Eleison has officially launched the Lived Experience Advisory Panel (LEAP) for our new research collaboration with the University of Nottingham Rights Lab. This research project explores people’s reliance upon public justice systems for addressing Online Sexual Exploitation of Children (OSEC) cases in the Philippines. The project seeks to understand community members’ level of trust in engaging with the public justice system and the extent to which vulnerable communities feel they can safely and effectively access the justice system. Eleison is leading the qualitative data collection for this study, conducting key informant interviews (KIIs) and focus group discussions (FGDs) with survivors, justice system professionals, service providers, and community stakeholders.
The LEAP for this study is comprised of people with lived experience of OSEC and other forms of human trafficking who are collaborating with the research team as advisors providing strategic insight and recommendations regarding research design, data collection, and analysis. The LEAP will convene quarterly throughout the study to co-produce and validate research tools and processes, interpret data, and develop recommendations for action. The creation of a LEAP centers people with direct lived experience in the development and delivery of the research and facilitates the integration of community and lived experience insights into all aspects of the research design, implementation, and dissemination.
In addition to the structured LEAP meetings, the Eleison team is facilitating a customized mentorship program for all LEAP members, providing training and professional development support for LEAP members in select areas of professional interest. Apart from supporting LEAP members’ success in the current project, the mentorship program helps to strengthen transferable skills for the future. Throughout the project, Eleison will also provide LEAP members with ongoing and structured support for wellbeing and collective care.
If you are interested in learning more about the LEAP or our research project, contact us here.
