Maya Esslemont (they/them)
LightNews LightNews
banner
mayaesslemont.bsky.social
Maya Esslemont (they/them)
@mayaesslemont.bsky.social
94 followers 130 following 7 posts
Frenemy of the state / Director of After Exploitation (afterexploitation.bsky.social), investigating modern slavery, justice and lack thereof.
Art dabbler / dauber.
Views my own.
Posts Replies Media Videos
Reposted by Maya Esslemont (they/them)
bigissue.com
After Exploitation found just 4% of modern slavery and trafficking survivors can access counselling through Home Office contracts.
Few modern slavery survivors get counselling. They have to face their trauma alone
www.bigissue.com
July 25, 2025 at 1:51 PM
Reposted by Maya Esslemont (they/them)
afterexploitation.bsky.social
Only 4% of adults referred as victims of modern slavery get counselling through the Home Office-funded scheme for survivors.

In theory, survivors can get counselling via the NHS, but many are dismissed or face long delays:

afterexploitation.com/2025/06/11/m...

#UK #politics #news #uknews
June 11, 2025 at 8:42 AM
Reposted by Maya Esslemont (they/them)
afterexploitation.bsky.social
Mimi Jalmasco speaking at the joint #SurvivorFutures webinar w/ VODW, @ilpaimmigration.bsky.social @kalayaan.org.uk @kingsartshums.bsky.social:

"The best way to prevent re-trafficking of migrant domestic workers is reinstating our visa rights. The right to change employers and have real protection"
May 19, 2025 at 3:17 PM
Reposted by Maya Esslemont (they/them)
afterexploitation.bsky.social
"Emphasis on one ‘type’ of victim stops survivors coming forward"

After Exploitation commissioned mental health advocate and survivor, Kate Elysia, to work with an artist illustrating her perspectives on exploitation.

Read the interview with Kate here ⤵️

afterexploitation.com/2025/05/23/b...
May 27, 2025 at 3:43 PM
Reposted by Maya Esslemont (they/them)
sonial77.bsky.social
Maya really is so good at FOIs, I cannot recommend this workshop enough
April 29, 2025 at 7:33 PM
mayaesslemont.bsky.social
npr.org NPR @npr.org · Apr 24
House Rep. Gerry Connolly is pushing CDC leadership to explain why the personnel who handle FOIA requests lost their jobs, noting that that the public has a right to access federal records.
House oversight committee demands answers on gutting of CDC public records office
House Rep. Gerry Connolly is pushing CDC leadership to explain why the personnel who handle FOIA requests lost their jobs, noting that that the public has a right to access federal records.
www.npr.org
April 25, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Reposted by Maya Esslemont (they/them)
legalactiongroup.bsky.social
📢 Last call for our Housing Conditions update webinar tomorrow with Catherine O'Donnell of @gardencourtlaw.bsky.social

🗓️ 20th March, 17:30-18:30

📒 Attendees will receive Catherine's 2-part annual Housing Conditions update from Legal Action magazine

👉 Register at tinyurl.com/Housing-Cond...
LAG Housing Conditions Update Webinar
Catherine O'Donnell will present this Housing Conditions update based on her annual update in Legal Action magazine.
tinyurl.com
March 19, 2025 at 11:37 AM
Reposted by Maya Esslemont (they/them)
htlegalcenter.bsky.social
Trafficking survivors need legal status to rebuild their lives after #sextrafficking or #forcedlabor. We are concerned that the processing time for T Visas — visas for #traffickingsurvivors — is now 20 months. We call on USCIS to bring down processing times. egov.uscis.gov/processing-t...
March 18, 2025 at 1:42 PM
Reposted by Maya Esslemont (they/them)
alasdairmackenzie.bsky.social
“All the people here, everyone is suffering.” A day in the life of an asylum hotel.
A day in the life of an asylum hotel: inside the UK’s most controversial accommodation
The media often stigmatises asylum hotels – and they are sometimes physically attacked too. But behind closed doors are people who dream of work, wheels, security and the simple freedom to choose what...
www.theguardian.com
March 18, 2025 at 10:21 PM
mayaesslemont.bsky.social
Great news 👏 Hopefully others follow suit
wired.com WIRED @wired.com · Mar 18
They're called public records for a reason. Starting today, WIRED will *stop paywalling* articles that are primarily based on public records obtained through the Freedom of Information Act, becoming the first publication to partner with @freedom.press to offer this for our new coverage.
Wired is dropping paywalls for FOIA-based reporting. Others should follow
As the administration does its best to hide public records from the public, Wired magazine is stepping up to help stem the secrecy
freedom.press
March 19, 2025 at 9:02 AM
mayaesslemont.bsky.social
When it comes to sexual exploitation, words matter.

