Fabiola Mendiata-Cuapio
Survivor of Sex Trafficking; Immigrant Justice Advocate and Civic Engagement and Community Empowerment Coordinator, Office of the Public Advocate
As a straight-A high school student and the oldest of nine children who worked in a factory in Mexico to help support her family, Ms. Mendiata-Cuapio fell prey to a sex trafficker who beat and drugged her, and threatened to kill her family if she failed to cooperate. Four years later, while living in a house in Queens, NY along with over 40 other women trafficked by a vicious gang, she managed to escape from “the life” with the help of a detective called to investigate after complaints of violence were lodged by neighbors. Today, Ms. Mendieta-Cuapio works as an Immigrant Justice Advocate and Civic Engagement and Community Empowerment Coordinator at the Office of the Public Advocate in New York City.
“While under the control of vicious sex traffickers, it is easy to be persuaded by them that escape is impossible; that the outside world thinks you’re no better than garbage and will not help you; that no one cares whether you live or die. Even for survivors lucky enough to escape, the pain and suffering we experience can last a lifetime. My goal is to show the humanity of those who are victimized, and to mobilize our community help for them.”