Meet the Heroes

As the Ambassador from Colombia to Japan, the Honorable Francisco Sierra was able to address a unique problem: people who were being trafficked from Colombia to Japan.

In 1992, Manuel Capellin joined Covenant House’s Casa Alianza Honduras, and began caring for street youth, homeless children, and victims of trafficking.

As Albania began to open to the world in the late 1990s, trafficking became an issue. Vera lesko decided to do something about it.

A government official,Irén Ádámné Dunai has diligently networked between agencies to provide shelter, open a crisis hotline, and set up a shelter referral service.

As a Chief Police Inspector with the Croatian Police, Katrin Gluic has prosecuted traffickers, assisted victims, and educated other law enforcement professionals.

A Policeman in Andhra Pradesh, Mr. Sattaru Umapathi has rescued victims, prosecuted traffickers, and worked extensively with local NGOs.

A high-ranking Police Officer in the South of Mongolia, Major Tumenbayar has been crucial to the fight against cross-border human trafficking.

Marilyn Carlson Nelson, CEO of Carlson Companies, has been a role model for promoting social corporate accountability.

Queen Silvia was the Patron of the First World Congress against Commercial Sexual Exploitation of children, held in 1996 in Stockholm.

After she completed several successful Senate terms, Nancy Kassebaum accompanied her husband to Japan, where he served as the United States Ambassador.

The Sisters of the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament were founded in 1850, when Sister Maria Micaela began to help the mistreated prostitutes in Madrid.

A French NGO worker, Pierre Legros and a trafficking victim, Somaly Mam, founded one of the most influential sex trafficking NGOs in Asia.

The Principal of a large Islamic School in Indonesia, Kyai Husein Muhammad ran an extensive media campaign against human trafficking.

Marcelo Colombo is the head prosecutor in Argentina for trafficking cases. His dedicated efforts makes sure traffickers face justice.

Javier A. Morazan, a public prosecutor, and Juan V. Ruiz, a police officer, have created an incredibly effective prosecutorial and investigative team.

The Deputy Police Commissioner of Aruba, Jeanette Richardson-Baars has taken steps to help victims, and to build awareness of human trafficking.

Jhinna Pinchi survived being trafficked for sexual exploitation, and took her traffickers to court in Peru. Two of the three are now in prison.

A Lawyer for an Australian charity, Van Ngoc Tan works in Vietnam and China to free victims of forced labor and sex trafficking.

As a prosecutor in Ecuador, Lucy Blacio courageously pursued the first cases to be prosecuted under Ecuador’s anti-human trafficking statutes.

After retiring from the Airline industry, Marietta Dias devoted her life to helping fight for the rights of migrant workers in Bahrain.

Dedicating her time, her money, and her effort, Iana Matei operated for many years what was the only shelter in Romania for victims of human trafficking.

Hearing that girls from his home country of Mozambique were being enslaved in Pretoria, Inacio Sebastiao Mussanhe took action.

A social worker in Lithuania, Kristina Misiniene has tirelessly pursued support for victims, coordinated awareness campaigns, and facilitated cooperation.

Sister Eugenia Bonetti works with migrants at the CARITAS Listening and Reception Center in Turin, where she first became aware of human trafficking.

A District Court Judge in Nepal, Tek Narayan Kunwar has pioneered the implementation of the Nepalese anti-trafficking law, while maintaining a victim centered approach.

An international superstar, Ricky Martin and his foundation, created in 2000, have been extensively involved in anti-trafficking work.

Peter Nguyen Van Hung came to Taiwan first in 1988 as a missionary, and now fights for Vietnamese women and workers who have been trafficked.

Her own daughter kidnapped and trafficked, Susana Trimarco began searching for her and rescuing other victims of trafficking.

Monica Boseff opened the only emergency shelter in Bucharest, Romania, in 2012, and continues to provide support to victims.

From despair to hope—Pierre Tami in Cambodia helps to regain dignity for the abused, vulnerable and jobless through social empowerment.

Magistrate Chauhan has worked through an incredible backlog of cases in administering the ITPA as part of Mumbai’s specialized court.

In 1997, Ms. Berrios created the Rahab Foundation. Since then, she has helped over 7000 women and girl victims of trafficking.

In 1997, Ms. Berrios created the Rahab Foundation. Since then, she has helped over 7000 women and girl victims of trafficking.

Nodira Karimova worked with IOM, as the regional coordinator for a project combating human trafficking, and also founded her own NGO: Istiqbolli Avlod.

A journalist in Mexico, Ms. Ribeiro first became involved with anti-trafficking work in 2000, when she opened a high security shelter for women and children.

Amela Efendic has worked for over a decade to assist victims of trafficking, and spread awareness throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Angelina Atyam’s fight to combat human trafficking was personal: the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) abducted her daughter.

Beatrice Jedy-Agba is the Executive Secretary of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons and other Related Matters (NAPTIP) in Nigeria.

