In 2002, Susana Trimarco’s world shattered when her daughter, Marita de los Ángeles Verón, was kidnapped and forced into human trafficking. What began as a mother’s desperate search turned into a 14-year battle against an invisible and brutal network.
Susana disguised herself as a sex worker, infiltrating brothels across Argentina to locate her daughter and uncover the criminal networks behind the trafficking. She faced unimaginable dangers, systemic corruption, and the heartbreaking realities of girls deceived, abused, and trapped in a world no one wanted to see. “Every time I was left with nothing… these girls were frightened, but I told them it was their only chance to leave,” Susana recalls.
Her courage did not stop with her own daughter. In 2007, she founded the María de los Ángeles Foundation, which has since rescued over 9,500 girls from captivity and coercion. Through her relentless advocacy, Susana also influenced the passage of Argentina’s Anti-Human Trafficking Law in 2008, creating legal tools to fight the very networks that took Marita.
Susana’s story is one of unyielding determination, selfless bravery, and unwavering hope. She transformed personal tragedy into a force that protects thousands of lives, showing the world that one person’s courage can ignite systemic change. Her fight continues, a reminder that the battle against human trafficking demands both vigilance and heart.
Susana Trimarco proves that the love of a mother—and the strength to act—can confront the darkest corners of humanity and bring light where it is needed most.