Rhonelle Bruder

Rhonelle Bruder is a Ph.D.  Candidate in Social and Behavioural Health Sciences at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto. She holds a Master's degree in Health Informatics from the University of Victoria and an Honours Bachelor's of Health Services Administration from New York City College of Technology. Her research focuses on the sex trafficking of women, specifically their experiences of victimization, overcoming challenges and accessing care. She is a subject matter expert in domestic sex trafficking, child sexual exploitation, and racial and sexual violence. And has taught at several universities, including Harvard University, where teaches an annual lecture on sex trafficking at the Department of Sociology. The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, where she taught a medical-specific lecture on sex trafficking identification and clinical responses, Northeastern University, and multiple lectures at the University of Toronto. 

 

Alongside her doctoral studies, Rhonelle is the Founder of Project iRISE, an anti-trafficking agency in Toronto, Canada. Under her leadership  Project, iRISE has designed and implemented the first comprehensive leadership training program for women impacted by trafficking within Canada's largest and most diverse city. Before launching the survivor leadership program, Rhonelle successfully led a community-driven fundraiser to support survivors of trafficking by removing branding tattoos. 

 

A passionate human rights advocate, Rhonelle's work has been recognized in Canada and internationally, with the 2021 distinction as L'Oreal Paris Women of Worth Honouree and as a part of the Canadian Delegation to the 65th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (UNCSW). Her work has also been featured in many national and local media sources, including but not limited to CBC, CP24, The Toronto Star, Flare Magazine, Global News, and many more.