Highlights of the student co-designed project “Understanding Human Trafficking: A Resource for Awareness and Prevention”

Understanding Human Trafficking: A Resource for Awareness and Prevention is a bottom-up initiative that, thanks to the Arqus Student Co-designed Projects 2024 funding, brings together students from the University of Padua (UNIPD) and the University of Granada (UGR).

Project conclusion by Caroline Massareli and Lidia Meloni.

We are delighted to announce the successful completion of our project, Understanding Human Trafficking: A Resource for Awareness and Prevention, developed as part of the Arqus Student Co-Designed Project framework.

This initiative aimed to shed light on the often-overlooked issue of human trafficking, with a particular focus on its impact in Italy and Spain. Through a combination of research, collaboration, and fieldwork, we sought to provide practical tools to empower individuals to better understand and address this critical problem.

In collaboration with the University of Granada and with insights gained from local NGOs, we analysed reports from the United Nations, Universal Periodic Review (UPR) recommendations, and findings from GRETA (the Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings). Additionally, field visits to the Italian cooperative On the Road gave us a valuable firsthand understanding of the strategies and challenges involved in combating trafficking and supporting survivors.

The central outcome of our project is an informative booklet, a practical resource designed to help students, citizens, and communities recognize and understand human trafficking. The booklet covers key topics such as identifying the signs of trafficking, understanding the legal frameworks in Italy and Spain, and knowing how and where to seek help. To maximize accessibility, the booklet is available in four languages: Italian, Spanish, English, and Portuguese. This ensures that diverse audiences can benefit from the resource and promotes broader awareness across linguistic and cultural boundaries.

At the conclusion of the project, we had the privilege of presenting the booklet and the outcomes of our work during the PMUPR 2024 event, held at the “A. Papisca” Human Rights Centre of the University of Padua. This presentation provided an opportunity to share our findings with students and foster a deeper conversation about the importance of tackling human trafficking.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the organizations and institutions that supported us: Arqus, the University of Padua, the University of Granada (in particular to Diana Ordóñez Grebennikova), the cooperative On the Road, and the “A. Papisca” Human Rights Centre for hosting our presentation during the PMUPR. Your contributions were vital to the success of this project.

Explore the booklet and learn more about this critical issue. Together, we can raise awareness and take steps toward a world free from human trafficking.