Van Ngoc Ta: The Vietnamese Lawyer Saving Women Trafficked to China

LGBTQ+ activist Qiuyan Chen became an unexpected celebrity due to her courageous legal battle against homophobic university textbooks in the 2010s. However, this newfound fame came at a price: she was outed by her tutor, subjected to conversion therapy by her parents, and monitored by the Chinese government. To escape these pressures, Qiuyan left for the UK, where she met her partner Bling: but her struggles were far from over. Interweaving reflections on Qiuyan’s sexuality and relationships, Shanshan Chen’s documentary examines this inspiring activist’s commitmentto building a close-knit community designed to support queer East Asian people in the UK: a solo endeavour that evolves into a movement with a growing support base.

Valderez defied years of death threats. Van risks his life to mount undercover rescues. Maria escaped sexual slavery and now pursues the traffickers who profit from human misery. Three ordinary people with extraordinary stories - all on a mission to end modern-day slavery. Be it the Vietnamese lawyer who rescues women from China's sex trade or the Mexican survivor turned sleuth, these profiles explore the challenges of combating slavery. The pressure is high and the stakes are even higher for those dedicated to tackling the global trade in sex and labour that claims an estimated 25 million victims around the world. These efforts come at a cost - solitude, sorrow and stress - but their lives are seldom showcased. This animation series presents a rare glimpse into the lives of those who dare to take on the traffickers.

Women who are groped on trains in East Asia face the further threat of their assault being filmed and uploaded for sale online. In a year-long investigation, the BBC World Service's investigative unit, BBC Eye, has gone undercover to unmask the men cashing in on sexual violence.

The Stonewall riots were a series of spontaneous demonstrations by the LGBT+ community that began on June 28, 1969 in the Stonewall Inn, Greenwich Village. This was a turning point in the gay liberation movement and is often seen as the start of the modern fight for LGBT+ rights and freedoms in the United States. 50 years on, for many around the world this remains a dream. Filmed in Honduras, Zanzibar, Taiwan and England, the documentary provides unique access to the poignant personal stories of those facing challenges due to their sexuality or gender identity.