Iana Matei
| Gender | Female |
|---|---|
| Location | Romania |
| Introduction | Iana fights to free victims of the human sex slave industry. Whether speaking to the US State Department, the United Nations Human Development Global Forum, or to one abused, frightened girl, Iana brings the same convincing message: "Trafficking is not OK and it's up to us to do something about it." Iana often says her most dangerous weapon is her big mouth. She began opening her mouth against trafficking and forced prostitution in 1998, when three girls captured her heart. Their stories left her wide-eyed. Considered an expert on facts and figures involving trafficking in the Balkans (the US government and the UN Office On Drugs And Crime collaborate with her for data) it's Iana’s passion and compassion that cause her to speak out in ways that will be heard. Designated by Readers Digest as European Of The Year 2010, awarded the Abolitionist Award by the House of Lords in 2007 and declared a hero by the US State Department in 2006, these are not the rewards Iana prizes. The one she does prize is when one girl reclaims her personhood and her self-respect. Iana has aided over 400 victims of forced prostitution as they regained possession of their own lives. |