Statement from SMF's Executive Director and Board of Directors
April 4th, 2014
Dear Supporters,
Since the launch of the Somaly Mam Foundation (SMF) in 2007, the organization’s goal has been crucial and clear – to eradicate the trafficking and sexual exploitation of women and girls in Southeast Asia, and to empower survivors as part of the solution.
As documented by the International Labor Organization (ILO), today, there are nearly 21 million people enslaved worldwide, 4.5 million of which are victims of forced sexual exploitation.
For the past seven years, with our on-the-ground partners, the Somaly Mam Foundation has funded and spearheaded effective programs that have helped thousands of victims of trafficking and sexual exploitation -- some as young as three years old -- to heal and to rebuild their lives with hope, confidence, and dignity. Through these efforts, we have touched the lives of nearly 100,000 women and girls in need. We have engaged more than 6,400 students in anti-trafficking activism, and our advocacy efforts have raised global awareness of one of humanity’s most insidious and troubling problems.
We are aware of certain allegations that have surfaced from Cambodia regarding Somaly’s history and that of two former grant partner beneficiaries. We are treating these accusations with the utmost seriousness. Following an internal review, the Foundation has recently launched an independent, third party investigation to further examine these claims. Somaly Mam is in full support of this review. We can only hope that this does not deter other survivors from sharing their experiences, because it is their courageous voices that bring promise of a world free from trafficking.
Somaly Mam is recognized as one of the many powerful and fearless forces in the anti-trafficking movement. Through her work as a tireless advocate for nearly two decades, she has dedicated her life to eradicating trafficking and to protecting women and girls. Her efforts aren’t just admirable; in many cases, they are lifesaving.
We will remain steadfast in our work and will not be deterred from our mission. Women and girls are sold, raped, abused, and exploited every minute of every day, not just in Southeast Asia, but in every corner of the world. As such, we cannot lose sight of our critical work, nor will we idly stand by. Too many girls rely on our services; too many lives are at stake.
We thank our tens of thousands of supporters for their dedicated commitment to SMF, and the strong community of courageous leaders and organizations around the world that have come together to fight against trafficking in all its forms. While each may tackle this global problem from different perspectives, we stand united in our goal to create a world where ALL human beings are safe from slavery.
In solidarity,
Gina Reiss-Wilchins
Executive Director
Somaly Mam Foundation
The Board of Directors
Somaly Mam Foundation