The term modern slavery encompasses a spectrum of exploitation, including sex trafficking, forced labour and debt bondage. In the UK alone, over 120,000 people are estimated to be living in these conditions. Structural inequalities and intersectional vulnerabilities leave individuals at risk – and even after escaping exploitation, many survivors face continued marginalisation.
Throughout 2022 and 2023, I spoke with survivors who shared stories of profound hardship, resilience, and dignity. We Are Not Invisible amplifies the human voices behind modern slavery, highlighting it within the broader context of hostile migration policies and exclusionary attitudes in Europe - a continent that symbolises safety for many yet continues to fail its most vulnerable.
To protect identities, all names have been changed. We Are Not Invisible was recently featured in It’s Nice That and shortlisted for British Journal of Photography's Portrait of Humanity.
“After being detained so many times, I was convinced that safety didn’t exist, that maybe it was just in my imagination.”
““I worked 12 hours every day. I was provided with just two sandwiches per day and had to sleep on the floor, using my jacket to shield myself from the cold. I couldn’t change my clothes; there was no shower, only a hose outside.””
“I left Gaza seeking protection, but in Greece, I didn’t feel safe. I had hoped for safety, but the trauma of my past followed me, and I felt just as vulnerable as I did back home.”
“Every day was the same. I was forced to work in the trafficker’s salon from 8am to 6pm then get ready and go to the clubs at 9pm, working until 2am when they closed. I was exhausted. Some men took advantage of me, some were violent. I was afraid for my life.”
“For three months, I was alone and not allowed to leave, forced to grow and look after cannabis plants. I knew the work was illegal, I just didn’t have any other choice.”
