• Voices of the Delegates

From Nightmares to Dreams Coming True: Building a Sustainable Future for Survivors of Human Traffick

Anxhela Bruci
March 2, 2022

4 min read


Human trafficking survivors are faced with challenges while accessing the labor market and securing sustainable employment opportunities. This paper brings the experience of “EmpowerFULL” (FuqiPLOTË – in Albanian), a three-phase socio-economic empowerment model that assists in the economic reintegration process of survivors of human trafficking through capacity-building sessions and mediation in the labor market to access sustainable employment opportunities. The first and second phase of the program was piloted with (n=10) girls and women survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking in Albania. Additionally, this paper presents an effective way of working closely with survivors to identify and break any visible and invisible barriers in their personal development and employment process. The analysis is based on the Ubuntu pillars of self-confidence and resilience by looking at the personal development process of the participants through the Ubuntu values perspective.

Reintegration is a process that aims to place survivors in a safe environment that meets the conditions for physical and mental well-being (Andrijasevic & Mai, 2016; Surtees, 2015). Also, it is the first step that determines the willingness of trafficking survivors to re-establish their ties with the community or build a new life in a different community (Surtees, 2015; Muraya & Fry, 2016).

The process of reintegration combines a series of interventions, which aim to increase access to vocational training, employment, and sustainable income (Surtees, 2017).

Young people can be independent social agents and are more inclined towards collecting and forming collective associations that may sometimes represent a threat. Young people can be easily mobilized to participate in disruptive actions that lead to conflict and violence. This is a byproduct of entrenched and endemic social challenges, especially in emerging societies, such as high unemployment rates.

From a protracted conflict where stability is necessary for social reconstruction, targeting young people as peace-building agents is of particular importance as it can herald peace and restore safety and cohesion to war-torn communities.

In addition to dealing with conflicts in non-violent ways and creating a society that lives with credibility. Of nonviolence and multicultural appreciation. Youth are more open to change since they are willing to try out novel ideas.

Additionally, interventions might include personal development opportunities aiming to strengthen self-esteem and maintain interpersonal relationships (Agolli & Bruci, 2019; Muraya & Fry, 2016).

A study on the reintegration process of victims of human trafficking from Albania conducted by Ramaj (2021) found that after the rehabilitation period in an emergency shelter, victims were faced with similar challenges to the ones they had when they were rescued from trafficking. Lack of employability skills and an unstable labor market play a crucial role in the process of reintegration and its effectiveness since lacking a sustainable income increases the risk of trafficking (Meshkovska, Bos, & Siegel, 2021).

Investing in the creation of sustainable job opportunities has a critical role in preventing any form of modern slavery. Accessibility and sustainability in the labor market do have a positive impact on the reintegration of survivors of modern slavery as well, by contributing to a smoother transition from the post-trafficking period to employment and securing sustainable income. For example, a Thomson Reuters Foundation study (2016) found that the risk of re-trafficking increases by 80% when the reintegration process does not include access to sustainable job opportunities.

The study raises concerns related to the accessibility of the labor market for survivors of human trafficking, especially in cases where survivors lack education and employment skills.

Approach

EpowerFULL(FuqiPLOTË- in Albanian) is a socio-economic empowerment model that assists in the economic reintegration of survivors of human trafficking through capacity-building sessions and the provision of sustainable employment opportunities in Albania.

We work together with survivors to identify and break any visible and invisible barriers in their personal development and employment process. The intervention is based on three objectives. First, to assist in the financial independence of trafficking survivors from state and non-state organizations. Second, strengthen the personal development and leadership skills of survivors. Third, to seek the advancement of survivors’ economic empowerment and equality as a priority for the social protection policies in Albania.

Findings

The model was piloted in 2021 with (n=10) girls and women survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking in Albania. During the first phase, 10 participants took part in a two-month intensive training program on personal and career development.

The program included sessions on soft skills, assertiveness, self-esteem, skills exploration, setting boundaries, visualization, and creating new habits by challenging the “victim narrative”. At the end of the sessions, 90 % of the participants successfully completed the first phase and were eligible to embark on the second phase.

During the second phase, participants were financially supported to attend vocational training courses and access tools that would support their employment skills. A personalized growth plan was developed based on the skills and aspirations identified by each participant during the first phase of the program. 30% of the participants were supported with technology assets including laptops and tablets. 20% signed up for vocational courses and were equipped with tools needed to practice their skills, 30% set up small enterprises mainly in the fashion industry, and the rest were supported with capacity-building sessions on strengthening their portfolios and CVs.

The process of reintegration differs based on the individual factors of each survivor (Surtees, 2017). Therefore, a one-size-fits-all approach is not suitable for the reintegration of survivors. EmpowerFULL provides a tailor-based approach, which puts the needs and aspirations of each participant at the center of the intervention.

Further Work

A pilot model with a larger sample of participants would provide a more comprehensive overview of the challenges in the economic empowerment process of survivors of human trafficking. Since there is a gap in the literature regarding economic reintegration practices for survivors of human trafficking, further research could explore the impact of such initiatives, clustering them based on regions.

Further, there is insufficient data to support evidence-based interventions for economic reintegration initiatives. Future research could contribute to understanding the reintegration process by directly exploring the experiences of survivors through their perceptions.



References

  • Andrijasevic, R. , & Mai, N. (2016). Trafficking (in) Representations: Understanding the Recurrent Appeal of Victimhood and Slavery in Neoliberal Times. Anti-Trafficking Review, (7), 1-10.
  • Meshkovska, B., Bos, A. and Siegel, M. (2021). Long-term (re)integration of persons trafficked for the purpose of sexual exploitation. International Review of Victimology, 27(3), 245–271.
  • Muraya, D. N., & Fry, D. (2016). Aftercare Services for Child Victims of Sex Trafficking: A Systematic Review of Policy and Practice. Trauma, violence & abuse, 17(2), 204–220.
  • Nasufi, I.A., & Bruci, A. (2019). Government Responses to the Survivors of Trafficking in Human Beings: A Study of Albania. International Journal of Law and Political Sciences, 13, 489-499.
  • Ramaj, K. (2021). The Aftermath of Human Trafficking: Exploring the Albanian Victims’ Return, Rehabilitation, and Reintegration Challenges. Journal of Human Trafficking, 1-22.
  • Surtees, R. (2015). Beyond Trafficking. The re/integration of trafficking victims in the Balkans, 2007 to 2014. KBF and NEXUS Institute.
  • Surtees, R. (2017). Supporting the Reintegration of Trafficked Persons: A Guidebook for the Greater Mekong Sub-Region. Nexus Institute, UN-ACT and World Vision, Bangkok, p. 51.
  • Thomson Reuters Foundation. (2016). Jobs to Restore the Lives of Slavery Survivors and Prevent Re-trafficking. Trust Conference. Accessed February 02, 2022. http://www.trustconference.com/actions/i/?id=0598c1c2-c724-410d-a5e0-ac60fa9d7b8c.