Joel Quirk

@joelquirk.bsky.social

Enslavement and Abolition, Mobility and Work, Social Movements, Gender and Violence, Historical Repair, the Politics and History of Africa. Wits Politics Prof

The 10.8% statistic is shocking, but let it also be a reminder that 89.2% of college men graduate *without* raping anyone. It should not be hard at all to find political candidates with a history of non-violence. Especially since women can run for office too.

Nicole Bedera@nbedera.bsky.social · 4w ago

According to the most rigorous studies, 10.8% of college men perpetrate at least one rape before graduation. This statistic always comes to mind when I see men in power reacting with disgust to the idea that one of their peers could face even a shred of accountability.

words no longer mean anything.... 'terrorist' (now used to justify attacks on boats in the Caribbean) 'refugee' (now used to justify sending privileged white South Africans to the US) 'weapon of mass destruction' (this one is so stupid it isn't clear what is going on here)

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Late sharing cos was unwell, but here’s our farewell from openDemocracy’s Beyond Trafficking & Slavery. What a privilege to have been part of the editorial team. I learnt so much from our incredible contributors & the amazing Cam Thibos, Melissa Pawson & @joelquirk.bsky.social . Thank you all ❤️

Beyond Slavery@beyondslavery.bsky.social · 8mo ago

Our final editorial: THANK YOU to everyone who helped us make BTS a success over the past 11 years. We will forever be in your debt, and we will miss you! Take care. www.opendemocracy.net/en/beyond-tr...

This is something we've raised since "day one" rights were first mentioned. Farm workers here on temporary visas remain without unfair dismissal protections-even when returning every year. Last yr we had 145 dismissal cases: used as a threat, used when people complain, used to maintain power.

Emiliano Mellino@mellino.bsky.social · 8mo ago

Much will be said about this, but I can't help but think that the biggest losers will be seasonal agricultural workers. The six-month threshold is meaningless since their visa forces them to leave the country before it kicks in. It will remain completely legal to sack them unfairly at any time.

Have you been wondering what the hell is going on with US human trafficking policy under Trump 2.0? In the link below you will find a deep dive interview I did with Ambassador Luis C.deBaca, who used to run the TIP office back in the day. www.opendemocracy.net/en/beyond-tr...

Is Trump 2.0 killing off US anti-trafficking work?

The White House is dangerously close to making anti-trafficking what the critics always said it was: flash and fluff

opendemocracy.net

Our Human Trafficking Lead @mayal-n.bsky.social has written about the growing attack on sexual freedoms, the (mis)use of anti-trafficking frameworks to do so, + the opportunity it has given us to join an incredible alliance of feminist LGBTI rights activists: www.opendemocracy.net/en/beyond-tr...

A bizarre new alliance is coming after sexual freedoms

Radical feminists and religious groups teamed up against sex work. Now they’re going after broader reproductive freedoms

opendemocracy.net

Our final feature is rolling out! We wanted to end on a positive note, so asked a bunch of amazing people to write about their experiences with cross-movement solidarity and organising. We're very excited to share it with you. Enjoy! www.opendemocracy.net/en/beyond-tr...

Solidarity beyond silos is our best bet to end exploitation

Far-right bullies are on the rise, and exploitation will likely rise with them. Cross-movement organising is the only way out

opendemocracy.net

Despite huge sums spent on anti-trafficking, there are staggeringly few evaluations of interventions & growing evidence of harms caused. This new edited book with @uclpress.bsky.social is our attempt to help change that. 1/ Open access with free digital downloads: uclpress.co.uk/book/evaluat...

Evaluating Anti-Trafficking Interventions

Explore the complexities of trafficking and the importance of effective evaluation in anti-trafficking interventions and measures.

uclpress.co.uk

Kicking us off is a fantastic piece about solidarities in action by Elene Lam & @chanellegallant.bsky.social . Lots to learn here from Butterfly about how Asian migrant sex workers have organised across silos in Canada and the US. www.opendemocracy.net/en/beyond-tr...

In the fight for sex workers’ rights, this is solidarity

Over 300 migrant sex workers took on city hall to keep their businesses, showing the power of collective organising

opendemocracy.net

Next out in our final @beyondslavery.bsky.social feature is this brilliant piece by Jake Hall about Wages for Housework. An important historical lens on solidarities beyond silos on the global stage, and the legacies of this trailblazing movement. www.opendemocracy.net/en/beyond-tr...

How Wages for Housework sparked an international movement

The 1970s movement paved the way for queer, Black, trans and sex working feminist organising across the world today

opendemocracy.net