Re-build: Supporting Survivors of  Trafficking in Human Beings (THB) in Malta

Human Trafficking is a crime driven by a variety of global, national and local factors and it is occurring in virtually every country today, including Malta. Therefore, it is explicitly recognized as a challenge in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which refers to the eradication of forced labour, modern slavery and human trafficking.

This project contributes to the efforts to support victims of THB by gathering vital data, offering cultural mediation support to social services, health sector and NGOs and bringing key stakeholders together.

Over a period of 9 months, the project has collected information through outreach and research via semi structured interviews with survivors and desk research in order to create an overview of modern slavery in the Maltese context. The aim is to overall strengthen the situation for and attention of survivors and potential victims with a focus on  women, girls and LGBTQI persons.

The project focuses on providing support to authorities to facilitate communication with victims and provide basic research on patterns and flows, consulting migrant communities, survivors and building on existing IOM resources.

Outputs and activities:

• Reach out to migrant communities to gather information on patterns of modern slavery;

• Adapt existing IOM tools and research material in order to create a mapping report;

• Train cultural mediators to work with authorities and survivors;

• Offer targeted cultural mediation to facilitate the communication of stakeholders such as police, health professionals, social services, migrant led initiatives with survivors of THB;

• Conduct an online roundtable for stakeholders;

• Train front-liners in identifying, referring and supporting survivors of THB.

This project is funded by the British High Commission (BHC) in Malta.