Shockingly, there have been reports of victims who have miraculously made it to Emirati authorities, only to then be turned away, incarcerated or even returned to their brothels. It is entirely inhumane that the survivors’ bravery is not met with the support and compassion that they so desperately need, and it is  unforgiveable that the UAE continues to turn a blind eye to the abhorrent human rights abuses happening on its streets and in its hotels, casinos and night clubs every day. I have no doubt that such offences continued unabated during COP28 which took place in the UAE just a few weeks ago. I hope that attendees and the wider international community use the opportunity to put pressure on the region to level up efforts to root it out.

Despite mounting political momentum and public commitment, we are failing across key areas. The ‘4P’ paradigm, standing for prosecution, protection, preventions, and partnerships serves as the primary global framework governing efforts to combat human trafficking. Over the years, policymakers have focused on the prosecution component – hoping that successful convictions will demonstrate unwavering commitment to eliminating the issue, with more and more funding channelled towards criminal justice. Yet ironically, during this time, the estimated number of trafficking victims has grown, and the number of prosecutions has remained woefully low.

Whilst successful prosecutions go a long way in stamping out impunity and deterring trafficking, we must offer the same level of focus on protection, prevention, and partnership efforts. Survivor associations have issued demands to governments and international bodies to ramp up efforts around the root causes of human trafficking. Traffickers prey on vulnerabilities, including lack of education, to coerce victims – and more must be done at a local level to raise awareness of the issue and educate communities about the methods used by traffickers. Some of the women we have rescued have gone on to lead advocacy efforts in their hometowns to prevent more people falling victim to human trafficking. We have a lot to learn from their bravery and strength.

Survivors must be recognised as key stakeholders in our global, multi-coordinated efforts to stamp out human trafficking. It is promising to see signs of this happening in some parts of the world. For instance, in 2021 the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) established the International Survivors of Trafficking Advisory Council, made up of 21 leading human trafficking survivors tasked with supporting the organisation in its anti-trafficking efforts in the region. Such initiatives must be replicated in other parts of the world, particularly in regions with a severe and growing trafficking problem, like Africa, and destinations such as the UAE.

Within the UAE, and across the world, millions of people continue to live in the shadows of human trafficking. Given the hidden nature of this issue, it is almost impossible to comprehend its scope or scale. This is why survivors, who have experienced the coercion, deception, and sophisticated strategies of traffickers, must be involved at the highest levels of decision making and program planning. Through doing this, we can build a holistic approach that cuts across every level of the issue, recognising survivors as experts in their own experiences, and upholding their vital role in curbing the practice.

Through listening to their stories, and turning their ideas and aspirations into action, we show an earnest commitment to supporting survivors and rooting out human trafficking once and for all.

This article was written by Fatima Waziri-Azi, Director General of the Nigerian National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), and Angus Thomas, Founder of Send Them Home and Hope Education Project and first appeared in the EU Observer.