By Keanu Gaite
Human trafficking is a complex and pervasive challenge that transcends borders. In conjunction with the release of the 2023 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report, which provides a comprehensive overview of the state of human trafficking globally, the U.S. Department of State honored the 2023 TIP Report Heroes - remarkable individuals from Brazil, Cambodia, Iraq, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, and Venezuela who have demonstrated tireless commitment to combating human trafficking.
Following the launch of the 2023 report, many of these Heroes participated in the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP), the Department of State’s premier professional exchange program. The program introduced the Heroes to representatives in government, law enforcement professionals, anti-trafficking NGO staff, human trafficking survivors, journalists, prosecutors, and academic experts in Washington, D.C.; Boston, Massachusetts; and Miami, Florida. Through their professional meetings, the Heroes forged new connections with Americans and each other, strengthening their skills and expanding their global networks to catalyze their anti-trafficking work.
The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) and the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons (J/TIP) partnered with Meridian International Center, WorldBoston, and Global Ties Miami to design and implement this special IVLP exchange for the 2023 TIP Report Heroes.
The TIP Report Heroes with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Ambassador-At-Large Cindy Dyer, and Representative Chris Smith (R-NJ) following the official release of the TIP Report at the State Department in Washington, D.C., June 15, 2023. [State Department photo by Chuck Kennedy/ Public Domain] The group at GBH News Center for Investigative Reporting in Boston, where they met with editors and reporters who work on Human Trafficking stories. [Photo by Ksenija Keivanzadeh] The TIP Report Heroes at the Coalition of Immokalee Workers in Miami, discussing issues related to labor trafficking and antislavery work. [Photo by Ksenija Keivanzadeh]
