Human Trafficking Awareness Interviews

In the Booth with Ruth – Magda M. Olchawska – Anti-Human Trafficking Activist and Filmmaker

Magda M. Olchawska – Anti-Human Trafficking Activist and Filmmaker: “…society needs to be aware that the problem exists… citizens need to feel safe enough to report strange activities in their neighbourhoods to the authorities… The support system for the victims needs to be much better… the Swedish system, where not only the oppressor but also people using trafficked victims in any way are punished, could be the right way forward.”

Ruth Jacobs's avatarRuth Jacobs

Magda M. Olchawska

What inspired you to support the movement against human traffickingand make films about human trafficking and sexual exploitation?

Towards the end of 2010, I started reading a lot about human and sex trafficking. I also watched a movie called The Whistleblower, based on a true story of how UN soldiers were trafficking girls from former Soviet Union to former Yugoslavia.

However, the most influential person who inspired me was a lady I met on Twitter, Lynn Robertson. Lynn’s work and dedication made me inspired to write a script and then to turn it into a movie. I wanted to be involved in the fight against sex and human trafficking in any possible way. At that time, I thought the best way for me to make society more aware of the huge problem we are facing was to make a ‘fictional’ movie.

Can you describe the films you’ve made…

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In the Booth with Ruth – Lynn Robertson, Anti-Human Trafficking Activist and Advocate

“I began to read about victims and survivors of sex trafficking and my heart broke,” says Lynn Robertson, an anti-human trafficking activist and advocate. “ Especially when I realised that children were being sold for sex – little girls and little boys sold globally for sex trafficking…. I rarely slept. I knew I had to try to do something to end the horror of this nightmare.”

Ruth Jacobs's avatarRuth Jacobs

Lynn Robertson

How did you become involved in the movement against sex trafficking and sexual exploitation?

I don’t have any deep answers to that. In fact, I’m going to be very honest and put my cards on the table about this. I was just looking to have fun when I discovered social media (Twitter and Facebook). Eventually, I happened upon Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore talking about human trafficking. Frankly, I thought they were very cool people and I wanted them to think I was cool. So, I started following them. As I continued to read their comments, I was led to survivors, victims, activists and groups working to end human trafficking. And I totally lost my heart to the victims, and to this cause. Once you lose your heart in this, there is no turning back. The number of estimated sex and labor trafficking victims globally is at least 21 million. This was…

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In the Booth with Ruth – Aimee Galicia Torres, Anti-Human Trafficking Activist / Filmmaker / Non-Profit Founder

“I am a survivor of both sexual and domestic physical abuse, and I wanted to help be the voice for those who are too afraid to speak up,” says Aimee Galicia Torres, an anti-human trafficking activist and filmmaker, and the founder of non-profit, Majestic Dreams Foundation.

Ruth Jacobs's avatarRuth Jacobs

Aimee Galicia Torres

What inspired you to support the movement against human trafficking and make films about human trafficking and sexual exploitation?

I was inspired to support the movement against human trafficking by creating and starting a non-profit called The Majestic Dreams Foundation (www.themajestic.org) because I wanted to create awareness on all forms of abuse. Having been in the film industry for a little over eight years as an award-winning cinematographer, I decided to create a company that would embody and create films that make an impact, therefore, making a difference. I was featured on CNN’s Anderson 360, Al Jazeera English on my work on human trafficking and sexual exploitation.

One of the biggest things we can do to combat human trafficking and human exploitation is by shedding light and exposure on this topic. Using my connections and skills in the film industry, I am able to maximize and create exposure…

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