With high profits and low risk, the buying and selling of human beings has become the fastest-growing criminal enterprise in the world today. Survivor: A Global Look at Human Trafficking is an extensive portrait series that sheds light on the underrepresented and often ignored survivors of sex trafficking, forced labor and forced marriage in Uganda, Philippines, Ethiopia, Belize, Kenya, and the U.S. The series consists of intimate portrayals of the healing, recovery and reintegration process.
Matilde Simas, a first-generation Azorean-American visual storyteller, dedicates her artistic endeavors to social narratives and personal stories. Matilde engages in collaborative projects that empower individuals to co-create their narratives and shape their representation. Her accolades and collaborations with NGOs around the globe underscore her commitment to using visual art as a powerful tool for social activism. Notably, her evocative images find a place in the U.S. Trafficking in Persons Report and Kenyan Directory of Service Providers for Trafficking Persons.
