How can you reclaim a narrative if you don’t exist?

Embracing this year’s Black History Month theme, ‘Reclaiming Narratives,’ we reflect on findings from our STOP THE TRAFFIK (STT) teams, revealing that Black and ethnic minorities are disproportionately affected by human trafficking and yet there is also an alarming lack of data about these communities.

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Silence speaks for itself

It’s often cited that 50 million people are currently in slavery—a staggering number greater than the population of Spain, and roughly equivalent to the populations of Uganda, Sudan, and South Korea. Yet, the true count is likely much higher. Why? Because the data we have is incomplete.

The gaps we have in our human trafficking data tell a story. A story that alludes to a sinister reality that hides beneath the surface of what we can see and even know.

One of the most revealing aspects of this incomplete data is that Black and ethnic minority groups are trafficked more than any other groups, according to Lucrezia Bosio, Data Engagement Manager at STT. “Traffickers disproportionately target racial minorities,” she explains.

This Black History Month, we confront the question: How can Black and ethnic minority victims of human trafficking reclaim hidden or dismissed narratives if their existence isn’t fully recorded in the data? Put another way, How can you tell your story when, on paper, you don’t exist?

A Hidden Story of Exploitation

Black people and ethnic minorities from diverse backgrounds face disproportionate levels of exploitation. Here are three striking examples from our data:

  1. Labour Exploitation: Our July 2024 Key Judgement Report found that those most affected by labour exploitation in Italy’s agricultural sector are  from Burkina Faso, Gambia, Ivory Coast, Mali, Nigeria, and Senegal.
  2. Racial Dynamics in UK Domestic Servitude: Our 2024 Key Judgement Report also found that Filipino domestic workers are subject to racial abuse by Gulf State families in the UK, alongside the exploitation of Ethiopian, Eritrean, Nigerian, and Sudanese nationals.
  3. Sexual Exploitation: In countries like the UK, France, Ireland, Spain, Germany, and Lithuania, Latin American nationalities, particularly Brazilians and Colombians, often rank among the top nationalities in sex work according to our research. This trend may point to market demand driving trafficking routes.

Whilst there are a range of reasons for why Black and ethnic minorities are disproportionately affected by human trafficking — such as racial discrimination embedded within legal frameworks and a mistrust of services due to cultural taboos (a topic explored in our recent article about the Aman Safety Project) — the main takeaway from this data is that human trafficking exploits not just wealth and health but also race.

We cannot stop what we cannot see

The gaps in trafficking data underscore a chilling reality: those most affected by human trafficking are invisible to the services and support systems needed to help these groups most. Black communities are disproportionately exploited and yet, at the same time, are unable to share their stories because they are not recognised by systems and services because of a lack of data.

As such, gaps in the data aren’t really gaps but findings. They point to a deeper truth—that “the residue of the Atlantic slave trade and deep-seated racism still affects countless Black and ethnic minority people worldwide” says Lucrezia. Racism still persists at a structural and international level.

“We cannot stop what we cannot see,” Lucrezia stresses. “It’s essential for frontline workers to share what they’re witnessing—safely, securely, and anonymously—and to join forces for a world where no one is bought or sold. Building relationships and listening to stories from people on the ground, particularly those who are not officially ‘recorded’, is vital.”

To read our latest article about STT please click here:  https://www.oasisuk.org/how-relationships-save-lives/

To learn more about STT please click here: https://stopthetraffik.org/