Email: anta.brachou@stmarys.ac.uk
Biography
Anta Brachou is a researcher at the Bakhita Centre for Research on Slavery, Exploitation and Abuse, St Mary’s University, Twickenham. She currently leads and teaches on the IMSA (Independent Modern Slavery Advocate) PgCert. Since 2019 her work has centred on modern slavery, precarious migration and cultural competence within support and safeguarding systems. Her PhD investigated human trafficking from Albania through the 4Ps paradigm - prevention, protection, prosecution and partnerships.
Before joining academia, Anta worked in the voluntary sector providing advocacy and practical support to vulnerable women affected by the criminal justice system and to survivors of trafficking. She led an innovative culture-mediation initiative that improved communication between survivors and statutory/non-statutory services by addressing both language and cultural context. Her current work in academia remains very practice-oriented and practice-led.