On World Day against Trafficking in Persons, The Salvation Army continues reaching out with a message of hope as we partner together worldwide in the fight against human trafficking.

One example of the Army’s work is the Green Light Project in Greece. This community-based center in Athens’ red-light district supports women and children who are undergoing sexual exploitation and trafficking with a range of services and programs. The project team walks alongside survivors as they regain their physical and emotional health and gradually reintegrate into society. 

THE JOURNEY OUT OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING

Rebecca Misthou, Green Light Project and Anti-Human Trafficking Developer of The Salvation Army’s Italy and Greece Territory, says, “It is with joy that we share that over the past three years, we have started seeing changes in the red-light district of Omonia since several women with whom we have been case working are transitioning out and have exited MHT. It has been a long journey as they have been encountering many challenges and trauma yet moving forward.”

One particular challenge for survivors, is the lack of legal documents. In Greece, as in many countries, this excludes survivors from legal employment and access to state-related social welfare benefits. Through in-house programs and local partnerships, the Green Light Project supports women during the long process of applying for a residence permit. Several of the women linked to the project have received their residence permits after previous failed applications and a wait of around two years. Some now have part-time jobs with non-profit businesses in the Athens Freedom Network, a group of Christian-based organizations in the city. The Salvation Army in Italy and Greece is looking into more ways to improve survivor access to legal and dignified employment.

A VOICE OF ADVOCACY

The Green Light Project has raised a voice of advocacy for survivors through ongoing connections with non-governmental organizations and state agencies. This way of cooperating is still relatively new in Greece, but conversations about human trafficking are opening, and there is intentionality in bringing together society’s forces to tackle the problem.

The Green Light Project is strengthening its presence and aiming to play a significant role in the work against MHT in Greece. As Rebecca says, “Making the world safer and more dignified is challenging but not impossible.” 

Based on a report from IHQ Communications