Meet the Heroes

As a journalist in Tajikistan, Adiba Umarova was able to re-open a cold case which led to the arrest of a trafficking ringleader.

Over 60,000 migrant women work in Jordan, primarily as domestics, and Aida Abu Ras founded the first NGO to help them.

Aida Mbodj is a powerful politician in Senegal, well-respected and admired, who used her political power to combat human trafficking in the early part of the millennium.

While working on her PhD Thesis, Alice Nah saw the plight of migrant workers in Malaysia.

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.

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

After witnessing the after-effects of a 1988 fire, Amod Kanth created the NGO Prayas, an organization for disenfranchised and distressed children in India.

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

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

Anne Gallagher is the leading global expert on the international law of human trafficking, and has worked for twenty years to combat this issue.

Ansar Burney began as a student activist in the 1970s, and has fought for justice and human rights ever since, including for the rights of children.

Sister Azazet listened to countless of interviews, sensitively interacting with victims, to learn about trafficking in the Sinai.

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.

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

Bhanuja Sharan Lal is the director of an NGO in Northern India, where he organizes communities, helps child labor survivors receive education, and assists rescues.

The Esther Benjamin’s Memorial Foundation Rescue Team have liberated many Nepali girls from circus slavery in South Asia.

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

Brother Xavier Plassat, a friar of the Dominican order, first came across forced labor practices after coming to Brazil in the 1980s.

Founder of Confident Children out of Conflict in South Sudan, she fights against child trafficking and exploitation.

Charimaya Tamang, a victim of sex trafficking, became the first to file a complaint with the district police.

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.

Chief Togbega Hadjor is chief over the region which includes the infamous Lake Volta, where young boys are sold as slaves to fishermen.

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

Despite juggling an average case-load of 300 criminal cases, Prosecutor Darlene Pajarito has still managed to bring traffickers to justice.

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.

She secured the first conviction for Trafficking in Persons in Mexico, a landmark in their fight against modern-day slavery.

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.

After a horrific ordeal at the hands of a fraudulent recruitment company in Iraq, Elly Anita joined the NGO Migrant Care.

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

Working with sex trafficking victims in Namibia, Esme Kisting provides them with housing, an income, and a chance at a life.

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

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

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.

A former orphan himself, Gilbert Munda cares for children in vulnerable situations, specializing in those coming out of labor in armed conflicts.

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

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

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

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.

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.

Ippei Torii, the Secretary General of the Solidarity Network with Migrants Japan, has provided assistance to thousands of workers.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

Nobel Peace Prize Winner Kailash Satyarthi has freed an estimated 83,000 children from forced and bonded labor since the 1980s.

Ms. Siddamma engages in grassroots community organizing in Tamil Nadu with the Irula caste, freeing many from bonded labor and generational slavery.

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

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

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

As the Northwest Regional Coordinator for the Justice and Peace Service in Cameroon, Laura Anyola Tufon has targeted child and forced labor.

Working with the Coalition of Immokalee Workers, Laura Germino began fighting against modern-day slavery in the Tomato picking industry.

A heart for children and a tireless devotion has kept Mr. Leonel Dubon providing aftercare services to trafficked and at-risk youth for years.

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

An officer with the International Organization for Migration in Iraq, Mohammed Bassam Al-Nasseri has shaped policy and advocate for victims.

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

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

Moussa Sow, once a street child himself, fights for street children in Senegal, providing support, services, and, when possible, reuniting them with their families.

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

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

A domestic worker from Indonesia, Nirmala Bonat suffered at the hands of her employers, until she brought them to court.

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

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

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.

Patience Quaye joined the Ghana Police Service in 1977, and now serves as the Director of its Anti-Human Trafficking Unit.

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

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

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

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

Raimi Vincent Paraiso works in the Congo to assist victims of trafficking, especially children.

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.

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

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

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

She was the force behind Antigua and Barbuda’s first anti-trafficking law, passed in only 2010.

An ex-miner herself, Simona Broomes fights for the rights of women in the mining profession in Guyana.

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.

Thailand exports a large amount of the world’s seafood, and Sompong Srakaew has set out to make sure they do this without using slave labor.

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

Founder and president of an NGO, Susan Ople provides assistance to Filipino workers who have moved overseas for work.

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

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.

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

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

A victim of labor trafficking, Prum has spread awareness of this issue through his paintings.

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

In 2000, Wahyu Susilo began championing the cause he still stands for: the rights of the estimated 4.5 million Indonesians who work overseas.

