The Salvation Army Anti-Human Trafficking programs are leaders in Canada for rehabilitative programming for Survivors. With this responsibility, we have made a commitment to Ethical Storytelling, joining thousands of agencies across the world and leading the initiative here in Canada. Recovery, safety, and protection of Survivors is paramount to us. We recognize that raising up Survivor voice is an important component of changing the script of the story of human trafficking and of bringing truth out of the shadows, but historically across the world this has at times caused risk and harm to survivors without proper protocols and standards in place. Human trafficking is a severe crime with serious impact on its victims, as well as ongoing risks of safety and re-exploitation. Therefore we adhere to the following standards in storytelling of Survivor experiences through our programs, and encourage agencies across Canada to rise to these same standards:
- No Survivor will be required to share any part of their story for public or promotional uses while accessing our programs. Their best interest and safety will always take precedent.
- Survivors who express a desire to share their stories or input are provided appropriate training and one on one support to develop their message. Survivors are provided appropriate time to reflect on what they would like to communicate, with the goal of equal partnership.
- Opportunities to participate in internal research projects will be conducted with our established Ethics Guidelines, which align with Government of Canada standards & the World Health Organization
- We follow applicable laws, including the Convention on the Rights of the Child, as well as the United Nations Economic and Social Council’s Guidelines on Justice in Matters Involving Child Victims and Witnesses of Crime when working with minors.
- Storytelling will make every effort to ensure that Survivors engaged in criminal or civil justice proceedings are not jeopardized or conditions violated.
- Survivors are informed of what the information will be used for (for example, private or public teaching, website, etc), and who will be able to see it.
- Survivors will give written informed consent for use, which can be revoked by them at any time.
- Survivors currently engaged in our programs will use a pseudonym and any identifying details that will cause potential harm to them will be removed. No images of Survivor faces will be used, and any images with a Survivor will ensure their privacy is protected and as specialized consent.
- Survivors who have accessed recovery will be provided access to grow as consultants and educators, and where appropriate, be provided honoraria for their time where possible.
- We commit that Survivors who have achieved levels of recovery and stability will be offered opportunities to give their input in our program development and implementation, as well as evaluation and public education purposes.
- We commit to using storytelling and images for the purpose of prevention & education, free of sensationalism and stereotypes.
- Program funders who request survivor testimonies will be made aware of these standards. Research projects will ensure this lens is applied.
We encourage all exploitation serving agencies in Canada to adopt these standards, and sign the ethical storytelling pledge at ethicalstorytelling.com
