Welcome to “Meet Our Members”, an initiative launched in 2022 to spotlight the incredible work of GAATW member organisations around the world. Through interviews, we dive into the history, programmes, groups, and key issues that shape their work. Our goal is to foster deeper connections among members and the broader GAATW community, creating opportunities to learn from one another and collaborate across borders. Explore the inspiring stories of our featured members and discover how they are making an impact in the fight against trafficking and for the rights of women around the world.
‘’The risk that workers take in speaking out, in connecting, and joining this work is significant, so they are very invested in seeing real answers and real change.’’
In November, GAATW Secretariat spoke with Valeria, Policy and Advocacy Lead from Worker Support Centre (WSC), to learn more about how the organisation’s intensive grassroots outreach takes place in some of the UK’s most isolated rural areas, how workers’ lived experiences directly inform advocacy and policy change, and how trust-building, anonymity, and solidarity remain at the core of WSC’s work with migrant workers and local communities.
‘’We feel confident that even though we’re not an organisation that can do research and write policy papers, our evidence comes out of lived experience (of migrants)’’
The Southeast and East Asian Centre (SEEAC) is a migrant-led organisation in the UK that grew from years of community organising among diverse East and Southeast Asian migrants seeking culturally grounded support and solidarity. In October 2025, Vivian Cartagena from the GAATW Secretariat spoke with Mariko Hayashi, SEEAC’s Executive Director and founding member, to learn more about how the organisation came to life, how its work has evolved, and the collective care and resistance shaping its 5-years journey.
‘’Our greatest challenge is not a lack of vision or strategy, but the global silence when African youth are trafficked or enslaved abroad.’’
As part of GAATW’s efforts to highlight the work of our new members, Trinity Blacklock, intern from GAATW, interviewed Daniel Melese Areda, founder of Nigat Global Initiatives (NGI) in Ethiopia. In their conversation, he describes the organisation’s origins, its survivor-centred approach, and its commitment to systemic change in anti-trafficking work.
''To us, the word assimilation seems more appropriate than the word ‘’reintegration’’ for the returnee migrant women workers''
Established in 2003 by returnee women migrant workers, Pourakhi Nepal is a pioneering organisation advocating for the rights and well-being of Nepali migrant workers, especially women. Their work spans from providing emergency shelter, psychosocial and legal support, and reintegration assistance, to conducting policy advocacy on migration, trafficking, and citizenship rights. Vivian Cartagena, Programme Officer Alliance Strengthening had an insightful interview with Manju Gurung, the co-founder and Chairperson of Pourakhi Nepal.
‘’When we talk of law enforcement and prosecuting the traffickers, there is a bit of a narrative of ‘us saving you’’’
As part of GAATW’s efforts to highlight the work of our members on the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, our Programme Officer Alliance Strengthening, Vivian Cartagena, spoke with Flora Enifo, Community Organiser from MIST Association, an organisation based in Paris, France. Flora shared how MIST supports Nigerian women affected by trafficking, the challenges they face, and what the situation looks like on the ground for migrant communities in France.
''Our dream and aim is to build an alternative system, not to reform Kafala, because it's not reformable''
This article is an interview with Farah Salka, the Co-Director of the Anti-Racism Movement (ARM), Lebanon. Launched in 2010, ARM began as a grassroots collective of Lebanese feminist activists and migrant domestic workers living in Lebanon. They are one of few organisations in Lebanon focusing specifically on migrant workers. Their theory of change shifts the positionality of migrant workers from“beneficiaries” to leaders and agents of change, taking a migrant-centered and feminist approach throughout their programming.
"Learning from Women's Experiences allows us to shape our work"
Jan Vikas Samiti, one of GAATW’s newest members in India, has long worked toward the development of marginalised communities - especially women, children, and persons with disabilities. In May 2025, Vivian Cartagena from the GAATW Secretariat spoke with the Executive Director, Mr. Chandran Riymonds to learn more about their journey and hopes for inter-regional collaboration.
‘’At Justice Centre, We emphasise community-led initiatives, helmed by survivors and people who have direct experience of exploitation’’
Justice Centre Hong Kong is a non-profit organization that provides support to refugees, asylum seekers and victims of human trafficking in Hong Kong SAR. They help these groups to access social welfare and psychological support, as well as legal assistance. Vivian Cartagena, Programme Officer Alliance Strengthening had a interview with Lynette Nam, Executive Director at Justice Centre Hong Kong.