A politician in Morocco, Yasmina Baddou has been a tireless advocate for children’s rights.

Ausamah AlAbsi has played an instrumental role in increasing protections for trafficking victims and significantly reducing the vulnerability of migrant workers to human trafficking in Bahrain.

Josue Ango is a driving force behind Burkina Faso’s efforts to combat human trafficking.

Francisca Awah Mbuli is a survivor of human trafficking and the founding director of Survivors’ Network.

Yanira Violeta Olivares Pineda leads a team of prosecutors dedicated to holding human traffickers accountable and delivering justice to victims.

Maizidah Salas is a leading voice for migrant worker rights in Indonesia.

Sunita Danuwar has made the remarkable transformation from trafficking victim to one of Nepal’s leading social activists.

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.

Ivana Radović is the Head of Policy and Learning at ASTRA, one of Serbia’s leading grassroots anti-trafficking NGOs.

Yosief Abrham Mehari is a practicing medical doctor who has demonstrated an unparalleled commitment to serving survivors of human trafficking in Sudan.

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.

Adélaïde Sawadogo is a proven, unwavering force against human trafficking in Burkina Faso.

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.

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.

As President of the National Authority to Combat Trafficking in Persons, Raoudha Laabidi has been the driving force behind the government’s efforts to implement a new law to combat trafficking in persons.

Camilious Machingura is an inspiring anti-trafficking advocate within Zimbabwe and the broader southern Africa region.

A leading advocate for increasing efforts to combat trafficking in Bhutan.

Holding human traffickers criminally accountable and assisting victims in attaining justice in Cabo Verde

Improving the lives of human trafficking survivors.

A driving force in increasing awareness of human trafficking in Hong Kong

Combating trafficking in persons and helping trafficking victims

Advocating for the rights of victims of human trafficking

Raising awareness and advocating for human trafficking reforms in Latvia

A proven anti-trafficking activist in Malawi

Committed to women’s empowerment and anti-trafficking efforts

Josiane Lina Bemaka-Soui developed the Central African Republic’s national anti-trafficking response from the ground up.

Chantal Sagbo Sasse has been at the forefront of Gabon’s anti-trafficking movement for more than two decades.

Ibusuki has sought justice on behalf of countless foreign workers by providing legal representation for those who are taking action against former employees for labor law violations.

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

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

Mohammed al-Obaidly is one of the most important Qatari figures advocating for labor and human trafficking reforms in Qatar.

Shakhnoza Khassanova has decades of experience raising awareness about human trafficking, advocating for greater victim protections, and aiding victims of human trafficking across Central Asia.

Guillermina Cabrera Figueroa has a track record of championing the rights of trafficking victims as the specialized prosecutor for human trafficking for the State of Mexico.

Mohammed Tariqul Islam is an advocate for victims of human trafficking whose work has helped increase the Bangladesh government’s capacity to investigate and prosecute traffickers.

Major Mohammad al-Khlaifat has striven to eliminate human trafficking in Jordan by leading the Public Security Directorate’s Counter Trafficking Unit (CTU).

Judge Wennah has demonstrated tireless devotion to improve Liberia’s anti-trafficking record. He was sworn in as a Residential Judge early 2022.

Ms. Dawid-Olczyk is a human rights activist and President of La Strada Poland who has devoted much of her professional life to assisting human trafficking victims.

Ms. Apinya is the Deputy Director of the Stella Maris Seafarer’s Center, an NGO in Thailand.

Kateryna Cherepakha is the president of La Strada-Ukraine, an NGO established in 1997 to combat trafficking in persons, gender-based violence, and domestic violence.

Pureza Lopes Loyola is a respected activist whose three-year quest to find her son led the Government of Brazil to create the Mobile Inspection Group in 1995.

Mech Dara is a Cambodian journalist whose reporting on increased incidents of human trafficking connected to online scam operations were some of the first in-depth investigative pieces on the subject.

Mrs. Iman Al Sailawi and Mr. Basim Abdulrazzaq Jebur provide support services and shelter in Iraq for stranded migrant workers, child labor, and forced child labor.

Eumelis Moya Goitte has drawn international attention to human trafficking crimes in the mining sector and provided support for international efforts to prevent human trafficking of vulnerable populations.

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.

Through the tireless efforts of his Anti-Human Smuggling Unit, Zaheer Ahmed helped drive the modernization of Pakistan’s anti-trafficking and anti-smuggling laws and implementation of a National Action Plan to Combat Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling.

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.