I am running the Tokyo Marathon in 2019 to help raise funds for the victims of trafficking.

Read their story below:

There has been incredible progress in the work to eradicate sex trafficking globally in the past 20 years. Since the turn of the 21st century, governments have been putting policies in place that have had a tangible impact and are leading to sustainable solutions. A lot of work has been done, and yet human trafficking persists.

We believe that the continued existence of human trafficking is not due to the actors, but due to the efficacy of the ecosystem. Human trafficking is an increasingly lucrative business that continues to pull people into its complex illicit networks. In order to eradicate human trafficking, we need to create a more effective ecosystem than that of the traffickers. Our ecosystem needs to value prevention of human trafficking, protection of survivors and prosecution of perpetrators.

The Anti-Human Trafficking Ecosystem has continued to grow over the past 25 years, but remains fragmented. In India, policy limits interstate communication. This divide is exacerbated by geographical spread as well as ethnic and linguistic diversity. Relationships across state borders are not as strong as they could be. Grassroots activists in villages have trouble engaging with policy makers in big cities. They have limited opportunities to share their invaluable on the ground knowledge. Best practices fail to circulate. In the current system, many individuals are fighting isolated battles, survivors are not given a voice, and police are stretched for resources and information.

We need to develop a more connected Anti-Human Trafficking Ecosystem where individuals, both right holders and duty bearers alike, can learn together and empower one another to reach their full potential.