By: Lidia Evita, Staff Writer for World Liberty TV

As the Epstein case reminds the world how often powerful abusers evade consequences, we gather for a bold, inspiring evening to uplift survivors and amplify the call to hold sexual exploiters accountable.

Six visionary honorees were honored: Survivor Advocate Liz Stein, Ecofeminist Vadana Shiva, and World Without Exploitation Leaders: Lauren Hersh, Rachel Foster, and Rebecca Zipkin.    The Jensen Project CEO Janet Jensen.

Presenters included: Neha Vashi, Vice President of brand strategy and innovation, Unilever. William Silverman, Pro Bono partner Proskauer.

Pamela Morgan, Co-Chair , NGO  CSW/NY. H.E. Ms.Katalin Bogyay, President of the World Federation of United Nations; Founder of Women4 Diplomacy International; President of UNESCO 36^th general conference; Former Permanent Representative of Hungary to the United Nations and UNESCO.

Remarks were made by Ruchira Gupta, Founder of Apne Aap, who welcomed everyone and went on to say, she and her board were much honored to honor all the honorees.

She also went on to say, we have moved the date from Oct 11^th 2026, to today Oct 2^nd 2026, which was Mahatma Gandhi’s birthday, and he believed and preached many times each and every person must be respected and including young girls and women.

Rachel Cooper, Director, Performing Arts and Culture as Diplomacy, Asia Society made remarks and went on to say we at Asia Society are much honored to partner with Apne Aap organization and to showcase its mission.

Also a special video tribute included for Gloria Steinem who an American journalist and social movement activist who emerged as a nationally recognized leader of second-wave feminism in the United States in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and who remained particularly prominent in the 1980s and early 1990s, who passed away earlier this year.

Ruchira Gupta, Founder of Apne Aap, went on to say Gloria attended many of our fundraisers and went on trips to India and saw all the great work, Apne Aap was doing for these young girls and women.

She supported them throughout many years, by talking about this issue and making appearances at fundraisers.

Special song was by Martha Redbone and Aaron Whitby. Close to 200 people were in attendance, and a reception took place after the event, for people to meet and network with the honorees.

Apne Aap Women Worldwide (India): Apne Aap Women Worldwide is a grassroots Indian organization that empowers marginalized girls and women to resist and end sex trafficking.

We organize vulnerable girls and women into small self-empowerment groups, where they work collectively to access legal, social, economic and political rights.

Our organization was founded in 2002 by Ruchira Gupta along with 22 courageous women in prostitution who shared her vision of a world where no woman would be bought or sold.

A charitable trust registered in India, Apne Aap Women Worldwide continues to strive to turn this vision into reality.

To learn more about Apne Aap, and donate to their cause click here.

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