Jimmy Lopez

Survivor Leader

Jimmy Lopez, Survivor Leader.

Jimmy Lopez is a survivor of child labor trafficking. At the age of 14, he left his family and fled Honduras to avoid being recruited by gangs. He was trafficked twice in the US, first in a furniture factory and then again in a restaurant. This led to his detainment within the criminal justice system and eventual contact with a public defender that recognized his experience with human trafficking. He received services from the Coalition to Abolish Slavery and Trafficking (CAST) and he is now a survivor advocate for other children who have had similar experiences. He has spoken at the United Nations, the White House, and US Congress. He has trained judges and service providers on the dynamics of child labor trafficking. He has also travelled internationally and is recognized as a young leader in the Anti-Trafficking movement.