One of Hope for Justice’s key priorities is the success of the IMSA Project, which is designed to ensure that survivors of human trafficking and modern slavery have access to accredited, independent advocacy throughout the UK through a network of Independent Modern Slavery Advocates* (IMSAs).
IMSAs have been working alongside survivors of modern slavery through Hope for Justice for over 14 years, building on the improved outcomes that independent advocacy has had for survivors of other serious crimes, notably domestic violence, stalking and sexual violence.
An important aspect of the IMSA Project is ensuring the model is rolled out and successfully adapted for all four UK nations. That is why on Friday 20th September, more than 40 experts from across the anti-trafficking sector – representatives from NGOs, public bodies, universities, law enforcement and survivor consultants – came together in Glasgow and online to learn more about how the IMSA model could work in Scotland.
This consultation workshop was hosted by SOHTIS (Survivors of Human Trafficking in Scotland) and convened by the IMSA Project board, which is made up of Hope for Justice, the British Red Cross, the Snowdrop Project and Bakhita Centre for Research on Slavery, Exploitation and Abuse at St Mary’s University.
The workshop featured wide-ranging discussions and insightful points as the experts considered the opportunities and the next steps in ensuring that the IMSA model is successful in Scotland. The key lessons drawn and recommendations from the workshop were:
- Raising awareness of trafficking is key to ensuring survivors can have their rights and entitlements understood, heard, respected and granted
- Ensuring the accredited IMSA training has specific expertise on Scottish legislation
- IMSAs could be hugely beneficial, particularly for survivors in remote areas of Scotland who might otherwise struggle to access vital services and navigate complex systems
- The importance of continuing to provide meaningful opportunities for survivor consultants to shape the future of the IMSA project and to have the chance to train as accredited IMSAs in the future
Now in its second phase, the IMSA Project is focused on building the infrastructure for national rollout.
Tejay, who lives in Glasgow and is a survivor consultant through the Voices Network, participated in the Scotland consultation and said: “The Independent Modern Slavery Advocate is expected to be a significant asset for victims of trafficking in Scotland. The proposed framework will establish a connection between victims and service providers, promoting a more effective and swift healing process. As a Voices Ambassador with firsthand experience, I am pleased to learn that Scotland will introduce two Advocates in this pilot initiative.”
Bethan Hunt, IMSA Model Development Manager at Hope for Justice, said: “The IMSA Project Board thanks every delegate who participated and shared their expertise. We are reviewing all the feedback and incorporating it into the IMSA Project.”
If you would like to know more, contact advocacy.imsa@hopeforjustice.org
