Our team recently returned from the Asia Region Anti-Trafficking (ARAT) Conference in Thailand. ARAT is a project of the Global Learning Community (GLC), a regional network of over 250 people from 49 countries dedicated to advancing the anti-human trafficking movement. Eleison served as a Planning Committee member for ARAT along with five other organizations in the region. Six members of the Eleison team, including four Survivor Leadership Council (SLC) members and two staff, represented Eleison at ARAT. While at ARAT, our team co-facilitated the launch of the Asia Region Survivor and Allies Network (ARSAN), a platform for survivors and allies to work together in advancing survivor-centered anti-trafficking work.
Additionally, two of our team members presented at ARAT about how to develop Survivor Advisory Boards. In our presentation, we provided practical guidance to anti-trafficking stakeholders on how to form Survivor Advisory Boards, formal councils comprised of survivors who provide strategic insight and feedback aimed at strengthening an organization’s programming. We discussed what Survivor Advisory Boards are and why they are vital in ensuring all activities remain responsive to survivor priorities and needs. We also shared guiding principles and practical tips for organizations seeking to establish a Survivor Advisory Board. Lastly, we presented a case study regarding Eleison’s Survivor Leadership Council (SLC), which is an advisory board comprised of survivors of human trafficking and/or gender-based violence who have participated in Eleison’s programs. Through the case study, we highlighted the SLC’s structure, functions, and contributions to advancing survivor-centered programming and research within our organization and the sector.
The ARAT Conference served as a valuable opportunity for Eleison to collaborate with other anti-human trafficking organizations in the Asia Pacific Region and contribute to advancing survivor leadership in the sector. We are excited to continue to strengthen regional partnerships and value the opportunity to advance cross-sector collaboration, survivor leadership, and trauma-informed care at a regional level.
