 Tahirih 's creation and growth was fueled by the widespread abuses suffered by women and girls around the world and the limited resources available to them when seeking protection in the United States . According to the United Nations , two million women undergo female genital cutting in Africa every year . A recent CIA report estimated that between 45 @,@ 000 and 50 @,@ 000 women and children are brought to the U.S. every year under false pretenses and are forced to work as prostitutes , abused laborers or servants . UNICEF estimates that more than 200 @,@ 000 children are enslaved by cross @-@ border smuggling in West and Central Africa . Although Tahirih can only provide immediate assistance to immigrant women and girls that are already within U.S. borders , its cases are representative of the types of violence from which women and girls are fleeing . The organization grew consistently over the years : in 2001 , it helped a total of 618 people . In 2011 , Tahirih helped 1 @,@ 051 people . 
