Professional Documents
Culture Documents
2023 Impact Report
2023 Impact Report
ORG
2023 MID-YEAR
IMPACT REPORT
Operation Underground
Railroad is committed to
eradicating human
trafficking and sexual
exploitation worldwide.
To achieve this, we have
established regional
operations directors and
regional aftercare
directors across the
globe. Their presence
ensures the development
of essential resources for
both survivors and
governments. We have proudly supported over 100 law
enforcement agencies in all 50 states this year.
EUROPE
The Greek Ministry of Public O.U.R. trained 48 of Romania’s
We recently assisted a Safety and Citizenship top police and prosecutors on
survivor who was rescued in Protection has now made how to interview underage
Greece and wished to return O.U.R. and A21 part of the victims of human trafficking
to Moldova. In a country Greek National Action Plan to and online and sexual
where resources are scarce, combat human trafficking exploitation while not causing
we were able to offer her the there. This is based on the further trauma. This was the
personalized assistance she outstanding operations we first training of this type that
needed, ensuring her well- have conducted there over the these officers had received.
being and recovery. This past year.
emphasizes our mission to
ensure that any survivor
rescued in our operations We signed a formal In Bulgaria, we have invested
receives the care they need. Cooperation Agreement with in building a child center to
the Italian State Police to work provide crucial support for
with their Cyber Crimes Child victims of pedophilia in an
Exploitation Unit. This underserved community.
agreement solidifies our
partnership and footprint in
the region.
CENTRAL AMERICA
Our funding and placement of We answered the call from the
We are delighted to share two K9s in Costa Rica and Guatemalan government to
that a survivor we rescued in Guatemala have proven to be implement a renovated victim
2018 recently completed an invaluable assets to our police receiving room for survivors
internship with O.U.R. partnerships. attending court hearings. One
Aftercare while pursuing a survivor shared that before the
degree in social work. Through our undercover remodel, they were reluctant
operations in Honduras and to come, but now they are
Belize, we were able to assist happy and enjoy playing
law enforcement in rescuing games with their sibling.
over 50 individuals and
arresting 10 traffickers. We are delighted to share that
a survivor we rescued in 2018
We have formed recently completed an
collaborations with key internship with O.U.R.
entities like Homeland Security Aftercare while pursuing a
and the US Embassy in degree in social work.
Honduras, Belize, and
Guatemala. As a result, we are
now actively working joint
operations alongside their
Cyber Crimes Unit.
SOUTH AMERICA
In Peru, we successfully The Colombian National In November 2022, O.U.R.
repatriated more than 40 Police (CNP) DIJIN and the empowered Peruvian law
survivors back to their home Colombian Immigration enforcement with Operation
countries. Police (PJI) successfully Steam Roller, aimed at bringing
carried out a major operation down a Transnational Criminal
We stood by two courageous with the support of the Organization. The initial
survivors as they bravely O.U.R. Operations Team. operation successfully saved 99
addressed the court during the After months of gathering victims, captured 30 criminals,
sentencing of Herbert Fletcher, a intelligence, they executed and confiscated a variety of
42-year-old American man who search and arrest warrants heavy weaponry, including
exploited minors in Colombia. that resulted in the rescue of grenades. Throughout the first
10 females and the arrest of half of 2023, Operation Steam
One brave survivor we work with 10 members of a dangerous Roller expanded into several
in Colombia recently secured a international criminal related investigations, leading to
business contract to produce organization. O.U.R. played a the rescue of 84 more victims.
uniforms for the navy unit that vital role in this investigation, Shockingly, among them were 8
played a vital role in her rescue providing undercover agents, children who had been held
several years ago. overall investigative captive while their mothers were
assistance, and financial coerced into sex work.
