Celebrating the Senate's passage of the Epstein Files Transparency Act. Bear Hugs Alum’s Nonprofit Unites Advocates in the Battle Against Sex Trafficking Rachel Foster ’89 co-founded World Without Exploitation, whose work has included successful efforts to open the ‘Epstein Files’ “Bear Hugs” celebrates heartwarming stories of Cornellians on the Hill and around the world. Have an idea? Email us at cornellians@cornell.edu! By Melissa Newcomb In September 2025, 15 survivors of sexual abuse by the late Jeffrey Epstein—many of whom had never met or spoken out publicly before—gathered for a rally and press conference in front of the U.S. Capitol. Attorney and anti-trafficking advocate Rachel Foster ’89, who helped organize the rally, had promised them one thing above all: “We will not leave your side.” Foster is the president and co-founder of World Without Exploitation, the nation’s largest anti-sex-trafficking coalition, with nearly 200 member organizations. Over the past year, she and her organization have worked with Epstein survivors on policy advocacy, Congressional testimony, and public awareness campaigns tied to one of the world’s most high-profile sexual exploitation cases. “We promised we’d be there till the end,” says the Human Ecology alum, “and we have been with them every step of the way since.” In April 2026—in recognition of the organization’s efforts in the Epstein case and beyond—Foster and co-founder Lauren Hersh were named to Time magazine’s annual list of the world’s 100 most influential people. Foster and her co-founder embrace a survivor during a candlelight vigil for Epstein’s victims. “World Without Exploitation … has lifted the voices of the survivors and built a sisterhood that supports survivors and showcases their courage, strength, and tenacity,” U.S. Rep. Pramila Jayapal writes in the Time tribute, adding: “Taken together, this network continues to expose the depravity of what these women endured, and to demand accountability from a society that has closed its eyes to the horrors for far too long.” Over the past year, Foster and her organization have worked with Epstein survivors on policy advocacy, Congressional testimony, and public awareness campaigns tied to one of the world’s most high-profile sexual exploitation cases. As Foster explains, World Without Exploitation does not directly provide services—though many of its member organizations do, offering safe housing, counseling, medical care, and legal support. The group instead focuses much of its energy on shaping public opinion and advocating for state and federal anti-trafficking legislation, whose content is informed by the survivors themselves. Among its victories is the federal Trafficking Survivors Relief Act; signed into law in January 2026, it allows survivors to clear their records of crimes—for example, prostitution or drug offenses—committed while being trafficked. On the red carpet at the Time gala. The organization, Foster says, centers the experiences of people who have been trafficked or exploited—putting them at the forefront of its efforts, and even offering training for those interested in helping fellow survivors by becoming social or legal advocates. “Victims have often had some interaction with the foster care system or have a history of childhood sexual abuse, poverty, or substance use disorders in their family—and there are people who are more than willing to prey on these vulnerabilities,” she observes. “I don’t believe that we can have real gender equality and safety for all people if a segment of the population is seen as disposable and purchasable.” Foster has long been drawn to public service. During her time as a human development and family studies major on the Hill, she worked with a local center for victims of domestic and sexual violence and with Cornell’s Empathy, Assistance, and Referral Services, helping connect students with peer mentoring and support resources. After graduating from Brooklyn Law School in 1994, she spent 15 years at a nonprofit that provides free legal services to clients in financial need. I don’t believe that we can have real gender equality and safety for all people if a segment of the population is seen as disposable and purchasable. She co-founded World Without Exploitation in 2016 after having worked with trafficking survivors over the course of her career, including serving as a client advocate at an NYC nonprofit that aids victims of gender violence. Over the years, she says, she’d encountered dozens of anti-trafficking organizations operating largely in isolation—overworked, underfunded, and lacking the connections to coordinate broader policy efforts. Meeting with members of the Democratic Women’s Caucus. She’d also seen a vital need to empower survivors by giving them central roles in efforts to combat trafficking and help victims. “We knew it was important to bring survivor leadership and the organizations together,” she says, “to have a central nervous system where we could support and amplify their work while elevating policy issues.” That survivor-centered approach became especially visible during the organization’s work in the Epstein case. Over the years Foster had encountered dozens of anti-trafficking organizations operating largely in isolation—overworked, underfunded, and lacking the connections to coordinate broader policy efforts. After news broke that imprisoned Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell could potentially receive a pardon, a victim of the pair’s abuse reached out to Foster and her team. World Without Exploitation met with members of Congress, helped draft legislation, and created public service announcements featuring survivors that garnered some 200 million views on social media. Their efforts contributed to passage of the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which mandated the release of more than 3.5 million documents. “Each of us ought to do something significant enough to create a safer, more just world,” Foster says. “Our ethos is that courage is contagious.” Top: Celebrating the Senate’s passage of the Epstein Files Transparency Act. (All images provided.) Published May 15, 2026 Leave a Comment Cancel replyOnce your comment is approved, your email address will not be published. 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