The inclusion of survivors’ voices to ensure a human rights-based and survivor-centred approach to combating human trafficking

The experiences and needs of individuals who are trafficked are unique. Although some states have included survivors’ voices and perspectives in anti-trafficking policy development and work, their participation has been largely excluded globally. However, in order to ensure a human rights-based and victim and survivor-centred approach to combating human trafficking, survivors need to be included in all aspects of anti-trafficking work.

Human trafficking survivors are key stakeholders in the multidisciplinary approach to combatting trafficking. For this reason, ODIHR established the International Survivors of Trafficking Advisory Council (ISTAC) consisting of 21 leading human trafficking survivors from across the OSCE region and tasked it with assisting ODIHR in its anti-trafficking work.

The topic of this year’s 22nd High-Level Alliance against Trafficking in Persons Conference, which will take place from 4 to 6 April 2022 in Vienna/online, will focus on protection and assistance - and specifically the application of a victim-centred approach to support victims of trafficking in human beings and uphold their rights. In this respect, the side event will focus on:

• The different mediums that survivors use for awareness raising, including artwork;
• The overall need for inclusion of survivors’ voices and perspectives in policy-making in the OSCE region; and
• The importance of including survivors as key stakeholders in all anti-trafficking work as a way to ensure a human rights-based and victim and survivors-centred approach to combating human trafficking.

Agenda and participants

The virtual presentation of survivors’ artwork will be conducted by Laurent Ziegler, Member of the International Survivors of Trafficking Advisory Council (ISTAC).

Reflections on the importance of survivors’ inclusion in anti-trafficking work will be presented by a selection of speakers from the International Survivors of Trafficking Advisory Council (ISTAC):

• Malaika Oringo (Netherlands)
• Sandra Norak (Germany)
• Suamhirs Piraino-Guzman (United States)
• Mariaam Bhatti (Ireland) 

With welcome remarks by Shandra Woworuntu, Chair of ISTAC.

Moderator: Tatiana Kotlyarenko, ODIHR Adviser on Anti-Trafficking Issues.

Registration

Those interested can register here.