Amplifying Voices of Survivors of Trafficking with Feminist Superheroes

On 6 May 2021, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and Apne Aap Women Worldwide will hold an online event to discuss the need for leader and superheroes figures in the fight against sex-trafficking.

Discussions will be enabled by a panel of sex-trafficking survivors who are also members of the International Survivors of Trafficking Advisory Council (ISTAC).

This event comes as a follow-up to a well-received joint launch event organised during the 65^th Commission on the Status of Women.

The launch

Feminist icon Gloria Steinem will make the opening remarks, sending out a powerful message that there is a superhero in each feminist who stands up to injustice. In connection, this online event will feature a feminist superhero comic book called Priya and the Wolves, written by feminist campaigner and journalist Ruchira Gupta - Founder-President of Apne Aap Women Worldwide.

The comic book

This comic book, which specifically focuses on addressing the vulnerability of women and girls to trafficking for sexual exploitation during COVID-19 pandemic, was published with the support of ODIHR.

Presenters

Following contributions from Gloria Steinem and Ruchira Gupta, a panel of survivor superheroes and ISTAC members will take the stage:

• Diane Martin
• Sandra Norak
• Itohan Okundaye
• Timea Nagy

The event will be moderated by Tatiana Kotlyarenko, ODIHR Adviser on Anti-Trafficking Issues. It will be held in English. Russian interpretation will be provided.

Registration

Those interested can register here:

https://odihr-pl.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_LGbo6OOIT8OvsdH4Be5DhQ

Event partner

Apne Aap Women Worldwide is an organization that empowers marginalized girls and women to resist and end sex trafficking.

ODIHR is in the process of jointly developing a training curriculum with Apne Aap on its use by educational institutions. This resource will be made available in multiple languages in the OSCE region.