Voices Unchained Represents Survivor Voices at the African Union Expert Forum on Combating Trafficking for Forced Criminality
24–25 March 2026 | African Union Headquarters, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Voices Unchained Trafficking Survivors Initiative proudly participated in the 2026 Consultative Forum on Combating Trafficking in Persons for Forced Criminality, held on 24–25 March 2026 at the African Union Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The high-level forum was jointly organized by the Continental Operational Centre for Combating Irregular Migration (COCIM) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM), bringing together government representatives, law enforcement agencies, international organizations, civil society organizations, researchers, and survivor advocates from across Africa.
Our Head of Administration and survivor advocate, Anthony Ogbonna Joseph, was honored to speak as a survivor representative, sharing firsthand experiences of trafficking into cyber-enabled forced criminality in Southeast Asia.
Giving a Voice to Survivors
During his presentation, Anthony shared the journey of 23 Nigerians who were deceived by fraudulent overseas job offers advertised online. What appeared to be legitimate employment opportunities in Thailand eventually became a trafficking operation that led them into scam compounds in Myanmar.
His testimony highlighted how traffickers increasingly use:
False online job advertisements
Professional-looking recruitment processes
Social media and messaging platforms
Fake interviews and documentation requests
Financial deception to make recruitment appear legitimate
These sophisticated tactics demonstrate how trafficking for forced criminality has evolved and why greater awareness is urgently needed across Africa.
Inside the Reality of Forced Criminality
Anthony described the harsh realities inside scam compounds where victims are stripped of their freedom and forced to participate in online fraud under constant surveillance.
His testimony revealed:
Long working hours under armed guard
Confiscation of phones and travel documents
Physical abuse, intimidation, and torture
Punishment for failing unrealistic production targets
Psychological trauma and loss of personal dignity
He also paid tribute to fellow Nigerian victims who lost their lives during captivity, reminding participants that behind every trafficking statistic is a human being, a family, and a future that deserves protection.
A Call for Survivor-Centred Solutions
Drawing from lived experience, Anthony emphasized that survivors must be recognized as essential partners in developing effective anti-trafficking policies and responses.
He called for:
Stronger awareness campaigns to prevent deceptive recruitment.
Greater international cooperation to dismantle transnational trafficking networks.
Improved intelligence sharing and coordinated investigations.
Survivor-informed policies and prevention strategies.
Comprehensive support systems for returning survivors, including trauma care and reintegration services.
He also highlighted the need for Africa's first survivor-led network dedicated to supporting victims returning from trafficking situations linked to forced criminality.
Voices Unchained's Commitment
Participation in this important forum reaffirmed our commitment to ensuring that survivor voices shape national, regional, and international responses to human trafficking.
At Voices Unchained, we believe that survivors are not only beneficiaries of assistance—they are experts by experience whose knowledge can help prevent future exploitation, strengthen policy, and save lives.
We remain committed to working alongside governments, international organizations, and partners to combat trafficking in persons, support survivors, and build safer communities across Africa.
Together, we can dismantle trafficking networks, restore dignity, and ensure that no survivor is left behind.
