Our member Viki Sebhelyi is 2017 TIP Hero!
[Brussels, 20 September 2017] Each year, the U.S. Department of State honors outstanding individuals around the world who are fighting to end human trafficking. This year, we have the pleasure to see our member Viktoria Sebhelyi as a TIP Hero! The U.S. Department of State has produced the Trafficking in Persons Report (TIP Report) since 2001. An important international document, the TIP Report provides an assessment of the efforts by foreign governments to combat human trafficking.
Congratulations Viki for this Award, which shows how important your work and the work of women’s organisations is to combat and eradicate trafficking in women and girls !
Viki Sebhelyi is a Hungarian sociologist and human rights activist whose groundbreaking research has been instrumental in increasing awareness and understanding of human trafficking among policymakers and NGO service providers in Hungary. Known as both an academic expert on the issue and a dedicated advocate, Ms. Sebhelyi has galvanized government and NGO actors to collaborate on enhancing protections for victims. Find out more about her here.
In the previous years, several EWL partners have received the Award: Eva Biaudet in 2011 (used to be the Ombudswoman for Minorities in Finland, working on trafficking), Esohe Aghatise in 2007 (founder of the Italian NGO Iroko which supports Nigerian women in prostitution), Kristina Misiniene (founder of a Center to support victims of trafficking and sexual exploitation in Lithuania).
The website of the TIP Heroes also provides a series of resources to learn about trafficking in persons and raise awareness.