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Global Alliance Against Traffic in Women

Human Rights
at home, abroad and on the way...

GAATW Logo

Global Alliance Against Traffic in Women

Human Rights
at home, abroad and on the way...

Issue Papers - Reflections of Immigrant Women who Suffered Human Trafficking

Title:

Reflexiones de mujeres inmigrantes que han sufrido la Trata de personas

(Reflections of immigrant women who suffered human trafficking)

Author: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Organisation:aa

Grupo de Mujeres Inmigantes de Sant Cugat 

Language: Spanish
About the Issue Paper

When reflecting about trafficking, trafficked women analysis goes beyond their traumatic experiences to their strategies to cope, face and overcome trafficking. They are able to reflect and shed light on what does not work in the assistance methodologies and about their assigned role as passive victims. 

In this issue paper, the author presents the thoughts and experiences of trafficked women who participated in a Feminist Participatory Action Research she coordinated between 2007 and 2010. The research took place in the Philippines, the United States, Colombia and Spain and involved women from 13 countries who had been trafficked for prostitution, organ harvesting, forced marriage, begging, domestic exploitation, labor exploitation and slavery-like practices.

Through this issue paper trafficked women reflect about their role as victims, and about concepts such as agency vulnerability, resilience and coping strategies, and their evolving identities beyond their trafficking experience.


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Issue Papers - In Her Words

Title:

IN HER WORDS: Exposing obstacles to the effective implementation of rights and protection policies for human trafficking survivors in Spain

Author: Jennifer Pro
Organisation:aa

Proyecto Esperanza

Language: English
About the Issue Paper

Due to factors such as its proximity to Africa, Spain has become a major gateway for African migrants seeking opportunities in Europe, and for this reason has become an entry point for human trafficking rings. Migrants’ journey to the European continent may take years for those who survive it, but for those suffering from human trafficking, their arrival is just the beginning of an inhumane journey of exploitation. In many cases, as this human rights violation culminates in their escape and the reclamation of their lives, human trafficking survivors are faced with great barriers to exercise their legal rights.

Spain has made significant improvements to its anti-trafficking legal framework with the incorporation of adequate legislative measures. However, in practice the legal protection system in many ways still lacks effective policy implementation and a more human rights approach.  

The issue paper forms part of ongoing research using in-depth personal interviews to explore survivors’ recovery and integration process, access to legal rights, and their perspective on the response of the Spanish authorities.
The paper evaluates the effectiveness of the legislation aimed to protect and assist those who have suffered from human trafficking. Through case studies and the voices of the survivors, readers witness the alarming difficulties in the effective implementation of protection policy, as well as the consequences this has on the real lives of survivors.

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