Libera was founded by Julia Sachenko, an expert in combating human trafficking and protecting children, with over 15 years of experience supporting survivors in humanitarian and wartime conditions. As a national consultant to the Government of Ukraine within UNODC programs, she researched cross-border trafficking during the war and developed an evaluation of the state anti-trafficking program.

Julia is a co-author of the Return Every Child research on the illegal deportation and militarization of Ukrainian children by russia.

She spent over 12 years leading A21 Ukraine, implementing national awareness campaigns, building partnerships with international institutions, organizing assistance for vulnerable Ukrainians in Poland and across Europe after the full-scale invasion, training law enforcement officers, and representing Ukraine on major international platforms and conferences.