VISUAL SNAPSHOTS
Sources: The UN, the ILO, IOM, UNODC, UNICEF, UNHCR, The U.S. Department of State. Photography © Denis Savoie.
Youth Underground
Never doubt that one voice can make a difference
Sources: The UN, the ILO, IOM, UNODC, UNICEF, UNHCR, The U.S. Department of State. Photography © Denis Savoie.
A Trailblazer in Combatting Human Trafficking and Public Health Advocacy
Dr. Aleya Hammad is a global leader who played a pivotal role in raising awareness about human trafficking, particularly the involvement of the private sector. As one of the co-founders of End Human Trafficking Now! (EHTN), the first global initiative to engage businesses in anti-trafficking efforts, she was instrumental in driving policies to combat human trafficking as a serious criminal activity. Dr. Hammad also served as Executive Vice-President of the EHTN Board, where she championed the need for corporate responsibility in eradicating this heinous trade.
In recognition of her efforts, Dr. Hammad was elected Chair of the Board for the United Nations Trust Fund for Victims of Human Trafficking and Chair of the Women’s Leadership Council for the United Nations Global Initiative to Fight Human Trafficking (UN.GIFT). Her dedication was further acknowledged in 2009 when the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) appointed her as Goodwill Advisor on Business Community Action to Combat Human Trafficking. Deeply concerned by the global rise in violence, conflict, and war, and their devastating impact on women and children, Dr. Hammad has committed herself to peace-building and fostering a culture of peace through various initiatives.
Dr. Hammad’s leadership extends beyond human trafficking. She has served on prestigious boards, including the New York Academy of Medicine and the Advisory Board of the Geneva Centre for Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF). Her remarkable career spans over 30 years at the World Health Organization (WHO), where she served as Executive Director/Assistant Director General, focusing on improving the quality of life for vulnerable populations.
She is also recognized for her academic contributions as Chair of the International Advisory Board at Wagner School of Public Service and as a Visiting Professor at both New York University and George Washington University. Dr. Hammad’s contributions to public health and social justice have earned her numerous accolades, including the Gold Medal of Honour for services rendered by the President of Egypt in 1986.
Dr. Hammad holds a Ph.D. in Education and an M.Sc. in Public Health from Boston University, along with 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.”
Georges is the Board Treasurer of Youth Underground. Georges has a successful track record of developing European SME knowledge companies into successful, healthy and perennial businesses, based on a recipe of strong values and clear strategy. He was the Founder & CEO of LaserCom SA, a successful European consultancy and software company, which quickly developed into a leading solutions and services company in the field of document management (document production). LaserCom remains a reference for customer proximity, to this day. Georges was Executive Board Member of Edotech, a large services operation – generating revenues of over 120 million Euros – and Managing Director of Astron’s European operations. He also held non-executive Board positions and early stage investor roles in a range of SME enterprises. Georges currently provides consultancy services to SME enterprises, typically in turn-around situations, acts as an early stage investor for start-up projects, and provides investment and business development advice to Boards. Georges holds a BSC in Business Management and Computing, from Geneva University, Switzerland. He currently lives in Greece and created a sustainable agricultural project called MaziFarm. He is no longer confined to an office now that he has happily chosen to be out of the corporate world, but you will occasionally find Georges on a motorbike racing circuit somewhere in the world!
“How can we build a civilized society when we tolerate human trafficking?”
Nicholas is the Board Secretary of Youth Underground. Nichоlas established MYWAY, an audiоvisuаl prоduсtiоn firm lосatеd in Genеvа, drawing upоn mоre than twо dеcаdes оf eхpеrtisе in mеdia and соntent strategy, during which hе hаs оvеrsеen thе соmplеtiоn оf оver 400 prоductiоns. His prоfessiоnal trajectоry has shifted frоm a primarily service-оriented rоlе tо that оf а stratеgic partnеr in media, where he engagеs аt thе initial stages оf narrative dеvеlоpment, pоsitiоning, and impact assеssmеnt. Currently, hе plays a significant rоle in Yоuth Undеrgrоund, whеre he is immersed in thе strаtеgic оrganizatiоn, оperаtiоnаl implеmentatiоn, аnd fundrаising initiatives аimed at safeguаrding yоung individuals frоm abuse.
“Experience only matters when it serves what truly matters.”
Rasha is the Board President, and the Founder & CEO of Youth Underground. Prior to this position, she was Senior Advocacy & Communications Manager at End Human Trafficking Now (EHTN), responsible for EHTN’s and media relations, and co-founding and directing EHTN’s youth programs, namely the Youth Against Human Trafficking network whose followers she expanded over four-fold in a year. From 2001 to 2004, Rasha was Speech Writer & Policy Adviser to the Executive Director of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) in Geneva. Following this position, she continued in the field of Public Relations and Communications, working first as Director of Communication & Advocacy for the Association François-Xavier Bagnoud, and later as Senior Communications Consultant for various companies. From 2009 to 2010, she was a Board Member of Libertà association & helpline, the first hotline for victims of human trafficking in the French-speaking part of Switzerland. Rasha has a BA in International Studies and Business Management (Honors) from Webster University, Geneva, Switzerland, and was awarded a fellowship for her MA in Mass Communication, emphasis on Journalism, from the American University in Cairo, Egypt. She has published articles on a variety of topics in many sources over the last 20 years, namely for the Harvard Series on Population and International Health, USA, as well as the Encyclopedia of Global Environmental Change, Wiley ed., UK. She is a recipient of the Together for Peace Award by Mariapia Fanfani, Rome, Italy, to testify women’s contribution to a culture of peace and the International Federation of Consulting Engineers (FIDIC) Certificate of Recognition as Speaker at Webinar Series, 2023. Rasha is a member of The Worldwide Association of Female Professionals as well as the Worldwide Who’s Who for having demonstrated excellence, maintained perseverance, and ascended the summit of professional accomplishment. Rasha is at her best when she is not behind a desk—and derives her positive outlook from listening to, and trusting the youth, encouraging them to “speak without a filter!”
“We do our best to guide the youth, but at the end of the day, they also guide us. This is what Youth Underground is all about.”