Profiles of Hope

But there are profiles of hope. Survivors, with the help of anti-trafficking activists, have created their own networks - a modern-day Underground Railroad. Its purpose is to help others out of slavery, or to prevent others from being trafficked in the first place. Survivors, who know where the sex slaves are being held, are going back into the same brothels where they were once slaves and helping rescue agencies to find and liberate other victims. Sometimes they find victims held in underground cages, or literally plastered behind walls.

Survivors working with Maiti Nepal stop every car at border crossings between Nepal and India, looking for suspicious situations or trafficking in progress (for example, a man traveling with several young girls, or unconscious girls). They also refer the victims for shelter and other services if they are found to be in an unsafe situation.

Survivors are speaking out about the abuse they have suffered, participating in public awareness campaigns, sharing their stories with journalists, even going door to door in remote villages, talking to mothers and daughters about what happened to them, and how to protect themselves from being trafficked.

Like many issues in history - America’s own abolitionist movement, women’s suffrage, domestic violence, breast cancer awareness – the fight to end trafficking can be won by a concerted effort of active, outraged citizens who refuse to tolerate it. What we need, according to Laura Lederer, US State Department Sr. Adviser on Trafficking, "is a critical mass of people who just say 'no!’"

We need to move on this issue as a united front – not diverted by partisan politics, or paralyzed by despair. Concrete action, awareness, education, and cooperation are needed to end this human rights crisis.