We played a crucial role in support. Additionally, 13 more individuals
Argentina by delivering trauma- involved in these crimes were
informed care training to apprehended.
government officials and NGOs,
empowering them to improve
support for survivors. OPERATION UNDERGROUND RAILROAD | 7
REGIONAL IMPACT @OURRESCUE | OURRESCUE.ORG
MEXICO &
THE CARIBBEAN
Our operators have As a part of our new alliance
Following our participation demonstrated remarkable in Saint Lucia, O.U.R. helped
in Operation Catleya in late flexibility and maintain active launch a national anti-
2022, we continue to alliances with operational units human trafficking campaign
support numerous survivors. in the Dominican Republic. One that was aired on popular
We are assisting six highlight was when our TV and radio stations,
individuals in launching small undercover teams collaborated displayed on billboards
businesses and empowering seamlessly to intercept along major highways, and
ten others in furthering their Dominican fugitives seeking showcased through eye-
education. refuge from the law after catching posters at the
running a trafficking ring out of airports. We also provided
Haiti, Dominican Republic, the top-notch forensic training
United States, and Canada. to several agents at the St
Lucia Police training facility
We successfully signed an and send our undercover
official alliance agreement with agents to team up with the
the Saint Lucian Government, local police on operations,
achieving a significant leading to the discovery of
milestone by helping them numerous new leads.
move from the Tier 2 Watch
List to a Tier 2 rating in the
official Trafficking in Persons
report. OPERATION UNDERGROUND RAILROAD | 8
REGIONAL IMPACT @OURRESCUE | OURRESCUE.ORG
AFRICA &
THE MIDDLE EAST
In Kenya, we have two highly In Ghana, we have been
We have forged strong skilled members of our law building on our strong
alliances with 10 aftercare enforcement team now relationship with the police
shelters in Uganda and embedded with the Nairobi force by providing essential
Ghana to provide and Mombasa Anti-Human training and support to both
comprehensive support to Trafficking and Child police and immigration
survivors of human Protection Units. Their crucial officers. Our efforts have
trafficking and exploitation. role involves triaging and recently been recognized
analyzing cyber tips, assisting when our involvement from
In Ghana, we stepped in to with investigations, and the very beginning led to the
fund a crucial surgery for a overseeing OUR funding. By conviction and a 50-year jail
brave young survivor who working closely with local term for a man who had raped
had suffered burn wounds police colleagues, we are his daughters. This successful
as a result of her traumatic making a significant impact in outcome highlights our
experiences. the fight against these heinous commitment to supporting
crimes. investigations and ensuring
victim protection in the region.
ASIA
We implemented surveillance In West Jakarta, we have
Across the countries we systems and a counseling / established a Child Forensic
work in, numerous survivors interview house at the border Interview Room and
have enrolled in university between Nepal and India. As a Investigator Room at the
and trade school programs, result, there are 40 girls local police station. By
and one remarkable intercepted every month. prioritizing the needs of
individual recently victims, we provided a
graduated with a nursing secure environment where
assistant degree. We are actively combatting children feel comfortable
Online Sexual Exploitation of sharing vital information for
Children (OSEC Safeguard) in legal proceedings. The
Thailand. Through targeted investigator room promotes
training sessions at multiple efficient collaboration
schools, we equip students with among those fighting
the knowledge and tools to against child exploitation
protect themselves from online and human trafficking.
harm. Additionally, we have
aided Thailand's new CSECC unit
by providing essential office
equipment and undercover
training opportunities for one of
their detectives.
UNITED STATES
& CANADA
Thanks to your generous O.U.R. provided ten laptops
“O.U.R. has been a godsend, donations, these agencies to an aftercare home for
considering the fiscal have been able to make over minors so they can
constraint my service 600 arrests and successfully continue their schooling
operates under. Many identify or rescue over 140 while in treatment.
rescued victims unknowingly victims.
owe much of their gratitude
to O.U.R.” We funded the repair of a
The K9 Handlers have survivor's car engine,
-Officer from Medicine Hat, AB reported incredible results recognizing her financial
with the K9s donated by constraints as she diligently
O.U.R., with over 250 arrests pursues her education.
made and over 120 victims
rescued or identified through
their invaluable assistance in
investigations.