Approach to Survivor Engagement

As practitioners, allies, and stewards of knowledge, Framework cares deeply about the eradication of human trafficking and healing for survivors. We are committed to:

• Applying a human rights lens that prioritizes empowerment, healing, and a broad definition of “justice,” and holds fast to a belief that victims, survivors, and everyone else—particularly those with vulnerability— know their rights, have access to resources, and are treated with dignity in this world.
• A survivor-informed approach that recognizes and has deep respect for the expertise survivors bring both based on their trafficking experience and broader set of skills, experiences, and knowledge.
• A trauma-informed approach that considers how representation, language, and cultural narratives impact victims and survivors—those we represent, reach, and work with.
• A strengths-based approach that sees victims and survivors as more than their victimization experience and focuses on the inherent strength, assets, and resiliency present in all of us to heal from trauma and achieve our goals.
• Clear, practical messaging that is survivor- and field- informed. We recognize that we are in a position to frame the issue of labor trafficking in a nuanced way that highlights the deep roots and legacy of racism and white supremacy, xenophobia, misogyny, and an economic system that knowingly trades high profit for cheap labor.
• Continuous improvement through self-reflection, learning, correcting our missteps, challenging ourselves to be our best, and being open to being challenged and informed by others.
• Collaboration and co-creation that values and leverages the many existing and emerging experts the field has to offer.
• Bridging the gap between labor and sex trafficking such that our impact on resource allocation, awareness raising, and policy have an equal impact on all survivors of human trafficking. We seek to play no role in perpetuating the damaging hierarchy of victimization within—and outside of—the anti-trafficking community.