Why Listening to Lived Experiences is Key to Ending Modern Slavery 

Modern slavery affects an estimated 50 million people worldwide. To end this exploitation, one thing is clear: we must listen to those who have lived through it. Survivors of modern slavery are not just part of the solution, they are the heart of it. Their firsthand insights into how exploitation happens and what victims truly need are invaluable. By centring survivor voices, we can craft responses at every level that are more informed and effective.

From victim to expert: embracing survivor leadership 

For too long, people who escaped modern slavery have been seen only as “victims”. They were rarely invited into decision-making and often only asked to recount their trauma for awareness campaigns, without a say in shaping solutions. This exclusion was a major missed opportunity. Now, a shift is underway toward “nothing about us, without us” the idea that anti-slavery policies should not be made without survivor input. Survivors are increasingly recognised as experts by experience, taking on roles as advisers and researchers. Survivor-led initiatives are guiding governments and organisations on how to involve lived experience at every stage. Survivors are now helping lead the fight against it.

Shaping better policy through lived experience

Good policy starts with good evidence and survivors provide both. Including people with lived experience in policymaking isn’t just ethical, it’s practical. The UK’s Modern Slavery Policy and Evidence Centre notes that evidence drawn directly from survivor experiences is key to improving the policies to address modern slavery. The voices of those affected must be heard for anti-slavery efforts to work.

In practice, survivor input is already making policy stronger. Here in the UK, the charity Unseen works with survivor consultants to shape its research and support. Bringing survivors into bridge the gap between theory and lived reality, so recommendations don’t overlook real challenges. Unseen’s survivor consultants have contributed to parliamentary inquiries and co-authored research highlighting gaps in support services. Rather than outsiders guessing what victims need, survivors are helping to point policymakers in the right direction.

Take a look at our Modern Slavery consultancy page to learn more about what we offer.

Driving awareness with survivor voices 

Survivor stories have a unique power to spur public action. When someone who endured slavery shares their story, it puts a human face on an often-hidden crime. Their testimony cuts through abstract statistics and inspires action. Recognising this, many campaigns now elevate survivor voices. On the UK’s Anti-Slavery Day, the #TimeToListen campaign urged people to hear directly from survivors and treat them as experts by experience. Survivors have become powerful advocates for raising awareness and keeping the issue in the spotlight. Importantly, they share their experiences not to seek pity, but to help others, using their voices to shape a better future for those at risk. By amplifying survivor voices, advocacy becomes more credible and impactful.

Improving frontline responses and support 

Those with lived experience can also improve how we help victims on the ground. Survivors know what support truly makes a difference in escaping exploitation and rebuilding their lives. By consulting survivors, frontline agencies can design effective, trauma-informed training and support programmes. 

In the UK, a Lived Experience Advisory Panel (LEAP) of survivor consultants has helped develop victim-centred training for first responders. Police guidance on modern slavery investigations was updated with survivors’ input. Likewise, Unseen’s survivor consultants have directly trained police on handling cases sensitively. First responders become more empathetic, more victims are identified, and support services better meet real needs. 

The fight against modern slavery can only be won by designing solutions with survivors, not just for them. It’s time to listen, learn, and let survivors lead the way. 

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