Women’s Aid Awareness Pack

Women’s Aid

Deirdre Teague

Helpline Manager

24 Hour Domestic Violence Helpline

Women’s Aid

Quote

“I feel like they’ve taken my smile away and I can never have it back”.

Lithuanian woman trafficked to London

4.1

24 Hour Domestic Violence Helpline: 0800 917 1414

Women’s Aid

Stages of the Trafficking Process

Health Risks

Women’s Aid

Pre-departure stage

Personal history, interpersonal violence Experience with home country health services and

health education and promotion Socio-economic conditions of the country

Women’s Aid

Travel and transit stage

High-risk, arduous travel conditions Violence, sexual abuse, threats The “initial trauma” Debt-bondage, being bought and sold Confiscation of documents Absence of information and care

Women’s Aid

Destination stage

Risks and Abuse Affecting:Physical healthSexual healthMental healthSubstance abuse and misuseSocial health: isolation, exclusionEconomic well-beingOccupational and environmental healthAccess to health information and care

Women’s Aid

Rescue - criminal evidence stage

Absence of attention to health by all law enforcement, immigration and justice officials

Absence of official health-related procedures Absence of victim-sensitive procedures Reprisals by trafficking agents resulting from contact with

authorities Anxiety, trauma resulting from contact with authorities,

evidence-giving or trial proceedings Unsafe, inhumane deportation and return procedures Retrafficking, retribution and trauma associated with

deportation

Women’s Aid

Integration, re-trafficking and reintegration stage

Personal security risks Risking associated with being a refugee or returnee Practical, social, economic, cultural and linguistic

barriers to care Isolation and exclusion Immediate and longer-term mental health

consequences Retrafficking

Women’s Aid

Importance of Partnership Working

Women’s Aid

Benefits of Refuge

30 years experience Women only environment Security Highly trained and experienced staff Networks already established by the organisation Support of other women Intensive support provided

Women’s Aid Awareness Pack

Women’s Aid

Deirdre Teague

24 Hour Domestic Violence Helpline0800 917 1414