Impact case study database

Human trafficking, also known as modern slavery, is a serious threat to the physical, sexual, and psychological wellbeing of its victims. This has been recognised by the major efforts of successive UK governments to fight it. Specifically, Piotrowicz’s research on trafficking has had an impact in four areas:

1. In monitoring States’ compliance with their obligations under the Council of Europe Anti-Trafficking Convention;

2. In informing state policy;

3. In embedding the principle of non-punishment of trafficked people in national legal systems; and

4. In providing training and guidelines for States on the legal issues surrounding human trafficking.

Combined, these represent a sustained and significant impact on policy and practice.

Monitoring state compliance – In 2012, Piotrowicz was elected to GRETA. In 2017, Piotrowicz was then elected Second Vice-President, and in 2019 he was elected First Vice-President [5.1]. In this executive role, and informed by his research, Piotrowicz helped to shape the agenda and decide priorities for GRETA’s work. His work has been recognised by the Executive Secretary of GRETA:

Prof. Piotrowicz has been a very active member of GRETA, both in its monitoring work and in contributing to the development of its policies. Both of these activities directly influence the actions of States in assisting trafficked people and prosecuting the perpetrators. [5.1]

International guidelines and European policy informed by Piotrowicz’s research is extensively referred to in GRETA country monitoring reports [5.2.a; 5.1]. Piotrowicz’s research for the UNHCR human trafficking Guidelines had a direct impact on how States help trafficking victims, and those at risk of being trafficked, and influenced the development of policy in this area. The Guidelines have been cited in court judgments [5.3; 5.4], and extensively in the country monitoring reports of GRETA from 2014 to 2020 [5.2.a; 5.2.b], with the objective of persuading States to implement their duty to protect trafficked persons, as well as in UNHCR training packages [5.5; 5.1].

Informing state policy - As a member of GRETA, Piotrowicz made nine country monitoring visits from 2014 to 2020 [5.2.a]. The recommendations adopted after these visits must be implemented by the country concerned to fulfil its anti-trafficking obligations. Accordingly, his country-monitoring work, using expertise learned from his research in this area, directly impacted on States’ anti-trafficking laws and policies [5.2.a]. Additionally, the UNHCR human trafficking Guidelines have been cited in court judgments in the UK [5.3.a-d] and Advisory Opinions of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights in 2014 [5.4].

Embedding the principle of non-punishment - Piotrowicz’s report for the Special Coordinator for Anti-Trafficking of the OSCE on the non-punishment of victims of trafficking was cited in guidance for States published by the United Nations (UN) on 15 June 2020 [5.6], in policy statements by the UN Special Rapporteur on Trafficking in Human Beings in April and June 2020 [5.7.a; 5.7.b], by the UK government on 21 March 2016 [5.8.a], and by the UN Inter-Agency Coordination Group against Trafficking in Persons (ICAT) in 2016 and 2018 [5.8.b.i; 5.8.b.ii].

Piotrowicz’s work for the OSCE in developing the policy of non-punishment of trafficked persons was also extensively referenced in GRETA’s country reports between 2015 and 2020 [5.2.a]. All GRETA country reports between 2015 and 2020 refer to the OSCE policy of non-punishment of trafficked persons [5.1] as guidance for States. For the Head of International Migration Law at the International Organization for Migration, Piotrowicz’s work:

has contributed to the evolution of this principle and its wider acceptance in national legal systems. I constantly refer to his work in my activities both research and advocacy related and can for certain attest to the impact his work has had in this field. [5.9]

Providing training and guidelines for States on the legal issues surrounding human trafficking - The UNHCR trafficking Guidelines were cited by the UK government in 2016 [5.8.a], and by the UN Inter-Agency Coordination Group against Trafficking in Persons (ICAT) in 2016 and 2018 [5.8.b.i; 5.8.b.ii]. They have also been used in UNHCR training packages on human trafficking [5.5]. Piotrowicz also devised training programmes in migration law across Europe, organised by the Council of Europe, International Organization for Migration (IOM), and the European Union, for personnel working in anti-trafficking roles, such as immigration officials and non-governmental organisations [5.1]. The Head of International Migration Law at IOM highlights that participants confirm that the training increases their ‘understanding and awareness of the legal complexities of human trafficking’ [5.9], which is reflected in their work.

Piotrowicz was appointed adviser to the Government of Romania on an international project aimed at preventing trafficking of people for forced begging. The appointment was made after open competition, based on his research and experience in the area. His work led to the publication of a handbook [3.1] for police and judicial authorities on dealing with trafficking for forced begging, published in English, French, German and Romanian.

In conclusion, Piotrowicz’s work has significantly informed policy on human trafficking in Europe, globally and in individual countries. The UK Home Office’s Deputy Director of Modern Slavery confirms that Piotrowicz’s ‘contribution and continued commitment in this field [modern slavery and human trafficking] has been hugely valuable’ [5.10].

