This archive report was first published on 26 June 2020.
On June 25, 2020, the US Department of State honoured 10 heroes, including Sophie Otiende, a Kenyan, for their tireless efforts to combat human trafficking. Otiende was recognised for her leadership role in developing victim assistance infrastructure, resources, and practices in Kenya to ensure human trafficking survivors receive the best possible care.
With over 10 years of experience in the field, Otiende has assisted more than 400 victims of human trafficking. 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 complex issue, and Otiende's work with HAART, an organisation dedicated to ending modern-day slavery in Kenya and East Africa, has been instrumental in assisting survivors. In one notable case, she helped a group of Kenyan women who were stranded in Libya during the civil war after being subjected to human trafficking.
According to Secretary of State Michael Pompeo, 13 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa have improved their efforts to stop human trafficking. Namibia received a Tier 1 rating, the best possible, and is the first and only African country to do so since 2012.
