IRC collaborates with HPE to launch Sarah: an agentic AI tool helping survivors of human trafficking rejoin the workforce and avoid re-trafficking

New York, NY, May 7, 2026 - The International Rescue Committee (IRC) today announced the launch of Sarah, a new agentic, AI-powered career coach designed to support survivors of human trafficking and individuals at risk in building safe pathways to employment. Built in partnership with HPE, Sarah serves as an agentic AI system integrated into the IRC's Anti-Trafficking Response platform. Sarah guides users through structured, multi-step chat-based workflows to support users through their journey toward employment readiness - ultimately reducing the risk of re-trafficking.

Human trafficking is among the fastest-growing crimes globally, impacting an estimated 50 million people worldwide. Although existing systems provide critical short-term assistance, survivors are often left exposed to re-trafficking due to significant barriers in securing safe and sustainable employment. Sarah supports survivors during the critical two-year transition to stability after trafficking, when the risk of re-trafficking is highest.

"At the IRC, we believe technology is key to addressing some of the world's most complex humanitarian challenges," said Marina Solecki, Senior Technical Advisor, Protection and Anti-trafficking at the IRC. "AI allows us to complement and scale support in ways traditional services alone cannot, reaching more people, faster, and with tailored, survivor-centered solutions. By responsibly applying AI, we can amplify our impact and tackle human trafficking at an unprecedented scale."

Unlike general-purpose career coaching tools, Sarah uses survivor-centered language and trauma-informed conversation flows grounded in the IRC's protection and support expertise. Designed as an agentic AI system with curated, trusted content, Sarah goes beyond simply answering questions-carrying context across multiple steps to guide users through a structured journey toward employment.

Delivered through a secure, private, web-based interface available 24/7, the digital companion supports users who may not have completed formal schooling or held traditional jobs, helping them identify strengths, build skills, and access individualized career guidance, resume development, interview preparation, job search, and training opportunities at their own pace. The tool can also analyze employment contracts for possible indicators of exploitation. Sarah complements, rather than replaces, human support services, with clear limitations and monitoring systems in place to maintain quality and reduce bias.

Sarah operates within the IRC's Anti-Trafficking Response platform, a digital environment that equips users with trusted resources to prevent, identify, and respond to human trafficking. Supported by the HPE Foundation, the platform integrates two AI-powered chatbots that make reliable information readily available in a safe, anonymous, and judgment-free way.

The IRC led the design and development of the Sarah tool, delivering a trustworthy and scalable AI-powered chatbot to support key interactions on the platform. This work was carried out in close collaboration with experts from HPE Labs and HPE's technology advisory team, who supported architecture design, privacy protections, and oversight mechanisms aligned with IRC and HPE's AI Ethics Principles. They also provided complementary expertise in areas such as system prompt refinement and response logic to help establish clear guardrails and reduce the risk of unsafe or misleading outputs. The system is continuously monitored, tested, and refined based on user feedback and evolving needs.

Our partnership with the IRC demonstrates what is possible when the latest advancements in technology and responsible AI are applied with purpose," said Andrew Wheeler, HPE Fellow, Senior Vice President and Director, HPE Labs. "These tools show how technology can be used to tackle complex global issues while preserving human dignity, safety, and trust."

In addition to Sarah, the platform includes Giannis, a chatbot designed to support first-line responders, practitioners, and bystanders in understanding and responding to human trafficking. Giannis uses a retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) approach that draws responses from vetted guidance and training materials selected by the IRC, rather than generating answers from open internet sources. Together, these solutions form a comprehensive digital ecosystem spanning detection and response, as well as long-term reintegration into the workforce.

This partnership reflects the IRC's and HPE's continued commitment to scale technology and responsible AI solutions, addressing human trafficking in all its forms. It aims to improve prevention and response, as well as support survivors in rebuilding their lives with dignity and independence.

Learn more about efforts to protect vulnerable communities and support survivors at AntiTraffickingResponse.org and the launch of the AI-powered anti-trafficking response platform.