Harold D’souza, an Indian-American survivor of labor trafficking and debt bondage, was bestowed with the Human Rights Hero Award 2023 at the 17th Annual International Human Rights Youth Summit held at the United Nations headquarters in New York.
The award was presented to D’souza in recognition of his remarkable efforts and unwavering commitment to educate millions about human rights and raise awareness to combat human trafficking through his non-profit organization, Eyes Open International (EOI). EOI focuses on fighting modern-day slavery with survivor-informed expertise.
In his acceptance speech, D’Souza shared his personal journey of coming to the United States on an H-1B visa, driven by the pursuit of the American dream, only to find himself trapped in a human trafficking situation. He narrated his experiences and emphasized the importance of knowing one’s rights, particularly Article 4 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which strictly prohibits all forms of slavery. D’Souza expressed regret for not being aware of his rights earlier and stressed the significance of teaching all 30 articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to every child worldwide.
During his emotional address, D’Souza highlighted the importance of valuing the lives of victims and survivors, affirming that all lives—be it black, white, or brown—matter. He expressed profound gratitude to Dr. Mary Shuttleworth, the compassionate and charming president and founder of Youth for Human Rights International, for recognizing, respecting, and supporting survivors across the globe.
