Homayra Sellier was born in Iran and left her country at a young age due to the revolution in 1975 with a suitcase expecting to leave home for a fortnight. Ever since, she has never relinquished the desire to go back to her native country, hoping that the New Regime will welcome her back and allow her to futher her vocation. Back in those days, in France her country of exile, she witnessed firsthand the dangers a minor can fall into and the sexual expectations when isolated and no longer surrounded by immediate family. The burning desire was ignited from that day, whatever the cost and whatever means she would have in the future she would reach out and make her pears aware that the innocence of children had to be protected.

Homayra Sellier married a French citizen and raised her three children to the very best of her abilities. In 1988, thanks to the warmth, the support and the encouragement of her husband Patrick Sellier, she decided that the time was ripe to speak out about the unspoken, the taboo and sore subject of sexual abuse of children. By 1999, Unesco nominated Homayra Sellier to carry out the action plan of, Innocence in Danger, an organisation whose mission is to protect minors against all forms of sexual abuse.

As of 2000, Homayra Sellier initiated an NGO, convincing medical practitioners, government officials and philanthropists to join her crusade. 10 years of commitment, perseverance and dedication from this wonderful woman have brought us the Homayra we present to you today and who has answered our two questions:

-to be with my family who I treasure and love spending time with.

-to have the possibility to make my work within, innocence in danger, grow and reach many children, Enhanced awareness is our strongest weapon in the battle against innocence in danger and there is a strong need to identify children that are and have been affected, these survivors need to realize they are not alone and that people do care, showing them it is possible for them to trust again, allowing them to heal.

-to raise awareness of, Innocence in Dangers, causes and make it become a priority for all decision makers. Our aims being to inform, educate, sensitize, provoke, identify and heal. This is a two pronged process, the first is the need to inform others and educate them, sensitizing communities to the magnitude of the problem. -to make people understand that they all can ,should, and ought to be the change they wish to see in the world. No one should stand back and hope others will come forward to make the world a better place. Also enhanced awareness is our strongest weapon in the battle against innocence in danger and is needed if we are to win that battle.

-to see the day when everyone realizes that example is not the main factor when influencing others. It is the only thing."- Albert Schweitzer

-to meet others who believe and think they can change the world and act upon their beliefs, because they are the only ones who do so.

Editorial | Image Courtesy Of Romeo Balancourt Paris Photography