Voices Unchained Brings Survivor Leadership to the International Dialogue on Preventing Trafficking for Forced Criminality
21–22 July 2026 | Putrajaya Marriott Hotel, Putrajaya, Malaysia
Voices Unchained – Trafficking Survivors Initiative was honoured to participate in the Expert Dialogue on Prevention Efforts Related to Trafficking in Persons for Forced Criminality, held on 21–22 July 2026 at the Putrajaya Marriott Hotel, Malaysia.
The dialogue was organized by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) with the support of Malaysia's National Strategic Office to the Council for Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants (NSO MAPO) and funded by the United States Department of State, Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL).
The event brought together senior government officials, policymakers, law enforcement agencies, anti-trafficking practitioners, survivor leaders, civil society organizations and international partners from across Southeast Asia and beyond to strengthen prevention efforts against trafficking in persons for forced criminality.
Survivor Voices at the Centre of Prevention
Representing Voices Unchained, our Head of Administration, Anthony Ogbonna Joseph, delivered a keynote presentation rooted in lived experience and survivor leadership.
His message was clear:
Preventing trafficking for forced criminality requires more than stronger laws—it requires listening to those who have survived it.
Drawing from his own experience of being trafficked into a scam compound in Myanmar, Anthony highlighted how traffickers exploit vulnerability through sophisticated recruitment methods disguised as legitimate overseas employment opportunities.
He reminded participants that behind every victim is a story of hope, vulnerability and deception—not criminal intent.
From Survival to Leadership
Anthony shared the story behind the creation of Voices Unchained – Trafficking Survivors Initiative, explaining that the organization was not founded in an office, but in the aftermath of survival.
After enduring exploitation, coercion, violence and psychological abuse inside scam compounds, survivors made a commitment that if they were given a second chance, they would dedicate their lives to protecting others from the same deception.
That promise became Voices Unchained.
Today, the organization is a registered survivor-led initiative in Nigeria working to prevent trafficking through awareness, advocacy, survivor support and strategic partnerships.
Why Survivor-Led Organizations Matter
A central theme of the presentation was the importance of recognizing survivors as partners—not simply beneficiaries of assistance.
Anthony emphasized that survivors provide unique expertise by:
Identifying deceptive recruitment methods.
Delivering credible prevention messages.
Building trust with vulnerable communities.
Supporting victim identification and safe reintegration.
Informing evidence-based policy through lived experience.
Strengthening referral pathways and trauma-informed responses.
As he noted during the dialogue:
"Survivors are not symbolic representatives. Survivors are strategic assets."
Recovery Does Not End With Rescue
The presentation also highlighted the often-overlooked reality that rescue is only the beginning of recovery.
Many survivors return home carrying invisible wounds, including trauma, anxiety, shame and psychological distress that require long-term, specialized support.
Voices Unchained called for greater investment in survivor-led organizations capable of providing peer support, trauma-informed care, reintegration assistance and community education.
Key Recommendations
During the dialogue, Voices Unchained presented several recommendations to strengthen prevention efforts globally:
Integrate survivors into policy development and national anti-trafficking mechanisms.
Improve cross-border information sharing on emerging recruitment methods.
Invest sustainably in survivor-led organizations through long-term partnerships.
Coordinate prevention campaigns across countries of origin, transit and destination.
Improve victim identification so trafficked persons involved in forced criminality are recognized as victims rather than offenders.
Expand access to trauma-informed psychological support for returning survivors.
Our Commitment
Participation in this international dialogue reaffirmed our belief that effective anti-trafficking responses must be survivor-informed and survivor-led.
Traffickers continue to evolve their methods by exploiting technology, deception and human vulnerability. Our response must evolve as well through stronger partnerships, smarter prevention strategies and meaningful survivor participation.
Voices Unchained remains committed to working with governments, international organizations, civil society and fellow survivor leaders to build safer communities, strengthen prevention efforts and ensure that no survivor is left behind.
The future of anti-trafficking belongs to collaboration.
It belongs to innovation.
It belongs to survivor leadership.
