Our speaker today was Darren Reynolds, Head of Engagement in Australia for “Every Daughter Matters”, an Australian based charity. Darren gave us a run down of the shocking level of the trafficking of women from Nepal to India due principally to the open border policy between the two countries. Women, some as young as 12, mainly illiterate and impoverished, are enticed across the border with promises of money and a better life. They generally end up in brothels, street begging or even used for organ harvesting. Around 25,000 women are trafficked across the border every year. Much of it is brazen and occurs in broad daylight. The charity has set up 14 border crossing booths where staff try to identify women and girls being trafficked by personally confronting any suspected trafficker. The Nepalese police are onside and will arrest traffickers when they are identified. The charity has 70 front line staff and achieved 1572 rescues in 2025. They also run two safe houses where life skill training is provided for the rescued women. 90% of those rescued are returned to their families in Nepal. Darren advised it costs $187- per rescue and all their funding comes from private sources and donations. Recently support has come from an unusual source, “How Ridiculous” (known for undertaking stunts and outlandish challenges), an Australian You Tube channel based in Perth. How Ridiculous has partnered with Every Daughter Matters to raise awareness of the trafficking and is funding rescue efforts. As Cate said in her vote of thanks “how fortunate we are in Australia”.