Following numerous reports that trafficking survivors had been waiting years to be identified as victims of modern slavery, the U.K. government claims things are going to change. The Guardian reports the new administration plans to finalize cases within two years and put an end to the prolonged uncertainty and anguish of survivors. 

Ignored, unnoticed and hidden in plain sight 

Over the last few years there has been a massive uptick in the number of referrals to organizations that help modern slavery survivors. One of those cases was Anna (not her real name) who was forced to work as a sex worker for two years. Making threats against her children and family, Anna’s trafficker coerced her to come to Northern Ireland. And Anna is just one of many.  

A charity that supports survivors in Northern Ireland, Flourish, said that since the start of 2024 there has been a 128% rise in referrals in comparison to the same period the previous year. 

Flourish’s Chief Executive, Jill Robinson, said: 

“The steep increase which we have seen this year only underlines how vital this work is to the increasing number of people in our communities who have experienced some form of human trafficking,”  

Currently it is estimated there are more than 130,000 victims of modern slavery in the U.K. Trapped in sectors like agriculture, domestic work and caregiving, most have suffered traumatic sexual, physical or economic abuse. Getting a referral to a support organization should be the first step to healing. But instead, for many it just begins another form of abuse.  

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