First becoming involved in anti-human trafficking work in Cambodia led Benjamin Perrin to take the fight back to his home country of Canada.

Bonnie Miller tirelessly pursued cooperative efforts to combat modern-day slavery, raised awareness, and established resources.

Ms. Charmaine Gandhi-Andrews is the Director of Trinidad and Tobago's anti-trafficking body, and has shaped policy and legislation at a high level.

The first woman to become an army officer in Burundi, Ms. Sabiyumva has taken a stand against the sexual exploitation of children.

During their time in Morocco with the French Protestant Church, David and Julie Brown worked to help migrants and trafficking victims from all over Africa.

A television personality, Dewi Hughes became the spokesperson for a Campaign to Eliminate the Trafficking of Indonesian Women and Children.

Sunitha Krishnan, herself a survivor of sexual violence, co-founded the organization Prajwala to help create a pipeline out of the sex trade.

Elisabeth Sioufi, a lawyer, was incredibly influential in forming and drafting Lebanon’s anti-trafficking policy and legislation, and provides training on the laws of human trafficking.

Brandishing kindness, tea, candles, and whatever else available, Ms. Skjonsby and her team would approach Greek brothels in order to help victims.

Dr. Esohe Aghatise, an international lawyer, began working to help women who had been trafficked in 1998 when she founded her organization: IROKO.

The founder of the Mongolian Gender Equality Center, Ganbayasgakh Geleg has been helping victims of trafficking since 2002.

When Gary Haugen created IJM in 1997, he was one of the first to recognize a world-wide problem: human trafficking.

Major George Vanikiotis of the Hellenic Police has been an incredible asset to anti-trafficking activists in Greece.

In 2004, Guy Jacobson, a lawyer, and Adi Ezroni, an Israeli Actress, founded the Redlight Children Campaign to combat child sex trafficking.

The late Irene Fernandez was a well-known activist and advocate in Malaysia, supporting the rights of women, and the rights of Migrant workers, for decades.

Moses Binoga leads a government task force in Uganda to combat modern-slavery. He actively advocates for better policies and cooperation.

Betty Pedraza Lozano is the founder and director of a Colombian NGO that provides victim services, spreads awareness, and encourages international cooperation.

Ameena Saeed Hasan is a Yezidi Kurd, a minority group targeted by the extremist group ISIL. She has helped secure the release of over 100 captives.

Norotiana Jeannoda is an incredible civil society advocate in Madagascar, helping victims and changing policy.

Ms. Miruškina is the lawyer for a Latvian NGO that provides critical services and runs Latvia's human trafficking hotline.

Ms. Miruškina is the lawyer for a Latvian NGO that provides critical services and runs Latvia's human trafficking hotline.

Parosha Chandran is a human rights lawyer who operates out the UK. Both a cutting edge policymaker, and a practicing attorney, she has helped victims to seek justice in the courts.

Parosha Chandran is a human rights lawyer who operates out the UK. Both a cutting edge policymaker, and a practicing attorney, she has helped victims to seek justice in the courts.

Philip Hyldgaard, Executive Director of The A21 Campaign, helped establish the organization's first office in Greece, and opened their first shelter.

Rahel Gershuni, Israel's National Anti-Human Trafficking Coordinator, began coordinating government efforts informally, and then was given her present position.

Tony Maddox, a journalist-executive, founded the CNN Freedom Project, the greatest awareness project in anti-human trafficking.

Tony Maddox, a journalist-executive, founded the CNN Freedom Project, the greatest awareness project in anti-human trafficking.

A secretive investigative Journalist from Ghana, Anas Aremeyaw Anas helped to bring down two major human trafficking rings in Ghana in 2007 and 2008.

Ms. Okoedion plays an integral role in pushing Italian authorities to ensure that survivors, especially Nigerian women and girls, receive the services they deserve.

Kim Jong-chul is the founder and former Director of the Advocates for Public Interest Law.

As tireless advocates and experts on human trafficking, Daniel Rueda and Veronica Supliguicha have earned widespread recognition and respect in Ecuador for strengthening the Ecuadorian government’s protection framework.

As tireless advocates and experts on human trafficking, Daniel Rueda and Veronica Supliguicha have earned widespread recognition and respect in Ecuador for strengthening the Ecuadorian government’s protection framework.

Sister Gabriella Bottani is one of the most prominent and influential anti-trafficking advocates within the Catholic diaspora.

Rocío Mora-Nieto has worked for over two decades to combat the sexual exploitation of women and sex trafficking in Spain.

R. Evon Benson-Idahosa is a thought leader and expert on the intersectionality of human trafficking and the economic empowerment of women in sub-Saharan Africa.

Sandra Paola Hittscher has been a key figure in the fight against human trafficking in Loreto, Peru since 2016, overcoming limited funding and minimal staff to make significant strides to advance investigations and seek prosecutions of human trafficking cases.

Brigadier General Mustafa Ridha Mustafa al-Yasiri has significantly advanced Iraq's fight against human trafficking.