Somy Ali, founder and president of No More Tears, has raised concern over the growing number of survivors seeking help through the organisation, revealing that it received 37 referrals over a period of just two weeks. The cases involve domestic violence and human trafficking, with many of the victims being young women and teenagers.

“Over the past two weeks, No More Tears has received 37 referrals. Every one represents a human being whose life has been interrupted by violence, exploitation, fear or unimaginable betrayal,” she shares.

According to Somy, 17 of the cases involve domestic violence, while the remaining referrals concern human trafficking. The trafficking cases involve victims between the ages of 15 and 24, while the domestic violence survivors range from 22 to 30.

“These numbers are not statistics to me. There are 37 lives asking us not to look away,” she says.

Among the cases is that of a 22-year-old woman from Delhi who was allegedly brought to the United States by an IT professor she had married. Somy says the woman endured approximately two years of physical and sexual abuse before a neighbour heard what was happening and contacted the police.

“Think about that for a moment. A neighbor saved her life. How many others have no neighbor who hears? No friend who believes them? No one knows where they are?”

Another referral involves a 15-year-old girl from Virginia who was allegedly trafficked by her own brother in exchange for methamphetamine. The teenager was left deeply traumatised by the abuse and deprivation she reportedly experienced.

“She is fifteen. Fifteen. She should be worrying about school, friends, music, her future, not whether she will survive another day,” Somy says.

While she chooses not to reveal the more disturbing details of the case, Somy stresses the importance of immediate intervention and protection for vulnerable children.

“I will not sensationalize what was done to her. Some details are simply too horrific to publish. But I will say this: the human body and mind can only absorb so much cruelty before the consequences become visible. She needed protection. She needed someone to believe her. She needed adults to intervene.”

For Somy, however, helping a survivor does not end once they are removed from an unsafe situation. She believes recovery also requires long-term support and the opportunity to regain control over one’s life.

“And now she needs something else: A future.”

“That is where No More Tears comes in. We don’t believe rescue ends when someone is removed from danger. Rescue means helping a survivor find safety, stability, dignity, medical and psychological support, and eventually the ability to make decisions about her own life again.”

Years of working with survivors have also reinforced her belief that violence and exploitation cannot be attributed to one particular community or background.

“I have spent years hearing stories that most people cannot bear to hear. I have learned that evil does not belong to one race, religion, nationality, socioeconomic class or community.”

“Violence is violence. Trafficking is trafficking. Abuse is abuse.”

She says the survivors who reach No More Tears come from vastly different backgrounds, but are connected by what they have endured and their ability to survive.

“What connects them is not their identity. It is what was done to them, and their extraordinary capacity to survive it.”

Somy also urges people not to turn cases of abuse and trafficking into debates about communities or identities, arguing that the focus should remain on exploitation and the silence that allows it to continue.

“That is why I refuse to turn these cases into arguments about communities. The enemy is exploitation. The enemy is silence. The enemy is the belief that someone else’s suffering is someone else’s problem.”

Her message is also a call for ordinary people to recognise warning signs and intervene rather than assuming someone else will step in.

“If these 37 referrals teach us anything, it is that we cannot wait for a tragedy to become visible before we act.”

“Listen when someone says they are afraid. Believe someone when their story doesn’t sound convenient. Teach young people what coercion and exploitation look like. Know the warning signs.”

Reflecting on the 22-year-old survivor whose neighbour contacted the police, Somy stresses how one person’s decision to intervene can change another person’s life.

“A phone call from one neighbor changed the trajectory of a 22-year-old woman’s life. Imagine what could happen if all of us decided to become that neighbor.”

No More Tears, she adds, will continue supporting survivors beyond the immediate crisis.

“At No More Tears, we will continue answering the phone, opening doors, finding resources and standing beside survivors, because behind every referral is a person who deserves something far more powerful than our sympathy. They deserve their life back.”

Somy is also urging people to support the organisation’s work through donations, emphasising that financial contributions can help provide assistance to survivors.

“They deserve our help, so I am asking you to please donate to our charity at nomoretearsusa.org as every dollar or rupee can help!”

Her final message is directed towards survivors themselves, reminding them that their identity is not defined by the violence or exploitation they experienced.

“What happened to you is not who you are. You are not what someone did to you. You are still here. And that matters.”