The founder and chairperson of Maiti Nepal, Anuradha Koirala, is among the top ten CNN’s Heroes for 2010. Koirala was nominated for her outstanding efforts to prevent trafficking and sexual exploitation of Nepal’s women and girls and to rehabilitate the victims.

“This recognition is not just mine or Maiti Nepal’s. It is an honour for our country,” Koirala told Nepali Times. “It has increased my responsibility and fueled me to work harder.”

Anuradha Koirala started Maiti Nepal in 1993 and since then has helped rescue and rehabilitate more than 12,000 victims of trafficking and exploitation. The victims are provided therapy, legal advice, health care and protection at Maiti Nepal. Koirala herself has a history of an abusive relationship and that was what prompted her initially to start a shelter for women who had nowhere to turn to.

“It is my strong hope to stop every Nepali girl from trafficking,” says Koirala in her CNN Heroes video. She was nominated for CNN Heroes 2010 by Nisha Pradhan who lives in Texas.

CNN Heroes is now in its fourth year and has been honouring people that have made a commendable contribution to ‘change the world’. This year, the campaign received over 10,000 submissions from more than 100 countries. All top 10 Heroes will receive $25,000 each and will be honoured at CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute, that will air on 25 November.

One of the top 10 Heores will become the CNN Hero of the Year and will receive an additional $100,000. You can vote to make Anurada Koirala the CNN Hero of the Year at www.heroes.cnn.com/vote.aspx.