Vatican City, Jul 2, 2018 / 10:24 am
A young Nigerian woman who escaped from forced prostitution in Italy was honored by the U.S. State Department last week as a 2018 Trafficking in Persons Hero.
Blessing Okoedion "is an example that through perseverance and support, trafficking victims can overcome, thrive, and help others to do so as well," said U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See Callista Gingrich in a June 30 statement.
"She is a survivor, an activist, an author, and a fierce protector of victims suffering under the evil of human trafficking. She has helped a multitude of women escape horror. Her advocacy on their behalf has quite literally saved lives."
Every year, alongside the release of its report on global human trafficking, the U.S. State Department honors individuals who work to fight trafficking, though raising awareness, working with victims, or pushing for tougher laws against perpetrators.