The Whistleblower

Kathryn Bolkovac, a police officer from Lincoln, Nebraska, accepts an offer to work with the United Nations International Police in post-war Bosnia and Herzegovina. She is contracted through a private company, Democra Security, which has ties to real-life security firms.

While in Bosnia, Kathryn successfully advocates for a Muslim woman who has suffered domestic abuse. This act of compassion leads to her being appointed as the head of the department of gender affairs, where she begins to take on significant responsibilities.

Raya, a young Ukrainian woman, and her friend Luba are sold into a Bosnian sex-trafficking ring by a relative seeking to profit from their misfortune. This event sets off a tragic chain of events that will ultimately intertwine their lives with Kathryn's investigations.

Raya escapes captivity with Irka, another girl who was forced into prostitution, and they manage to reach a women's shelter designed for victims of human trafficking. This moment symbolizes a sliver of hope amidst the dire circumstances they face.

During her investigations, Kathryn uncovers a vast sexual slavery ring, implicating numerous international personnel, including Americans. This discovery reveals the dark underbelly of exploitation occurring in post-war Bosnia.

Kathryn persuades Raya and Irka to testify against their traffickers in court, assuring them of their safety. However, their journey towards justice is complicated by the indifference of some UN officials and the prevailing corruption.

Irka, despite being saved from a dangerous situation, faces a critical setback when an indifferent UN official drops her off at the border without her passport. This event deeply impacts her willingness to pursue justice.

Tragically, Raya is recaptured by her traffickers after being tipped off by a corrupt peacekeeper. To send a message, the traffickers brutally rape her in front of other girls, highlighting the horrific realities of sex trafficking.

Kathryn brings the scandal of human trafficking to the attention of UN authorities, only to discover a cover-up in place to protect lucrative defense contracts. This reveals the lengths to which institutions will go to preserve their interests.

Recognizing the gravity of her findings, Kathryn finds support in Madeleine Rees and Peter Ward, who share her commitment to fighting for justice. Together, they work to illuminate the truth behind the trafficking ring.

As Kathryn delves deeper into her investigation, she receives threatening messages and encounters resistance from higher-ups who want to shut down the ongoing Internal Affairs cases. This shows the dangerous environment in which she is operating.

Despite Kathryn's effort to find Raya during a raid, the latter refuses to leave her captors. A few days later, the shocking news reaches Kathryn that Raya has been found dead, shot in the head by one of the traffickers, Ivan.

After sending an email detailing her findings to fifty senior mission personnel, Kathryn is brutally fired from her job. Undeterred, she still manages to infiltrate DynCorp to gather evidence despite the risks.

Cornered inside DynCorp, Kathryn uses a planned distraction to escape with Peter Ward's help, taking the gathered evidence with her. This marks a significant turning point as she prepares to expose the shocking truths uncovered.

After being deported from Bosnia, Kathryn brings her evidence to BBC News in the United Kingdom. This action serves to shed light on the dark realities of sex trafficking operations overseen by international personnel.