• Eight person delegation part of the push to improve the world by 2030

In recent months Libertas International has gained traction around the world as an organization doing great work to help aid the most vulnerable. This has always been the case since Tyler Schwab founded the non-profit several years ago, but their work to battle human sex trafficking by American tourists was recently given another big boost as they were invited to address the United Nations in Vienna, Austria.

“Libertas International was invited to add to a constructive dialogue for trafficking in person so we brought a delegation of eight people to talk about the work that we do,” Schwab stated in a recent interview with SVI. “We did a briefing on the cases we are working and the survivors who we’re working with. We were grateful to be on a global stage and we look forward to continuing to work with the UN and make a positive difference in the world.”

Schwab, an SVHS graduate in 2009, served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Dominican Republic where he became aware of human trafficking. After completing his service and attending school, he paid for a return trip to see what could be done by selling his furniture, including his mattress. This past week, he helped address the issue in front one of the world’s most influential bodies.

“I felt like a fish out of water,” Schwab answered. “It started out in the morning and my cousin Melissa let me know as I was walking in and that my socks didn’t match. I had one black one and one white one. But once you get settled on that stage you know that you are representing our survivors and the many people who sacrifice a lot so we can do what we do. It went really well. We are creating plans to help support survivors and support prosecution and how we can change international law to where survivors are protected and perpetrators are punished.”

Schwab stated that the UN’s discussion with Libertas International is part of a broader scope to help make an impact on the world by 2030. The organization is considered unique in that it has specific, survivor-centered pursuits.

“It was humbling to be in a room like that as it’s being broadcast across the world,” Schwab added. “They are very much looking for input from our survivors as well. We had two survivors who attended with us. They were both rescued at 13 years old and are now part of the organization as social workers. To have them share their experiences with us on an international stage is important so that their voices are elevated so we can make the changes that we need to make.”

The mission of Libertas International is to support survivors of human trafficking in Latin America in their healing and aftercare and support local and federal law enforcement to hold these perpetrators accountable.

“It’s a tough mission,” Schwab replied. “It’s a dark industry. These people are very evil. These survivors are worth it and the people who do this are truly evil. There’s no place I’d rather be than to stand between these American predators and the vulnerable children of the world.”

One of the most admirable parts of Libertas International is not just helping survivors, but to help them thrive in life. Schwab, who has an affinity for superhero culture has drawn this type of praise for his work from the Colombian government but he defers to the survivors.

“People are are always very kind and while I appreciate that, in my view, the survivors are  the ones who should wear the mantle of hero,” he stated. “One of the girls that was there from Guatemala, I remember when we were working on this case she was 13 and being trafficked by the MS-13 gang and she was just clutching her teddy bear and to see her now in a position of authority and answering questions on this stage was a very humbling experience for me. While we love that we have some of them who are working with us, we also try and help those survivors to celebrate and excel to be who they want. They deserve to heal. They are important and special and their dreams are just as important as anyone else.”

Schwab says the organization will keep up the hard work as long as there is money in the bank to help aid survivors and outfit them with school supplies and other necessities. Readers can become a monthly donor at libertasinternational.org which goes directly to these efforts.

“To ask for help is a very vulnerable time for these children,” Schwab concluded. “To ensure we have help when they ask for it is what these donations do for us. So for us to be able to do that, those $10 or $25 per month are needed and appreciated.”