The Importance of Survivor Voices

The impact of listening to and learning from human trafficking survivors is unmatched. Their voices, their resilience, their wisdom should guide all law, policy and practice. Whether you are new to anti-trafficking work or a seasoned veteran in the field, take some time to hear from the true heroes and founders of this movement.

Voices of Freedom

Voices of Freedom demonstrates the power of conversation and storytelling, showing how oral history is crucial to public service and public record keeping. The archive shares reflections from a diverse range of lived experiences, contributes to the democratization of historical records, and emphasizes the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the development of anti-human trafficking programs and initiatives.

Survivors Who Thrive: A Fireside Chat

How We Elevate and Include Survivor Voices at STAC

At STAC we strive to be survivor-centered. Each month we partner with survivors of trafficking to elevate their voices through our in-person and virtual trainings (hyperlink to training page). We also utilize survivors as consultants to ensure our work is survivor-informed and trauma-competent.

Warning: This video contains information and depiction of events that include child abuse, child sexual abuse and violence. The voices of survivors are essential to our understanding human trafficking. How do we advocate with and for survivors? What are the immediate and long-term impacts of child sex trafficking and all forms of trafficking? What should we know about survivors’ lives that will help us understand and prevent human trafficking in our communities? What is the impact of trauma? How can we as professionals in healthcare, child welfare, businesses and the hospitality industry, social services, law enforcement, the courts, educators, faith community, family members and parents, and as neighbors understand the range and the reach of traffickers? Please watch for answers to these and other questions from AmyLynn Harrington-Smoot, advocate and survivor of sex trafficking and Graciela Marquina, STAC Victim Assistance Coordinator who has supported survivors for over two decades.

Resources for Including Survivors Voices

Including survivor voices doesn’t always mean asking survivors to tell their stories. There are many ways to include survivor voice in your organization, from board membership, employment, consultation, and sharing survivor-created materials. Check out these resources to learn more!”

SURVIVORS OF SLAVERY (SOS) is a non-profit organization that supports survivors of modern slavery who want to lend their voice to the 21st century abolitionist movement. Community groups, schools and universities, and communities of worship who wish to learn more about this issue and want to hear the first-person experiences of people who have suffered and survived modern slavery. Visit the SOS website.

The National Survivor Network (NSN) brings together a community of survivors of human trafficking by creating a platform for survivor-led advocacy, peer-to-peer mentorship, and empowerment that embraces all survivors, regardless of gender, age, nationality or type of trafficking experience. Visit the NSN website

Listen and learn! Hearing from survivors is so important. This project highlights survivors from the Philippines, China, Indonesia, Native Hawaiians and other nations. People don’t always think about the many and varied experiences of the AAPI community, particularly in North Florida. Remember that Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are our neighbors, friends, and so important to our communities. We also know they are victims of human trafficking because of vulnerabilities they experience.