Connections with an impact

Tomomi Shimizu is a Senior Programme Manager for the Kamonohashi Project. Last December, she travelled from Japan to London to attend the Trust Women conference. Six months later, she used the connections forged at the event to rescue a girl who had been trafficked from Mumbai to Nepal. We caught up with Tomomi to ask her what she made of Trust Women. 

Why did you attend Trust Women?

I heard about Trust Women from a Thomson Reuters Foundation colleague a few months before the conference. Having worked in the humanitarian field, I’ve learned that partnerships are essential for producing efficient, sustainable impact on the ground. Trust Women was the perfect venue for me to meet donors and experts working in the human trafficking field.

What was the highlight of your experience?

The highlight of my experience was getting to know many powerful people who have been working and making real impact to fight human trafficking.

What kind of impact did Trust Women have on you personally and/or professionally?

Networking at Trust Women had a substantial impact on me and played a key role in saving a trafficking victim. In June 2014, a girl went missing and was found to be trafficked from Mumbai to Nepal. I put my local partners in touch with Maiti Nepal, an NGO who I met at the Trust Women Conference 2013.  As a result, the girl was found within half an hour and rescued from her traffickers. I have high respect for this Conference!

With only nine weeks to go to the conference, the Trust Women team is working at full gear towards yet another very powerful event. Come and join Muhammad Yunus, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Cyrus Vance Jr, Kailash Satyarthi and many other influential speakers and participate in real change. Take Action. Join us at Trust Women this November, 18-19 in London, and be part of this year's global campaign to empower women to know and defend their rights.

Register now at www.trustwomenconf.com/register or contact Donna Oliver - [email protected]. Alternatively call +44 (0) 207 542 5455.