisations, law firms and academics, a Guardian write-up on sector concerns and ongoing Parliamentary collaboration against the measures.
- Nationality and Borders Act: We stood with hundreds of organisations against plans to punish survivors on the basis of their immigration status, and how long it takes them to disclose abuse (known as the ‘trauma deadline’). Data obtained by After Exploitation showed that survivors were already being turned away from support, creating concern amongst MPs. Our sector-wide letter and joint briefing with the Anti Trafficking Monitoring Group and Focus on Labour Exploitation were by The Big Issue, The Guardian, Stylist and others.
- Sex and relationships education: This year, the Government proposed stop making certain forms of sex and relationship education available to children under 13-years-old. This delays the point at which children can learn about abuse and how to report it. Our joint statement, led by After Exploitation and lived experience consultant Joanne Phillips, explained that traffickers routinely create dangerous “norms” which can only be addressed through education. Read the sector statement and Evening Standard report.
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