Warning: This episode contains references to human exploitation and is only intended to be heard by adults aged 18 and over. If you are likely to find this distressing, emotionally triggering or challenging, please consider carefully how you might want to engage with this episode. We’ve provided links for support agencies in the description below. Stay safe. 

Welcome to this week’s episode where I talk to Rachel Bikhole. 

Rachel is the co-founder of Survivors Destiny, the only safe house provider specifically for male victims of human trafficking in Uganda. 

A Prosecutor for over 18 years, Rachel was previously the Head of the Anti-Trafficking division of the Office of Director of Public Prosecutions in Uganda, as well as the role of Deputy Head of International Crimes. 

Rachel explains how traffickers attempt to locate victims before a criminal trial proceeds in order to intimidate them into withdrawing their support for the investigation.

To protect the victims…safe houses are used…secure accommodation in secret locations.  

With no other safe houses for men or young boys in Uganda, Rachel tells us how male victims sometimes have to go back to their exploiter as the authorities have nowhere to put them.

I meet Rachel in one of the victim safe houses in Uganda. The location is secret, but Rachel gives us a tour, describing the layout and explaining why such safe houses are vital in the fight against human trafficking.  

 Survivor’s Destiny website ⁠⁠https://survivorsdestiny.com⁠⁠

 Emergency and support lines

UK emergency 999 / non-emergency 112, Europe emergency 112, US emergency 911 (A full list of global emergency telephone numbers can be accessed on Wikipedia at: ⁠https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_emergency_telephone_numbers⁠) 

Childline 0800 1111

Crimestoppers UK 0800 555111

UK Modern Slavery & Exploitation Helpline 08000 121 700

Migrant Help 0808 8010 503

Rape Crisis England & Wales 0808 5002222