Freedom Award Winners 2009
Heroes in Action
The awards are open to organizations and individuals working to eradicate human trafficking and modern-day slavery.
Nominations came from 22 countries, and winners were selected by an independent international committee. This year's awards
honor women who are setting the standard for world-class anti-slavery work. Their inspiring life stories and courageous work
recognize the importance of women in the anti-slavery movement.
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Sina Vann - Cambodia
Frederick Douglass Award
Sina Vann walks into her
worst nightmare every day. For more than two years
she was tortured and raped
as a sex slave
in Phnom Penh. She now goes back to the brothels to help sex slaves escape, and to provide health advice
for those unable to break free.
More About Sina >>
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Veero - Pakistan
Frederick Douglass Award
Veero took a terrifying risk to break free from slavery. She slipped away, alone and on foot, from a farm where men were kept in leg irons and
women were guarded by armed thugs. She now shows others how they can walk to freedom too.
More About Veero >>
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Shramajivee Mahila Samity - India
Harriet Tubman Award
They go undercover to expose
trafficking rings. They help rescue
slaves and reunite families. They
teach entire villages how to rid
themselves of slavery forever. The
activists of SMS prove there's power
when women work together.
More About SMS >>
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Betsy Bramon and Alexis Weiss
Anne Templeton Zimmerman Fellows
Putting traffickers behind bars. Empowering survivors to get back on their feet. These young women have
accomplished amazing
things. They're setting the standard for the next generation of anti-slavery
activists. And they’re just getting started.
More About the Fellows >>
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Why The Freedom Awards Are Important
The Freedom Awards are underwritten by the John Templeton Foundation.
"The Freedom Awards
combine the best of two
world-changing forces that are central to Sir John Templeton’s positive vision for the future: the power of noble purpose to
inspire lives of great significance, and the central importance of enhancing and expanding individual freedom. In addition, the
awards honor the memory of Sir John’s daughter Anne Templeton Zimmerman, who herself was a dedicated and courageous advocate for
ending slavery and promoting religious freedom.”
-Kimon Sargeant, Ph.D., VP of Human Sciences, John Templeton Foundation