Preventing and redressing exploitation. Methods of anti-trafficking social work outreach in Northern Italy

Abstract

ABSTRACT This contribution presents the strategies enacted by anti-trafficking outreach workers as jointly codified with the authors in the context of project FARm (www.project-farm.eu). The project aimed at identifying and addressing root causes of labour exploitation in agriculture in Northern Italy, by activating networks of local stakeholders in the generation of knowledge and preventive interventions. It addressed four topics: a. emersion of exploitation, b. inclusion of persons exploited or at risk, c. labour intermediation and d. self-regulation of enterprises. As part of the first topic, practitioners in social professions working in anti-trafficking organisations, identified four stages of outreach work for the emersion of persons exploited or at risk: a. contact and engagement of persons potentially exploited; b. needs/resources analysis and service pact; c. bridging between beneficiaries and services; d. formal identification of severe exploitation and referral pathways. With particular attention to multi-agency work and bridging services amidst a fragmented welfare system, this contribution frames the documented strategies among current reflections on outreach social work and underline its transformative potential in anti-trafficking efforts. Documenting intervention methodologies against trafficking in human beings, is a first step to enable an evaluation of their effectiveness, and to promote concerted efforts in this area.