The launch of our new policy unit

by Victoria Marks

We are delighted to launch our new policy unit that seeks to centre the experiences of survivors in our influencing work. The introduction of this unit signals an exciting new phase for our organisation, building on ATLEU’s expansion into the North of England, by increasing our capacity to provide support which empowers and engages survivor activists to create systemic change.

Our new Policy Manager is Kate Elsayed-Ali, who joins us from Anti Slavery International, where she was International Advocacy Manager. Kate brings an extensive understanding of the policy environment for survivors as well as a significant commitment to protecting and improving their rights.

Ben Du Preez is our new Survivor Activism and Engagement Coordinator and he joins us most recently from the British Red Cross where he led on co-production and community engagement. Ben’s role is vital to ensuring that our policy work and priorities are survivor led, placing their experiences at the heart of our approach.

These new roles will allow us to begin to work proactively with others, to create a vision and agenda for change. Our advocacy work has steadily increased since we were founded. Our unique contribution to this work, based on our direct legal work with survivors, has led to increased demand for our perspective and expertise. The involvement of survivors is critical to this work because all too often those with lived experience of slavery are not involved in shaping the law, policy and practice which affects them.

Our new team allows us, for the first time, to develop a significant role and voice for survivors within the organisation. We want to challenge the dominant narratives that frame, and subsequently help justify the treatment of, survivors of slavery and trafficking in the UK. In doing so, we aim to grow the power of our clients to advocate for the changes they want, both within ATLEU and in wider society.