Sunitha Krishnan
Content created by Virtual Intern Adelle Barkhuizen
Sunitha Krishnan is an Indian social activist whose work combating human trafficking and protecting victims has saved lives and motivated people around the world to build a safer world for women and children.
After founding Prajwala in 1996, which rescues and protects victims of human trafficking, Krishnan has built the nonprofit from a small initiative to prevent inter-generational prostitution to an organization that has worked with survivors on a comprehensive Anti- Trafficking Bill, launched a “#ShameTheRapist” campaign - the first of its kind in the world, trained police officers, and built more than a dozen transition and learning centers for survivors.
Krishnan visited the United States in 1999 through the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP), and her convictions were strengthened when she met with U.S. organizations combating trafficking and with people from other parts of the world working on the same issues.
Krishnan noted that through the IVLP she learned how to view the issue of trafficking from the perspective of the victim, and to consider the impact of demand on her anti-trafficking initiatives. She returned to India with new ideas and techniques in mind, adapting them to the local context.
With more than 500 organizations joining her cause, Sunitha Krishnan's work is an inspiration as she attempts to reach her goal of ending sex slavery across the globe!
Content edited by Sallie Bestul, Regina Navarro-Gomez, and Jenna Williams
