Dr. Aleya El Bindari Hammad 

Dr. Aleya Hammad (October 19, 1936 – November 15, 2023) was among the first to bring the issue of human trafficking to the world’s attention, in particular the role of the private sector. She was one of the Co-Founders of End Human Trafficking Now! (EHTN), the first worldwide initiative to engage the private sector in anti-trafficking efforts, and worked tirelessly to promote policies against human trafficking as a criminal activity. Dr. Hammad was Executive Vice-President of the EHTN Board.

Dr. Hammad was elected as Chair of the Board of the United Nations Trust Fund for Victims of Human Trafficking, and Chair of the Women’s Leadership Council of the United Nations Global Initiative to Fight Human Trafficking (UN.GIFT). In 2009, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) appointed her as Goodwill Advisor on Business Community Action to Combat Human Trafficking. Concerned with the increase in the level of violence, conflict and wars worldwide, and its harmful effect on women and children, she has dedicated much of her efforts in peace-building initiatives and fostering a culture of peace. She is a member of several eminent boards, including the Board of the New York Academy of Medicine, USA, and the Advisory Board of the Geneva Centre for Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF), Switzerland.

Dr. Hammad devoted her career to public health issues, with a focus on improving the quality of life of disadvantaged and vulnerable groups. She served for more than 30 years as a high level UN staff member to the World Health Organisation (WHO), where she was appointed Executive Director/Assistant Director General. She was also Chair of the International Advisory Board, Wagner School of Public Service; and Visiting Professor, New York University and George Washington University, Center for International Health. Dr. Hammad is a holder of many awards, the highest of which is the Gold Medal of Honour for services rendered in 1986 by the President of Egypt. She received her Ph.D. in Education and M.Sc. in Public Health from Boston University, USA. She also received a B.Sc. in Nursing from the University of Alexandria, Egypt.

It is thanks to Dr. Hammad that many of us came to learn about the issue of human trafficking. And it is her passion and inspiration to fight this illicit trade that we, at Youth Underground, would like to acknowledge!

“As shocking as the figures are, one glimmer of hope is the amazing role the youth are taking to win over a future without human trafficking.”