Definitions should not be gate kept to deny survivors support, or weaponised to criminalise sex workers.

I'm speaking at the @freedomunitedhq.bsky.social webinar today, 4pm⬇️

www.freedomunited.org/laws-to-address-sex-trafficking/
#modernslavery
March 19, 2025 at 8:52 AM
mayaesslemont.bsky.social
Petition from the disability charity Scope. "Life costs more when you’re disabled. Almost half of families in poverty now include someone who’s disabled."

Add your name to stop these dangerous cuts: campaigns.scope.org.uk/page/165719/...
Add your name 📢
Cuts to disability benefits would be catastrophic
campaigns.scope.org.uk
March 19, 2025 at 8:46 AM
Reposted by Maya Esslemont (they/them)
afterexploitation.bsky.social
This #InternationalWomensDay, we're celebrating the contributions of survivor women, and calling for an end to the disbelief, lottery of support, misinformation, and barriers to work they still face.

Read our full statement here:

afterexploitation.com/2025/03/08/i...

#AcceleratedAction #IWD2025
Lilac, sans serif text on a white background: "RECOGNISING SURVIVORS ON INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY". In the top right-hand corner, a white version fo the After Exploitation logo - a hand-drawn rising sun flanked by the words 'After Exploitation' - is in a black circle. Background: Black and white newspaper-print style image of a woman with long black hair looking to her side. Text on white box in centre of the image: Survivors still face disbelief. Under the Nationality and Borders Act, survivors now have to provide more evidence sooner in order to get basic forms of support. Other survivors are barred from help because of their immigration status or offending history. Even worse, new Home Office guidance says sexual exploitation is ‘less likely’ to have happened if there aren’t multiple perpetrators or victims involved. Reversing these measures alone could uphold the rights of thousands of women and girls currently at risk of slipping through the net after modern slavery. Background: Black and white newspaper-print style image of a teacher tied back hair and round circular glasses writing words on a whiteboard. Text on white box in centre of the image: LANGUAGE MATTERS Women and girls can be exploited in any industry, just as men and boys may can be victims of sexual exploitation. Avoiding stereotypes helps us to improve understanding of the complexity of exploitation and ensure all of us - including professionals and survivors themselves - can recognise it. It is important not to conflate sexual exploitation with all sex work, as these are not the same and both groups have needs specific to their experiences. Background: Black and white newspaper-print style image of a white woman with blonde hair speaking into a megaphone alongside a taller black woman with afro hair in dungarees, chanting at a protest. Text on white box in centre of the image: Woman survivors are a force for change. In our experience, many are exposing injustice and pushing for survivor inclusion in campaigns and political life. Yet, immigration restrictions and criminalisation prevent many survivors from working in the very sectors trying to represent them.
March 8, 2025 at 9:56 AM
Reposted by Maya Esslemont (they/them)
afterexploitation.bsky.social
Sex work and sexual exploitation mean different things. Conflating these terms makes it harder for professionals to understand the distinct needs of both groups.
Read our explainer piece alongside @laurenmedlicott.bsky.social's powerful article here: www.bigissue.com/opinion/sexu...
March 8, 2025 at 10:07 AM
Reposted by Maya Esslemont (they/them)
cjalliance.bsky.social
In every community there are people with lived experience of social injustice using their expertise to identify solutions for change.

@sounddeliverymedia.bsky.social Spokesperson Programme will support 14 leaders to create change in their communities.

www.sounddelivery.org.uk/spokesperson...
Spokesperson Leadership Programme • sounddelivery media
Sounddelivery Media’s unique leadership programme aims to diversify the voices we hear in the media and make it more representative of the society we live in. This programme tackles the barriers that ...
www.sounddelivery.org.uk
February 27, 2025 at 10:55 AM
Reposted by Maya Esslemont (they/them)
sianushka.bsky.social
For over a year, I’ve been looking at sexual abuse in the military - sadly the inquest into Beck’s suicide was shocking but not surprising. With @ethanshone.bsky.social for @opendemocracy.net edited by @indrawarnes.bsky.social

