Rachel Lloyd

Rachel Lloyd is a dedicated advocate for the rights of girls and young women who have experienced commercial sexual exploitation and trafficking. She is the founder and CEO of Girls Educational & Mentoring Services (GEMS), the largest organization in the U.S. that works specifically with victims of child sexual exploitation. Lloyd’s personal experience as a survivor of sexual exploitation in her teens has fueled her lifelong commitment to assisting others in escaping similar circumstances.

Lloyd established GEMS in 1998 in New York City, starting with just $30 and a profound commitment to transform the lives of young women engulfed in the sex trade. Through her leadership, GEMS has provided comprehensive services to thousands of girls, including education, housing, and counseling, while advocating for systemic changes in how the justice system addresses sexually exploited youth. Notably, GEMS was instrumental in the successful passage of the Safe Harbor Act in New York State, a pioneering law that decriminalizes prostitution for minors and furnishes them with protective resources and support. Lloyd's pivotal advocacy efforts are documented in the Showtime documentary "Very Young Girls" and detailed in her memoir "Girls Like Us."

An acclaimed public speaker and educator, Lloyd has been recognized with several awards, such as the Reebok Human Rights Award, an Ashoka Fellowship in 2009, the Child Advocacy Award from The Administration for Children's Services (ACS), and the Susan B. Anthony Award from the National Organization for Women. She has spoken at influential venues and events including the United Nations, New York University, Columbia University, and various national and international conferences. Her extensive media appearances include CNN Anderson Cooper 360, ABC News, NBC News, NPR, and features in prestigious publications like the New York Times, Washington Post, and New York Magazine. Lloyd earned her bachelor's degree in Psychology from Marymount Manhattan College and her master's in Applied Urban Anthropology from the City College of New York. Her relentless efforts have earned her a place among the “50 Women Who Change the World” by Ms. magazine and “100 Women Who Shape New York” by the New York Daily News.