Shirley (16) and Pendo (15) pose for a photo outside their home in Nairobi, where they live in a shelter for survivors of child trafficking. At the long term living shelter both girls are receiving psychological care, building relationships with other survivors, and learning self care.
Faces Behind Atrocity
Matilde Simas | Nairobi, Kenya
Organization: HAART
Photographer: Matilde Simas
Organization: HAART
Exhibit Title: Faces Behind Atrocity
Location: Nairobi, Kenya
Despite increasing efforts and a global movement to raise awareness about the atrocities of human trafficking, many people remain unaware that modern day slavery persists in alarming numbers.
The series involved seven girls of four different nationalities, ranging in age from 13 to 16 years old. They were lured by promises of education; sold outright by family members and forced into domestic servitude or prostitution, or sent away by family to marry a stranger.
This collaborative project aims to make visible the lives of survivors by engaging survivors in the creative process about how to best tell and represent their own personal stories. Further, "Faces Behind Atrocity" aims to be a tool for advocacy, and learning. The series seeks to engage with an audience to challenge common myths about human trafficking; and foster a dialogue about the root causes.
In the process, Matilde aims to empower survivors; to tap into the therapeutic power of photography to help survivors in recovery. The objective is to move away from notions of pity and disempowerment and to portray courage, honesty, beauty and strength.
Bronze, Book | Tokyo International Foto Awards | Faces Behind Atrocity, 2018
Silver, Social Cause | Lucie Foundation International Photography Award| Faces Behind Atrocity, 2017
Honorable Mention | PX3 PRIX de La Photographie Paris| Faces Behind Atrocity, 2017
Despite increasing efforts and a global movement to raise awareness about the atrocities of human trafficking, many people remain unaware that modern day slavery persists in alarming numbers. This collaborative project aims to make visible the lives of survivors by engaging survivors in the creative process about how to best tell and represent their own personal stories.
Human trafficking is globally pervasive, economically motivated, and emotionally overwhelming. In collaboration with the survivors, Matilde Simas worked to provide a forum for healing through art. The series involved seven girls of four different nationalities, ranging in age from 13 to 16 years old. They were lured by promises of education; sold outright by family members and forced into domestic servitude or prostitution, or sent away by family to marry a stranger.
In this portrait series low lighting was used to evoke a mood of deception and secrecy that has been endured. In a pure example of courage, many of these girls chose to hide their faces behind a mask to protect their identity. In addition to providing a visual representation of their resilience, beauty, and strength, each girl recorded a written testimony of how they were lead into trafficking and the atrocities they faced.
"Faces Behind Atrocity" aims to be a tool for advocacy, and learning. The series seeks to engage with an audience to challenge common myths about human trafficking; and foster a dialogue about the root causes. In the process, photographer, Matilde Simas aims to empower survivors; to tap into the therapeutic power of photography to help survivors in recovery. Early on it became evident, for some, it nurtures their confidence, for others it has given them a feeling of being worthy and valued. The objective is to move away from notions of pity and disempowerment and to portray courage, honesty, beauty and strength.
Matilde’s work on human trafficking has been widely exhibited by various UN agencies. “Faces Behind Atrocity” is an award-winning series that documents, through portraiture, the experience of surviving human trafficking and the journey to healing and recovery.
HAART Kenya does awareness campaigns in the community using art through the project Arts to End Slavery that is a moving impact exhibition that brings together artists to create awareness about the issue.
A Kenyan based nonprofit, HAART Kenya
Behind the concept of "Faces Behind Atrocity"
Human trafficking is one of the most difficult subjects to document due to the atrocities these women have endured. Because of this; human trafficking is rarely documented using a combination of survivor portraits and testimonies. My goal was to empower the survivors by creating a safe, trusting, collaborative environment. We began growing our relationships by communicating about everyone’s feelings about the project. They shared with me their ideas and the boundaries and I committed to respecting them. Our portrait session provided the survivors with the power to decide how they wanted to be photographed. We all agreed we wanted to create portraits to spread awareness about human trafficking and to aid in the movement for social change.
What ethical questions came up for you during the process of bearing witness to survivor stories and taking their portraits? How did you overcome these challenges?
The biggest concern for this project was hiding the identities of the survivor's faces due to fear of their perpetrators finding them and the stigma that surrounds Human Trafficking.
The mask concept came about as a way to conceal the identies of the child survivors. Each survivor was given the choice as to which mask represented them best. I provided the lighting concept and all survivors agreed the representation of darkness was important to execute.
In the end the most important part of this process for me was to make sure the survivors that participated in the activity felt that they had control of the process at all times. Everyone was given a platform to exercise their voice, opinions, and their right to decide. I believe the whole process was a successful therapeutic exercise.
Can photography and storytelling change the world? If so, why/how?
Photography has the power to bait emotions, stretch an individual’s perspective, understanding, and compassion. For example, the images of the brave women who survived human trafficking will likely solicit an empathetic response from viewers.
What is your message to the world with this project?
Most people believe trafficking happens somewhere else. Awareness is key and simple. Everyone can take a minute and talk about trafficking in their own space. You can also join the movement by promoting and supporting organizations that work to fight human trafficking.
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