Impacts on the health and wellbeing of people

Dewis Choice provides a unique service across Wales, as the only route for older people experiencing Domestic Violence and Abuse (DVA). Referrals were received from Cardiff, Carmarthenshire, and Mid-West Wales Safeguarding Leads from March 2015 [5.1.a]; and pan-Wales from July 2020 to present [5.2.a], as part of the Mid-West Wales Regional Pathway to Support [5.3], for example. Dewis Choice provides tailored support for older victim-survivors of DVA, which address gaps in DVA services, and improves justice-seeking responses. This reduces the risk of DVA and future harm, and changes and enhances the lives of the older victim-survivors supported.

Older victim-survivors supported by Dewis Choice reported that: ‘ the project has helped me… Escape. Restart my life’ [5.4.a]; and ‘ [i]t actually change[d] my life and I can’t emphasise that enough’ [5.4.b]; another client reported that it ‘ had a big effect on my quality of life … for years and years I just shut up about the domestic violence but after Dewis I was able to talk about this experience’ [5.4.c]. Dewis Choice clients report the service was life-changing and life-saving: ‘ Don’t think I would have coped without the choice support workers there when I escaped. They helped me when I was leaving and called the police. I don’t think I would have survived because of the threat he posed to me’ [5.4.a] Another client explained: ‘without them [Dewis Choice] you know its no lie I would have given in on myself because I couldn’t cope’ [5.4.d].

Impacts on practitioners and delivery of professional services

Dewis Choice also informed more effective provision and delivery of public services for older victim-survivors of DVA across the UK. For example, the largest UK provider of DVA training, SafeLives, embedded Dewis Choice training into its practitioner training [5.5], including practitioner training funded by the Welsh Government and Home Office [5.6]. The SafeLives

Programme Lead confirms that Dewis Choice training ‘had an indelible impact on the learners [practitioners] and how they have developed their practice going forward. Feedback from attendees has consistently included how it has enabled them to work differently with older victims and improve their agencies response’ [5.6].

Furthermore, training across Scotland provided regional safety partnerships - including health and social care, police, and third sector organisations - with a greater understanding of older people and DVA. It enabled them to have confidence in identifying and reporting suspected abuse, and to be able to work with other organisations to better support older people. The training highlighted that organisations ‘previously had limited information of the fact that older people are not able to share their experiences or feel unable to disclose the abuse they are experiencing’ [5.7.a], and ‘ influenced the way services … work[ed] with older people and how we sometimes prioritise their physical needs against their emotional needs’ [5.7a]. The safeguarding practitioners trained examined their practices and set down actions to improve their practices and service responses for older people [5.7.b]. Dewis Choice influenced how safeguarding practitioners viewed older victim-survivors and how additional support could be offered and committed to ‘continuously improving … practice for the ageing population’ [5.7.c].

Impacts on public policy, law, and services

Dewis Choice also contributed to Welsh Government committees, documents, and campaigns. Including Welsh Government National Safeguarding Guidance, crucial for Adult Safeguarding, which helps better support and respond to older people experiencing abuse [5.2.b; 5.2.c; 5.2.d]. As members of OPC strategic and working groups, Dewis Choice inform guidance and help protect older people from DVA [5.2.a]. The OPC nominated Wydall for the Audrey Jones Memorial Award in respect of the work undertaken in conjunction with the OPC’s office [5.2.c].

The Mid-West Wales Regional DVA Strategy highlights Dewis Choice as a project to ‘be considered when considering overall regional response to domestic abuse, sexual violence and violence against women’ [5.1.c]. The Regional Strategic Lead reports that:

The impact that the Dewis Choice Project has had for older people who have experienced abuse and their families is unmeasurable. … the work and research the project is producing has and will continue to have, a profound and ground breaking impact on the understanding and awareness of the abuse experienced by older people, as well as the development and improvement of the responses and support available. [5.1.b]

Furthermore, Dewis Choice led to the Dyfed-Powys Police Crime Commissioner (PCC) incorporating the needs of older people experiencing DVA into the Dyfed-Powys PCC Police and Crime Plan 2017-2021 [5.8], making older people and DVA a key priority for the Force area. The Police Crime Commissioner reports: ‘Dyfed Powys Police joined forces with the team in 2018 in issuing referrals to their unique Service through Goleudy and our Victim and Witness Service, increasing access to justice for older victim-survivors within our community’ [5.8].

In response to Covid-19, Dewis Choice provided online training, which was endorsed by the OPC who ‘ urged those who may come into contact with older people through their work to use the training course to ensure they have the skills and knowledge they need to recognise potential abuse and ensure that people get the help and support they need’ [5.2.a]. This resource was incorporated into the Wales Victim Prevention Unit COVID-19 resource pack for safeguarding practitioners and service providers [5.2.a, 5.9]; and in a Public Health Wales briefing on COVID-19 and violence for the World Health Organization, Europe [5.10].

As a member of Welsh Government and OPC’s Action Groups, Dewis Choice contributed to Welsh Government campaigns, including, the Welsh Government Protecting and Safeguarding Older People: Covid-19 Information Pack, the You Are Not Alone campaign, and Homes Should Be A Safe Space campaign [5.2.a]. The OPC reports that Dewis Choice is ‘changing the world and making a real difference…I personally value what you are doing to transform older people’s lives and it's probably no exaggeration to say to save lives as well’ [5.2.b].