Meet the Heroes

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

Poole works across borders to cultivate support for combating human trafficking and protecting vulnerable communities.

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

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

A familiar face in Finnish politics for twenty years, Eva Biaudet, as the Ombudsman for Minorities, advocates for better responses to trafficking.

After retiring from a successful soccer (football) career, Jean Claude Mbvoumin made it his mission to help African victims of fraudulent football recruiting.

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

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

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

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

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.

For the past decade, Agnes De Coll has dedicated her life to the fight against human trafficking. She has become a leading voice on the issue in Hungary.

The OSCE Special Representative and Coordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, Maria Grazia Giammarinaro has transformed their efforts.

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

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

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

Roseline Eguabor is a stalwart supporter for Nigerian and West African human trafficking victims and survivors, helping them leave their trafficking situations and integrate into Italian society.

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

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.

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

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

A world-renowned expert on human trafficking, and an ex-Scotland yard detective, Paul Holmes trains and educates about policing human trafficking.

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.

Specializing in spreading awareness, Natalia Abdullayeva works to make sure the labor force of Uzbekistan remains informed about trafficking.

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

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

Raising awareness and advocating for human trafficking reforms in Latvia