Sr. Martha Pelloni, of the Congregation of the Carmelitas Misioneras Teresianas, is the third laureate of the 2025 Sisters’ Anti-Trafficking Awards. The awards honor three women religious who have demonstrated exceptional courage, creativity, collaboration and commitment in protecting their communities from human trafficking. Sr. Martha receives the Human Dignity Award for her lifetime dedication to the fight against exploitation.

A lifetime dedicated to the defense of children

Sr. Martha’s struggle began in 1990, after the rape and brutal murder of one of her students, Maria Soledad Morales, an event that deeply marked her life and mission. In response, she organized a powerful march of silence to demand justice and accountability – the first of 82 marches that she later led in pursuit of truth and legal action against the perpetrators.

Since then, Sr. Martha has collaborated with numerous families to expose cases of the theft and sale of babies, becoming a national voice against this form of human exploitation. In 2008, she founded the National Network of Stolen Childhood, dedicated to preventing abuse, supporting victims, and fighting against child trafficking and sexual exploitation across Argentina.

The network promotes awareness-raising workshops, technical training, victim assistance, research initiatives, and participation in national spaces for reflection, advocacy, and prevention.

In 2009, during her service in Corrientes, Sr. Martha denounced the first cases of baby trafficking linked to organised criminal networks, continuing to speak out against systemic injustice and impunity.

National and international recognition

Sr. Martha’s courageous commitment has received worldwide recognition. In 2013 she was awarded the International Navarra Prize for Solidarity in Spain for her defense of human rights, particularly against child trafficking, sexual abuse and the stealing of children for organ trafficking in Argentina.

Previously, in 2005, she was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for her tireless social engagement and defense of human dignity.

Advocacy for legal reform

In recent years, Sr. Martha has played a decisive role in promoting legislative efforts to protect minors. She is recognized as one of the main promoters of the Lucio Law, passed unanimously in Argentina on April 13, 2022.

The law was inspired by the tragic death of Lucio Dupuy, a child abused and murdered by his mother and her partner. Sr. Martha accompanied the child’s grandfather throughout the legal proceedings and worked with other members of the Stolen Childhood Network to advocate in Congress for a law that:

• protects the fundamental rights of minors
• removes statute of limitations for child abuse
• mandates compulsory training for public officials on children’s rights

Ongoing struggle

Sr. Martha continues to accompany victims and their families, most recently in the case of Loan Peña, a child who disappeared in 2023 and is feared to be a victim of human trafficking. She has called for marches demanding his safe return and continues to mobilize public awareness.

Throughout her lifelong mission, Sr. Martha has faced misunderstanding, persecution and death threats. Yet her determination has never wavered. Her commitment to defending human dignity has led her to stand with those who suffer, confront powerful institutions, and expose injustices affecting the most vulnerable.

Today, Sr. Martha Pelloni remains a powerful testimony of courage and action, inspiring many to continue the fight against exploitation, especially involving children, and to demand justice in the face of silence and complicity.