Take action today to ensure UK Government listens to survivors
Today, over 40 million people are held in modern slavery. Survivors of this abuse are the only people who have direct knowledge of how modern slavery takes place. Efforts to stop slavery will always fall short unless this expertise from lived experience is listened to.
Yet too often survivors don’t have a seat at the decision-making table. That’s why, this Anti-Slavery Day 2021, the Coalition to Stop Slavery are calling for survivors of modern slavery to be listened to. As Pachaiyammal, a leader in the Released Bonded Labourers Association, founding member of the Global Survivor Network, and survivor of bonded labour says:
“Our voices united, our collective strength, is real power. When survivors are at the table, where decisions are made, change happens. Real sustainable solutions are possible. Listen to me. Listen to us. I will continue working for my people until my last breath.”
We believe that survivors must be part of a conversation that is about them.
If we are to create real and lasting change, we must do so together.
Take action today by emailing your MP, asking them to write to the Home Secretary calling for a formal process for survivors to be consulted in anti-slavery legislation and policy making.
Optional MP letter template
Dear [insert MP name],
This Anti-Slavery Day, I am writing as your constituent to ask that you raise the need for survivor inclusion in anti-slavery legislation and policy making with the Home Secretary.
Today, over 40 million people are held in modern slavery. Survivors of this abuse are the only people who have direct knowledge of how modern slavery takes place. Efforts to stop slavery will always fall short unless this expertise from lived experience is listened to.
Yet, too often survivors don’t have a seat at the decision-making table. Anti-Slavery International is calling for the expertise and perspectives of survivors of modern slavery to be integrated into legislation and policy making. Pachaiyammal, a leader in the Released Bonded Labourers Association, co-founder of the Global Survivor Network (globalsurvivornetwork.org), and survivor of bonded labour says:
“Our voices united, our collective strength, is real power. When survivors are at the table, where decisions are made, change happens. Real sustainable solutions are possible. Listen to me. Listen to us. I will continue working for my people until my last breath.”
I believe that survivors must be part of a conversation that is about them. As your constituent, I am asking you to write to Home Secretary Priti Patel calling for a formal process for survivor consultation which ensures that diverse survivor perspectives are integrated at all stages of legislation and policy-making. Critically, Government should work with survivor groups and civil society to create a consultation process that is trauma-informed and prioritises the wellbeing of all those involved. The review of the Modern Slavery Strategy is an opportunity to develop and implement an inclusive, supportive and robust mechanism for survivors to input into anti-slavery efforts, both domestic and international.
I look forward to hearing from you on what steps have been taken towards improving survivor inclusion.
Best wishes,
[Insert name here]
[Insert postcode here]
MP letter pointers
As you write to your MP requesting that they call on Home Secretary Priti Patel to formalise survivor inclusion at all stages of anti-slavery legislation and policy making, here are some pointers to help:
- Opening. Make sure to introduce yourself, including the name of your constituency and postcode. MPs are only obliged to respond to their constituents, so this will encourage a quicker response.
- Describe the scale of modern slavery. Include statistics, such as that more than 40 million people worldwide are held in modern slavery today.
- Why survivor inclusion? Survivors’ perspectives and expertise are crucial to understanding how we can stop modern slavery. Without the knowledge from lived experience that survivors bring, efforts to stop slavery will always fall short.
- Call to action. Ask your MP to write to Home Secretary Priti Patel, calling for a formal process for survivor consultation which ensures that diverse survivor perspectives are integrated at all stages of legislation and policy-making. This consultation process should be trauma-informed, with Government working with survivor groups and civil society to establish it.
- Closing. Thank your MP for reading your letter and note that you are looking forward to hearing about what steps have been taken to improve survivor inclusion.
Thank you for joining us this Anti-Slavery Day 2021.