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The struggle against human traffickig is not unique to our time. Nowadays, social initiatives and policies are greatly influenced by civil society activism against sexual slavery that emerged between the 19th and the early 20th century. This article presents an analysis and selection of historical landmarks from that period that achieved social and political impact in different countries such as the United States of America, the United Kingdom and Spain. To do so we followed different strategies including the review of scientific literature and relevant academic historical databases, the examination of theoretical contributions from intellectuals, social reformers and feminist activists from that time, and we also searched for international and national legislation from the early 20th century. Findings show a) the influence of the transatlantic anti-slavery movement in the rise of the feminist movement; b) the evolution of the civil society struggle against sexual exploitation within the feminist movement; c) the arrival of the anti-sex trafficking movement in Spain; d) the political impact of early civil society organizations against sex trafficking in the articulation of policies at the beginning of the 20th century. To acknowledge these historical legacies can contribute to the development of current anti-sex trafficking initiatives.

Violence against women in universities is an issue that was not studied in Spain until the pioneer research projects carried out by the CREA research center. Between 2008 and 2012, several studies were performed on this subject through competitive projects and dissertations. This article explains how these pioneer investigations, conducted with a communicative perspective demonstrate that gender violence also occurs in Spanish institutions, contrary to the prevailing wisdom of the university community. Once the problem has been identified, we discuss some of the consequences and the resistances encountered by victims and those who fight for a university free of violence against women when they make the issue visible and implement mechanisms to end it. Finally, we present some actions that are proving successful in overcoming the problem, as well as the first steps that are being taken in Spain in this regard.

Sex trafficking is a current, severe and intense global phenomenon. Many studies have made substantial efforts to map the routes and relations between countries of origin, transit, destination, and the methods of recruitment and retention. With a focus on the role of social relationships, for this article, we conducted a literature review using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) to provide further scientific evidence of the elements and processes that push victims – primarily women and girls – into sex trafficking. The findings show that family, intimate relationships, friendships and acquaintances play a critical role in the pre-entry period before sex trafficking. Among these, family violence, abandonment and abuse emerge as severe risk factors, as well as the role of fraudulent intimate relationships. We also include additional social and individual risk factors that, together with the role of family and social relationships, have impacts on potential victims, increasing the likelihood of sex trafficking.

AbstractThere is evidence to suggest that quality friendships have a positive impact on the people involved. By focusing on the impact that quality friendships have had on former foster care youth, this article contributes to the wider debate on the issue and fills a gap in the literature. Through the communicative methodology, 15 communicative daily life stories were conducted in Spain with young people who had been in alternative care and had successfully managed to reach university. The discussion shows that the support and strength of quality friendships helped them in their quest for a brighter, more successful future.

Extensive scientific evidence suggests that peer interactions influence sexual and affective relationships. Coercive discourse in some peer interactions has also been shown to adversely affect consent in those relationships. However, more research is needed to understand how consent (or the lack of it) is internalized during life trajectories, specifically in the awakening of sexual relationships in young women. In the research project CONSENT framework, 36 women between 18 and 25 years of age participated in interviews and communicative groups. This article presents results related to the role of consent in their life trajectories, indicating that consent is undermined by coercive discourse, significantly impacting their life trajectories, especially in the awakening of sexual relationships. The article discusses how coercive discourse is present at times when learning to decide freely is crucial and decreases consent in relationships.

There is an extensive literature on the importance of the use of scientific evidence on teaching methods in higher education institutions. However, there is a gap in how evidence is used for decision making that affects students and staff in universities. This article is a contribution to the existing gap, making the analysis of a specific case on how Catalan universities have managed the decision making regarding their staff in the face of the pandemic situation with the COVID-19. In this article, through the interview with managers and faculty from different Catalan universities, it will be shown to what extent these university institutions have opted for decision making in the management of the situation based on scientific evidence or simply compliance with government regulations.

Background
We are witnessing increasing demand from governments and society for all sciences to have relevant social impact and to show the returns they provide to society.


Aims and objectives
This paper reports strategies that promote social impact by Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH) research projects.


Methods
An in-depth analysis of six Social Sciences and Humanities research projects that achieved social impact was carried out to identify those strategies. For each case study, project documents were analysed and qualitative fieldwork was conducted with diverse agents, including researchers, stakeholders and end-users, with a communicative orientation.


Findings
The strategies that were identified as contributing to achieving social impact include a clear focus of the project on social impact and the definition of an active strategy for achieving it; a meaningful involvement of stakeholders and end-users throughout the project lifespan, including local organisations, underprivileged end-users, and policy makers who not only are recipients of knowledge generated by the research projects but participate in the co-creation of knowledge; coordination between projects' and stakeholders' activities; and dissemination activities that show useful evidence and are oriented toward creating space for public deliberation with a diverse public.


Discussion and conclusions
The strategies identified can enhance the social impact of Social Sciences and Humanities research. Furthermore, gathering related data, such as collaboration with stakeholders, use of projects' findings and the effects of their implementation, could allow researchers to track the social impact of the projects and enhance the evaluation of research impact.

Background: We are witnessing increasing demand from governments and society for all sciences to have relevant social impact and to show the returns they provide to society. Aims and objectives: This paper reports strategies that promote social impact by Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH) research projects. Methods: An in-depth analysis of six Social Sciences and Humanities research projects that achieved social impact was carried out to identify those strategies. For each case study, project documents were analysed and qualitative fieldwork was conducted with diverse agents, including researchers, stakeholders and end-users, with a communicative orientation. Findings: The strategies that were identified as contributing to achieving social impact include a clear focus of the project on social impact and the definition of an active strategy for achieving it; a meaningful involvement of stakeholders and end-users throughout the project lifespan, including local organisations, underprivileged end-users, and policy makers who not only are recipients of knowledge generated by the research projects but participate in the co-creation of knowledge; coordination between projects' and stakeholders' activities; and dissemination activities that show useful evidence and are oriented toward creating space for public deliberation with a diverse public. Discussion and conclusions: The strategies identified can enhance the social impact of Social Sciences and Humanities research. Furthermore, gathering related data, such as collaboration with stakeholders, use of projects' findings and the effects of their implementation, could allow researchers to track the social impact of the projects and enhance the evaluation of research impact.

Background: We are witnessing increasing demand from governments and society for all sciences to have relevant social impact and to show the returns they provide to society. Aims and objectives: This paper reports strategies that promote social impact by Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH) research projects.