www.opendemocracy.net/en/jaysley-b...
Jaysley Beck’s death confirms our findings on abuse in army
For over a year, openDemocracy has worked to reveal how military enables abuse then closes ranks around perpetrators
www.opendemocracy.net
February 27, 2025 at 12:04 PM
Reposted by Maya Esslemont (they/them)
sianushka.bsky.social
I’ve been trying to report this story for ages but the data is impossible to get as the MoJ does not record how many women are held in prison on solely mental health grounds. Which is a big problem.
February 17, 2025 at 7:57 AM
Reposted by Maya Esslemont (they/them)
erinbiba.bsky.social
350 Rabbis took out a full page ad in the NYTimes today opposing Trump’s plan for Palestine and calling it ethnic cleansing.
A photo of the NYTimes open on a wood table. It’s a full page ad. The text reads Trump has called for the removal of all Palestinians from Gaza. Jewish people say NO to ethnic cleansing! And then lists 350 names
February 13, 2025 at 8:21 PM
Reposted by Maya Esslemont (they/them)
pomocorguk.bsky.social
Don't think this doesn't concern you.

This anti-immigrant government is targeting "refugees" now - our neighbours, friends and community members. Who is next? The eVisa rollout is already making it more difficult for people with EU passports to get back in the country. We're in the same fight.
Headline says '🚨 The government just banned people who have been granted refugee status from ever becoming British citizens 🚨'. In the background there's a picture of Keir Starmer and Yvette Cooper. They look very serious and unapproachable and the wall behind them has the colours of Union Jack.
February 13, 2025 at 1:40 PM
Reposted by Maya Esslemont (they/them)
refugeestogether.bsky.social
Tomorrow is Valentine's Day 💕

This year make it really count by asking your MP to support a fair new plan for refugees.

With the new Border Security Bill your action could not be more important.

Send a customised email in just two ticks!👇
actionnetwork.org/letters/ask-...
February 13, 2025 at 10:08 AM
Reposted by Maya Esslemont (they/them)
migrantsrights.bsky.social
We are really concerned with the updates made to the Home Office’s 'good character' guidance, which could block #refugees who made dangerous journeys from UK #citizenship. These changes could punish refugees for having taken the only route available to them...
https://buff.ly/40YyWpz
Alt text: Refugees who made “dangerous journeys” could be blocked from UK citizenship. The good character requirement was updated on 10 Feb to block some refugees from naturalising as British citizens if their entry to the UK was criminalised.
February 12, 2025 at 5:08 PM
mayaesslemont.bsky.social
Calling #photography / #photographer Blueskiers! Do you film photography? Please make yourselves known 📣 I'd like to follow some good people and build a network away from Instagram...

📸Shot on film last year (Left: TruPrint film, expired 1992. Right: Tudor film, expired 1995):
A floating buoy with a plastic cross reading 'DANGER OYSTER TRESTLES' rests against a wooden slatted hut, slanting to the right. The film has colour shifted to hues of blue, pink and yellow due to processing and the film's age Photograph is set against a sky with strongly defined clouds in a greyish hue. Set against the sky is the silhouette of a crow sitting on the top of an old mast shaped like a cross. The foreground is a blurred set of yellowed hedges.
February 12, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Reposted by Maya Esslemont (they/them)
afterexploitation.bsky.social
Now more than ever, we need this statement on grooming narratives.

Today, we are joined by 70+ survivors, academics, charities and experts on exploitation calling an end to damaging stereotypes and the start of real support for victims and survivors:

afterexploitation.com/2025/01/15/j...
January 16, 2025 at 6:25 PM
Reposted by Maya Esslemont (they/them)
refugeeaction.bsky.social
This decision is appalling and cruel. The government must reverse it.

It ignores reality - there are no safe routes for most people who need protection.
A graphic has a screenshot of the media article with the headline: "UK to refuse citizenship to refugees who have ‘made a dangerous journey". We've written text above it saying "Reverse this cruel decision".
February 12, 2025 at 2:18 PM
Reposted by Maya Esslemont (they/them)
freemovement.bsky.social
In case you missed it: Home Office evaluation of GPS tagging pilot shows no impact on compliance | Sonia Lenegan https://freemovement.org.uk/home-office-evaluation-of-gps-tagging-pilot-shows-no-impact-on-compliance/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=home-office-evaluation-of-gps-tagging-pi…
Home Office evaluation of GPS tagging pilot shows no impact on compliance - Free Movement
The Home Office has published its evaluation of the pilot scheme expanding the use of electronic monitoring of people as a condition of their immigration bail.
buff.ly
January 14, 2025 at 5:53 PM