The 2023 Alnoba Moment of Truth Award for Leadership in Gender Equity is set to be bestowed upon Ruchira Gupta, an Emmy-awarded journalist and the visionary founder of the non-governmental organization Apne Aap, dedicated to combating sex trafficking. This distinguished recognition, offered by the Alnoba Lewis Family Foundation, celebrates a resolute activist leader who has not only drawn widespread attention to a significant contemporary issue but has also effectively rallied supporters and resources to bring about positive change.
For more than thirty years, Gupta has relentlessly advocated for a world where no girl or woman is subjected to the horrors of being bought and sold. In a bold move, she co-established Apne Aap alongside twenty-two courageous sex workers, aiming to empower marginalized girls and women in their fight against sex trafficking. According to official records, Gupta’s efforts have assisted over 20,000 women in escaping the clutches of prostitution.
Gupta’s debut fiction novel, “I Kick and I Fly,” draws its inspiration from real-life stories she witnessed and lived through while working as an activist with Apne Aap. Her remarkable contributions, which include the establishment of the UN trafficking fund for survivors and the passage of the US trafficking victims protection Act, along with her grassroots activism through Apne Aap, have earned her prestigious accolades such as the French Ordre National du Mérite, the Clinton Global Citizen Award, and the UN NGO CSW Woman of Distinction, among others.
The Alnoba Leadership Award, in addition to the honor, also encompasses a $10,000 donation made in the recipient’s name to a nonprofit organization of their choosing. The formal presentation of these awards will take place at the Alnoba Environmental Leadership Awards Dinner scheduled for October 4th.
