Presentation of the Legion of Honor to Taina Bien-Aimé [fr]

Born in 1958 into a Haitian family with a certain feminist and political tradition passed on by her suffragette grandmother, Taina Bien-Aimé has dedicated her life to fighting against violence and discrimination against women and girls around the world.

She grew up in Switzerland where she studied Political Science at the University of Geneva. She then decided to fly to the United States to study at New York University, from where she graduated with a doctorate in law in 1991.

In 1992, struck by the inequalities and living conditions of some women, she co-founded Equality Now, an international organization seeking to protect and promote women’s rights around the world. She was its director from 2001 to 2011 and promoted the association’s campaigns against sex tourism and sex trafficking.

Today, Taina Bien-Aimé leads the Coalition Against Trafficking in Women (CATW), one of the oldest international organizations fighting against trafficking in women. CATW opposes human trafficking, especially of women and children, as well as prostitution and other forms of commercial sex. In this context, Taina Bien-Aimé has supported the development of laws such as the United Nations Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children and the U.S. Trafficking Victims Protection Act.

Taina Bien-Aimé’s work for women’s rights and gender equality is a source of inspiration for many people around the world. Her unwavering commitment has been recognized on numerous occasions by the international community. In 2007, she was awarded the Susan B. Anthony Award by the American Organization for Women, an award that honors outstanding achievement by women.

By awarding her the insignia of Chevalier dans l’Ordre National de la Légion d’Honneur, France wishes to express its gratitude to Taina Bien-Aimé for her commitment to the fight for women’s rights.