DHAKA, 25 June 2024 - Md Al-Amin Noyon, who was trafficked himself, was recognised by the US State Department with the prestigious Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Hero Award on Monday. The award recognises outstanding individuals around the world who are fighting to end human trafficking.
“At the airport, not a day goes by when I don’t meet a returning migrant worker who has a harrowing experience to share. Hopefully this recognition will inspire others to support them. Their stories of survival and courage show the many dangers and pitfalls that await Bangladeshi migrant workers,” explained Noyon, who is also an active member of ANIRBAN, a survivor-led platform that raises awareness about human trafficking and advocates for survivors' rights.
Noyon migrated from Bangladesh to Malaysia 17 years ago for a job in a multinational company. He, along with hundreds of other migrant workers, was being starved, beaten and held captive in a warehouse deep in a jungle. After six months, Noyon and 60 fellow migrants broke the glass windows of the warehouse and made a run for it. Other people heard the news and joined them, and eventually 110 people made it to the Bangladesh embassy in Malaysia and returned home.
Drawing from his own harrowing experience, Noyon has dedicated his life to supporting other survivors. He has helped over 34,000 Bangladeshi trafficking survivors and migrants with emergency and reintegration support in the last 15 years as the manager of the BRAC Migration Welfare Centre in Bangladesh.
The award was presented by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Washington DC at the annual launch of the Trafficking in Persons report, one of the most comprehensive resources on anti-trafficking efforts around the globe.
Globally, an estimated 27 million people at any given time are being trafficked. Women and children are particularly targeted - 11 million women are estimated to be trafficked every year. Approximately 400 women and children in Bangladesh are trafficked every month.
BRAC has directly supported more than 61,000 migrants to date, more than half of whom are returnee migrants who receive immediate assistance upon arrival at an airport. BRAC has approximately 1000 dedicated volunteers, 305 staff members and 35 psycho-social counsellors working to support migrants, and mobilises its 3,500 offices across Bangladesh to support rehabilitation and reintegration.
