What is reintegration? And why is it important? Rebecca Surtees, Senior Researcher, NEXUS Institute EU Closed door workshop Brussels, Belgium June 30, 2014

My life after trafficking “I didn’t have money. My family didn’t support me. I had anxiety. But somehow I felt relief because I was no longer in exploitive situation. I didn’t have a job. I only had a basic education. I dropped out of high school so the chances of me finding a job were small. I had bruises all over my body. I felt tired, lost, desperate… I had a bad relationship with my mother”. (Woman trafficked for prostitution)

My life after trafficking “I didn’t earn any money there so my family was poorer than before. I didn’t have a job. I didn’t have passport. I was nervous and afraid, especially when the court trial started. I was also concerned for my family’s safety… My wife was compassionate but at the same time she blamed me. She expected a better economic situation but she got stress and fear instead. I had a lot of family problems because of my decision to [work abroad]. I felt responsible for the worse economic situation of my family. I also had new expenses for court trail for doctors, medicine that I didn’t have before. I didn’t have a job and that problem still bothering me. I was ashamed so I never spoke with people in my community about my experience”. (Man trafficked for labour)

Defining reintegration Reintegration is the process of recovery and economic and social inclusion following a trafficking experience. It includes: settlement in a safe and secure environment, access to a reasonable standard of living, mental and physical well-being, opportunities for personal, social and economic development, access to social and emotional support. Central aspects: empowerment, independence and self- sufficiency, resilience

What is successful reintegration? Access to safe and affordable accommodation Physical well-being Mental well-being Economic situation Legal status Professional and employment opportunities Education and training opportunities Security and safety Healthy social environment Social well-being and positive interpersonal relations Access to services and opportunities Motivation and commitment to re/integration process Legal issues and court proceedings Assistance to secondary beneficiaries.

Comprehensive reintegration assistance safe and affordable accommodation medical assistance psychological support and counselling legal assistance education material assistance vocational/professional training economic development/opportunities (e.g. job placement, small business) family mediation and counselling case monitoring and follow-up assistance to secondary beneficiaries

Comprehensive reintegration assistance Trafficked persons may need some or many reintegration services Reintegration assistance cannot be done by one organisation or institution; need partnerships Three distinct phases of re/integration over three years: – crisis intervention (0-3 months) – transition (4-12 months) – re-integration/social inclusion (13-36 months).

Reintegration is complex, unpredictable, long term Re/integration is time consuming, expensive and intensely complex Re/integration is often seen as a long term but linear process, trafficked persons pass a series of steps which cumulatively result in recovery and inclusion. Can face set backs and “failures” along the way

Reintegration is complex, unpredictable, long term Reintegration is impacted by: – Individual context including managing physical, psychological and social impacts of exploitation. – Family and community context – Pre-existing vulnerabilities It requires a full and diverse package of services for individual (and often also family) to address root causes of trafficking as well as the impacts of exploitation.

An example of successful reintegration Life after trafficking… “I was unemployed and I didn't even know how to find a job. I was hiding from people. I had agoraphobia so I haven't had any friends. After trafficking I didn't want to live, pictures of abusing were always in my mind. I had insomnia and nightmares. I was worried, what kind of man will I find? Will he accept my past? What kind of mother will I be? Sometimes I felt general body weakness and I was concerned that I may have some illness: Hepatitis C, AIDS, or something similar. I was very thin”.

An example of successful reintegration Now successfully reintegrated… “My mental condition is good right now; I don’t have fears and nightmares anymore. I am not so thin like I was before. I have three months relationship with one man. I have friends and I am going out now without fear. I have the trial against my ex- boyfriend. It is always stressful for me but I am not so afraid like before because I know now what to do… I am planning to attend advance training for manicure. And I want to work in that field. And I would like to do that professionally as my extra job because my salary at this job is low. I am planning to rent an apartment and live separately from my mom and sister. I would like to have family one day, husband and children. I am planning to learn English language”.

…and the negative impact when they did not “Accommodation wasn’t offered to me and I didn’t ask for it but now when you asked me now I realised that if I have had accommodation that I didn’t have to pay for I wouldn’t have to live with my parents and I wouldn’t go back to drugs. Economic empowerment wasn’t offered to me, I just got a fee from the service. Of course any kind of economic empowerment was helpful but I didn’t ask for it. I simply didn’t know what I can get. The only thing I was asking for was the assistance of Centre of Social Work but I didn’t get it because I did not fulfil the legal requirements for such assistance… Vocational training wasn’t offered to me”.