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The Nairobian

Kenyan among 10 heroes recognised for efforts to end human trafficking

Nairobi

By Jael Mboga | Jun 26, 2020

A Kenyan is among 10 heroes honoured by the US agency on human trafficking for their efforts in combating the vice.

Sophie Otiende (pictured) was recognised for her leadership role in the development of victim assistance infrastructure, resources, and practices in Kenya to ensure human trafficking survivors receive the best possible care and her unwavering efforts to raise awareness.

Otiende has assisted more than 400 victims of human trafficking in the more than 10 years she has been in the field.

Speaking on behalf of this year’s TIP Report Heroes, she said, "It took me 15 years from when I experienced trafficking personally to when I could properly define and name the crime.

"Human trafficking is a relatively new term for something very old...being able to name the crime is empowering, and for someone like me, it gave me the language and tools to not only complete my healing but to also begin to fight for other survivors like me."

Otiende cited her work with HAART, an organisation dedicated to ending modern-day slavery in Kenya and East Africa, in assisting a group of Kenyan women who were stranded in Libya during the civil war after having been subjected to human trafficking there. Most of them were being held in domestic servitude.

"It was a steep learning curve, but we were able to bring most of them back home with the support of different organisations."

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Also in attendance was John Richmond, the ambassador at large in the office to monitor and combat trafficking in persons.

Secretary of State Michael Pompeo, speaking when he attended at the virtual 2020 Trafficking in Persons report launch ceremony on Thursday, said 13 countries in the Sub-Saharan Africa have improved efforts to stop human trafficking.

"Namibia received a Tier 1 rating – the best possible. It is the first and only African country to do so since 2012."

The TIP Report Heroes are from around the world and recognised by the US Department of State for their tireless efforts to pursue justice for victims, prosecute traffickers, and educate the public about human trafficking trends in their countries and abroad.

Since the inception of the TIP Report Heroes, the State Department has honored 146 incredible men and women from 75 countries.

These individuals include leaders from the NGO community, government officials, survivors of human trafficking, lawmakers, doctors, religious leaders, civilians, and even more who have committed themselves to ending modern-day slavery.