Write to US and ALL media houses!
| Not everyone knows what modern slavery is or what it looks like. Too often, people’s experiences are lost through inaccurate and sensationalized representations in the media. We’ve all seen images of women tied in ropes and chains. The problem is that inaccurate narratives lead to poor policymaking that fails to protect people from exploitation. We’re seeing new laws being proposed that will make it more difficult for survivors to identify themselves as having experienced trafficking, impeding their safe recovery.[1] Media organizations play a key role in shaping the narratives around slavery through their coverage. That’s why we’re asking if you can call on them to sign up to the My Story, My Dignity pledge today. |
| Write to media organizations |
| Disempowering language and images unintentionally create and reinforce stereotypes preventing authorities and survivors from recognizing their own experiences and accessing the support they’re entitled to. Human trafficking always involving physical force, kidnapping, and restraint is a common trope in news articles, documentaries, and films. But the far more common reality is much less dramatic and embedded in the way we work. Structural inequalities create conditions in which people have fewer options, and traffickers are empowered to exploit people’s desperation. Understanding how modern slavery occurs, what people’s experiences are really like, and what systemic changes survivors are calling for is critical to developing sustainable solutions to preventing modern slavery. Ask the media to sign the pledge and commit to representing survivors with dignity. By taking a stance against inaccurate, sensationalist portrayals of slavery, media organizations could be powerful allies in setting a standard for communicating the realities of slavery. Committing to the standards set out in the pledge demonstrates anti-racism in action for a future in which communities are no longer marginalized and so less easily subjected to systematic exploitation. Send them a message today! In solidarity, Miriam and the Freedom United team |
| Miriam Karmali Advocacy, Freedom United |
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