Sir Mo Farah ‘honoured’ to be Patron of leading modern slavery research centre

Sir Mo Farah has turn out to be a Patron of the Bakhita Centre for Research on Slavery, Exploitation and Abuse at St Mary’s University, Twickenham.

The four-time Olympic champion, who’s Britain’s most profitable monitor athlete, revealed in a BBC documentary throughout July final yr how he was introduced to the UK from Somalia illegally, having assumed the identify of one other baby, after his father was killed within the civil conflict.

He was later helped to get hold of UK citizenship by his faculty PE instructor Alan Watkinson, whereas nonetheless utilizing the identify Mohamed Farah.

Now 39, Farah has a protracted relationship with St Mary’s, having skilled, studied and lived on the University from 2001 to 2011.

The centre is known as in honour of Saint Josephine Bakhita, who herself was a sufferer of human trafficking in Sudan and Italy throughout the 1870s.

“I am honoured to have the opportunity to support the work of the Bakhita Centre as its first Patron,” stated Farah.

“Fighting the crimes of human exploitation is a cause close to my heart and I hope I can support the centre in their work.”

The Bakhita Centre conducts research on modern slavery and human trafficking, striving to affect observe and coverage, and lift consciousness throughout the college, in native communities and additional afield.

The centre goals to broaden the University’s research on international points which intersect with modern slavery, together with gender-based violence, sexual and different varieties of exploitation, abuse and discrimination primarily based on structural inequalities, race, ethnicity, asylum looking for or refugee and migrant standing.

St Mary’s vice-chancellor Anthony McClaran stated: “We are delighted Sir Mo has agreed to become a Patron of the Bakhita Centre.

“On the athletics track, he is our most famous and successful alumnus.

“It is a great honour that he will continue his relationship with the University on this topic that is both close to Sir Mo’s personal experience, and our mission as a University.”

Director of the Bakhita Centre Dr Carole Murphy added: “Sir Mo’s presence as our patron will help us raise the profile of the work of the centre and our commitment to expose the structural factors that underpin the crimes of human exploitation and in turn provide more support to more survivors and anti-exploitation practitioners.”