The solidarity artists' platform DTProject, in collaboration with Diaconia Spain, has presented Valientes, an audiovisual work that explores the complex and painful reality of human trafficking from an artistic and human perspective. Supported by over 120 volunteers and the testimonies of 10 women survivors, this project weaves a compelling narrative.
The work is a 360º multimedia creation comprising 14 songs inspired by survivors' testimonies, released on two vinyl records; a three-episode documentary available in a digipack with a USB drive; and a 72-page concept book featuring photographs and reflective, inspiring texts. The collection is available in a limited-edition box set with additional extras. For broader accessibility, all content is also available in digital and streaming formats.
Traffickers often exploit their victims through violence, fraudulent employment agencies, and false promises of education and job opportunities. Like other predators, they tend to target vulnerable populations, such as individuals who are psychologically or emotionally fragile, economically disadvantaged, or lacking a social safety net.
Victims also frequently include those who have endured natural disasters or political instability in their places of origin.
“I was raised in a family with good financial conditions. I had everything and at the same time nothing,” recounts a female voice-over, representing one of the victims. Another shares, “I had a very, very low-income childhood. I was very hungry...” These are women from vastly different backgrounds, yet both were ensnared by criminals who, at the very least, stripped them of their independence, and at the very worst, their dignity and integrity, turning them into commodities for exploitation.
The docudrama was filmed across nine Spanish provinces, aiming to create an artistic and impactful portrayal of the scourge of human trafficking within a vivid, realistic, and compelling context. Various professionals from public institutions and civil society organizations that support victims and survivors played a crucial role in the project. It is presented as an unprecedented artistic endeavor that merges creativity with social commitment.
As reported by Actualidad Evangélica, the producers explained that the "project seeks to shed light on a reality often silenced, providing a platform to amplify the voices of women who have survived this grave crime and whose lives have been profoundly affected by a severe violation of their human rights."
Following its masterful presentation in Madrid, the play will tour the country over the next year, offering a perspective on this grave issue and emphasizing that helping victims escape such situations is a challenging but essential task. Rather than relying on cold facts and figures, the narrative unfolds through an intimate portrayal of the experiences of the ten survivors who bravely shared their stories. Through their testimonies, the audience is drawn into the pain, courage, and resilience of those who have endured the horrors of sexual exploitation.
The documentary clarifies that its purpose is not merely to denounce these crimes; its focus is to create an intimate and emotional space that prompts viewers to reflect on the reality of trafficking, its devastating impact, and the scars it leaves on individuals.
You can watch the trailer of “Brave” here:
Originally published by Diario Cristiano, Christian Daily International's Spanish edition.
