A new research study from Kings College, London, has revealed the degree of physical and psychological health problems human trafficking survivors experience months after escaping from exploitation.

Although it is well known that many victims of trafficking experience physical violence, hardship and threatening treatment during their exploitation, this survey puts it in stark terms:

42% of the men and 77% of the women in the study had experienced physical violence during their trafficking. Many had sustained injuries as a result of this violence or other incidents which had resulted in ongoing pain or difficulty in a significant number of cases. Two thirds of the women had been raped (including those trafficked for domestic service and labour exploitation as well as victims of sexual exploitation).

Sadly, freedom from exploitation does not bring an immediate end to a victim’s suffering. This research reveals the extent to which those experiences continue to impact victims after the exploitation has ended.

In this research the survivors were interviewed on average 16 months after they had escaped their trafficking situation, but many were continuing to experience physical symptoms like headaches, dizziness and memory difficulties. Significant numbers experienced chest pains, stomach problems or back pain and 22% of women had been diagnosed with sexual transmitted infections.

Most striking though are the number of survivors experiencing high levels of psychological symptoms. Almost 70% of the 150 survivors interviewed had symptoms of depression, anxiety disorder or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) – close to 80% of the female survivors. The study also demonstrated the levels of fear that victims continue to experience with nearly three quarters of them expressing that they felt they were still in danger from their trafficker.

This study highlights the importance of ensuring victims receive adequate care and support when they escape their trafficking situation. CARE continues to call on the Government to extend the period of guaranteed support for victims from 45 days to 90. Many victims do not feel ready to access health care or mental health services immediately after they escape from their trafficker, but after that 45 day period ends many are left without help and unable to access those services. A longer period of support will mean survivors have adequate time to begin that recovery process and will be helped to access the services they need.

The Modern Slavery Act 2015 was a great leap forward but there is more work to do and this research is a clear reminder of the ongoing challenge to support human trafficking victims properly.

Read more on this report in the Independent

The full report is available here