Unseen’s survivor consultants: amplifying lived experience in policy and research
Unseen’s survivor consultants are a group of individuals with lived experience of modern slavery, brought together to bridge the gap between learned knowledge and lived realities. Invited to collaborate at each stage of a project, survivor consultant work is integral to Unseen’s policy and research efforts.
Why survivor-led research on modern slavery is crucial
Excluding survivors in the creation of modern slavery policies leads to solutions that overlook the real challenges they face and often fails to provide the support they need.
By integrating survivors’ unique, grounded perspectives, we ensure that research is actionable, relevant to real-world needs, and effective in influencing policy and practice.
Empowering survivors through research and policy collaboration
Collaborating with survivors to shape research and policy not only strengthens the work we are doing but it can also give agency to survivors, empowering them to challenge and influence systems that impact their lives and the lives of others.
One survivor consultant described the way that their involvement in a research project “has given me strength and confidence… everything about the research project has made me feel more powerful”.
Survivor-led research in action
Survivor consultants at Unseen participate in a wide range of activities. They develop research priorities and projects, share lived experience expertise on advisory panels, train law enforcement on trauma-informed practices and more.
In 2023 survivor consultants contributed to the Home Affairs Select Committee’s inquiry into the UK’s response to human trafficking. They also collaborated with the British Institute for International and Comparative Law on a report highlighting the impact of a lack of legal advice for survivors.
Many survivor consultants go on to develop and lead their own projects among their communities. This includes raising awareness of modern slavery at community events, co-producing research unconnected to Unseen, identifying and reporting modern slavery in their communities and joining national survivor networks.
The future of survivor-led research at Unseen
Looking ahead, Unseen is committed to deepening the involvement of survivor consultants in our research and policy work.
We recognise that there is still work to be done to ensure survivor-led research is as equitable as possible, particularly in addressing any barriers that arise through power imbalances that can exist between non-survivor expertise and the equally vital expertise of those with lived experience.
We’re working on ambitious projects this year that will be co-produced by survivor consultants, enabling us to keep striving towards true partnership. The continued input of survivor consultants will drive more inclusive, impactful solutions as we work to reshape systems and ensure that the voices of survivors remain central to our efforts to combat modern slavery.
Survivor-led research is not just a valuable component of our work—it is essential for creating meaningful, lasting change in the fight against modern slavery. By prioritising the voices of those with lived experience, we aim to develop policies and practices that are truly effective and responsive to the needs of survivors.
Learn more about Unseen’s survivor-led research and discover how you can support or collaborate in these transformative efforts.
Join us for a webinar on 17 March to learn more about our policy priorities, survivor-led research and opportunities for collaboration.
Together, we can champion survivor-led modern slavery research and inform policies that are not only impactful but truly transformative in the fight against modern slavery.
