SUPRIYA AWASTHI

An experienced anti-human trafficking activist with over two decades of dedicated service

Through her work with community-based organizations and community-led movements in South Asia, Supriya has gained a comprehensive understanding of the region’s complexities and nuances. Her unwavering commitment and tireless efforts have contributed to the development of effective, innovative, and sustainable grassroots solutions for combating slavery in South Asia.

Supriya’s groundbreaking field research on slavery and child labor in India was a critical turning point in the fight against human trafficking, sounding the alarm and catalyzing action that ultimately led to the creation of Free the Slaves. She played a pivotal role in launching its India and Nepal programs and served as South Asia Director for many years.

Supriya has liberated thousands of slavery survivors from bars, brothels, factories, mines, farms and fishing boats. She has conducted undercover investigations to expose slavery in rug factories and placement agencies. She has also played a significant role in locating children who were separated from their parents due to circus slavery.

Her work centres not just on rescuing individuals affected by trafficking, but on creating lasting change in the social, economic, and political systems that allow slavery to persist. She has empowered enslaved communities to take action and has implemented innovative programs such as Child Friendly Villages, Liberation for Education, Education for Liberation, and Freedom Dividend. One of her notable achievements was planning, managing, and supervising the building of the first shelter home for survivors of commercial sexual exploitation in the Indian state of Bihar.

Supriya’s work in enabling communities and individuals to stand against systems of oppression has been widely recognized, and she has served as lead researcher for several documentaries that have dramatically increased global consciousness about modern slavery. Her extensive research on human rights issues such as organ trafficking, child slavery, children in prisons, and right to water has led her to advise and guide leading filmmakers, which has resulted in two Emmy awards for her. Supriya has also provided briefings to high-level officials such as Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Supriya’s expertise in human rights and slavery eradication is underpinned by her educational background, which includes a bachelor’s degree in law from the University of Lucknow and a master’s degree in International Service from the University of Surrey, Roehampton in London, UK.

Awards:

  • Emmy Award for “Outstanding Individual Achievement in Craft Research” Discovery Channel’s documentary Kids Behind Bars, 2002
  • Amnesty International Media Award for “Excellence in Human Rights Journalism” for BBC’s and Discovery Channel’s documentary Kids Behind Bars, 2002
  • Emmy Award for “Research” in HBO’s The  Carpet Slaves – Stolen Children of India, 2001
  • Be a Nelson – RNW, Netherlands, 2015