Meron Estefanos

Meron Estefanos is an Eritrean human rights activist. She is the host and presenter of Radio Erena's weekly program known as "Voices of Eritrean Refugees," aired from Paris. Ms Estefanos is also the Executive Director of the Eritrean Initiative on Refugee Rights (EIRR), an advocacy organization for the rights of Eritrean refugees, victims of trafficking, and victims of torture. Ms Estefanos has been key in identifying victims throughout the world who have been blackmailed to pay ransom for kidnapped family members, and was key witness in the first blackmail trial in Europe. She is co-author of the following books '' Human Trafficking in the Sinai: Refugees between Life and Death'' and ''Human Trafficking Cycle: Sinai and Beyond.'' Ms Estefanos received certificate of appreciation from ORR (U.S Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Refugee Resettlement), was honored by Amnesty International and the Movies that Matter Festival for her roll in the film "Sound of Torture" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwXSsCWeSyk). She is also a recipient of the 2015 "Earth Angel" Award of the ACAT Foundation and winner of the 2011 Dawit Isaak Prize. Ms Estefanos was nominated for the 2014 UNHCR Nansen Award by the US State Department PRM Office and was also nominated for the 2014 Raoul Wallenberg Award for her work on human rights and victims of trafficking.