REPORT LAUNCH

Mapping Her Journey

MAPPING HER JOURNEY

Do Bold Releases Report on Human Trafficking, Forced Labour Between Sierra Leone and Oman

On September 7th, Do Bold published the results of nearly two years of research — our findings revealing widespread human trafficking between Sierra Leone and Oman. This research has created one of the largest data sets on domestic workers in the Gulf and uses primary, real-time and near real-time data to reveal widespread, normalised and accepted practices indicating human trafficking and forced labour.

Read the Report

Follow the link to read "Mapping Her Journey: Documenting Widespread Issues Affecting Sierra Leonean Domestic Workers in Oman Using Primary, Real-Time and Near Real-Time Data"

Attend the Webinar

You are invited to join us for a webinar detailing and expounding on our findings. The webinar will be held twice to accommodate a variety of time zones.

-- Wednesday, September 7th at 2 pm (Muscat) // 10 am (GMT)
-- Thursday, September 8th at 11am (New York) // 3pm (GMT)

About the Webinar

Joined by our partner in Sierra Leone, we will release our findings from the largest research done with domestic workers in the Gulf, present our recommendations to address the issues, and discuss how organisations, governments and businesses can use our findings and methodology to prevent and address modern slavery.

About the Report

Domestic workers are one of the communities least protected by existing laws and one of the most vulnerable to exploitation in the world. We have documented an array of systemic and widespread abusive practices against Sierra Leonean women domestic workers in Oman that begin in the recruitment process and continue in their host country.

This report identifies widespread abusive practices, policy gaps, and questions the effectiveness of current systems. Throughout a 22 month project, we organised 656 Sierra Leonean women domestic workers into one community, had conversations with 390 women, received 621 survey entries and verified 469 of these surveys. In this research, we document a thriving human
trafficking business and widespread, normalised and accepted practices that indicate forced labour.

This report exposes, accurately and meaningfully, the harsh realities of the lives of domestic workers to those who have the power to change systems, policies and practices. We intend to spotlight the stories of these women, as told by them, to remind us that there are real lives and countless untold stories behind these numbers and percentages.

About Do Bold

For 10 years Do Bold has worked on-the-ground in the Gulf to advance human rights, human dignity and decent work for all migrant workers. They solve complex and dynamic problems affecting workers by harnessing powerful data to improve systems and workers’ lives, working both with the affected community and decision-makers to achieve worker-centred outcomes. They envision a sustainable world where all workers are treated justly and equally, and have access to justice, remedy, and opportunities to thrive.

To learn more about our work in Oman from 2020-2022, click here.

About the Artist

Report artwork was provided by Hawa-Jane Bangura who lives and works in Freetown, Sierra Leone. She studied Art in the UK and USA. She also holds a degree in law and established a successful career as a lawyer at the New York State Bar and later in the corporate sector in Sierra Leone.