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Home>Archives for sex trafficking

June 4, 2012 by SHI Staff

Story of Hope: Shamita and Kala Flee From Trafficking to Open Tea Shop

In the mountains of Katmandu, Nepal up a winding cobblestone street surrounded by ancient Nepalese buildings, garlic cloves hang from windows and hay bales dry in the sun. Women dressed in traditional garb spin yarn on the side of the road and children dressed in matching uniforms scuttle by on their way to school. Smoke from the chimney stacks can be seen in the distance as brick makers are hard at work. There on that winding road in the hill country sits a quaint tea shop. To the average passerby, it might appear to be a typical tea shop consisting of nothing more than a small front kitchen and several tables. Yet to Shamita and Kala, this tea shop signifies strength, success and freedom from Nepals’ brutal sex trafficking industry.


The owners, Kala and Shamita, are two female business leaders in Nepal—a rarity in a culture that often devalues women as property of men. Shamita and Kala once thought their lives were no more valuable than providing their bodies to man after man in the brothels of Mumbai. Even after they escaped the horrors of sex slavery through the support of Shared Hope’s partner, they were shunned by their village upon returning to Nepal. The life they never chose now banned them from those who were supposed to love and respect them most- their own father forced them to leave.

This story is all too common for women in Nepal. There is big money for traffickers who trick the women to leave through the false promise of love or a better job. Sometimes the trafficker exploits a family’s poverty- convincing parents sell their own daughters. Even if these women find a way to pay off their “debt,” the payment that the brothel owner paid the trafficker, or escape from the violent, forced situation, they often have no home to return to in Nepal. This lack of options forces many back into the violent arms of the brothel.


But Shamita and Kala did have another option. After leaving their village their next stop was Asha Nepal. “Asha” translates to “hope” in Nepalese, and this is exactly what our partner provided to the sisters.

Shared Hope staff originally met Kala and Shamita in Mumbai. They were living in an apartment that our President and Founder, Linda Smith, had secured while our partner was still building a permanent home for women and children in Nepal. Previously, their home had been one of Mumbai’s infamous brothels in the red light district. They were one of many women who desired to return to the home they knew before their exploitation, Nepal.

sex trafficking in Nepal
To meet this need, Shared Hope partnered with a visionary leader in Nepal and a team in India to develop a Village of Hope in Nepal. This home allows women from Nepal who were trafficked to India to return to their home country, even if they are banned from every returning to their family again. Together, Shared Hope Founder Linda Smith and our Nepalese partners built a home and a nurturing family for these women.

Now, moving beyond restoration, Shamita and Kala are breaking barriers in the community, showing they are more than survivors; they are thrivers. Their success is helping to shift cultural norms in Nepal. Their lives are testament that life beyond the brothel is possible. Success is possible. Freedom is possible. Anything can be possible. 

May 26, 2012 by SHI Staff

Back to Our Beginning: Montego Bay, Jamaica

“We call it a different name, we call it survival.”

In one simple sentence our partner in Montego Bay, Jamaica defined the challenge to combatting sex trafficking in the country. With the widespread prevalence of poverty and sexual abuse, buyers and traffickers are eager to exploit Jamaican youth with offers of provision and protection.

Today, we had the opportunity to meet with our partners in Montego Bay, tour their new home, meet a shy but sweet young boy who is currently seeking adoptive parents, talk about the issue of sex trafficking to teenagers attending a life skills class, and meet with board members and leadership to discuss challenges and explore solutions to effectively respond to sex trafficking in Jamaica.

During our discussion with students we asked if they ever knew anyone who traded sex for a place to live or were forced by a violent boyfriend to have sex in exchange for goods or money. The answer was an overwhelming, YES! They explained that despite its prevalence, sex trafficking was hardly ever discussed by media or the community. We are working with our local partner to develop awareness and education strategies to inspire prevention and increased care for at-risk or victimized youth.

Tomorrow, we have the opportunity to educate students and staff members at a local community center on the issue of sex trafficking. We will explain indicators of trafficking and offer response solutions to mobilize a community of new activists.

May 24, 2012 by Shamere

Unavoidable Destiny | Legally a Criminal, Legally a Victim: The Plight of the Bottom

Looking back at the 18 months of my victimization by a “guerilla pimp” (most abusive type of pimp), I have to make an honest decision in regard to my actions.  While under the direction of the pimp, I did commit punishable offenses under the law and was charged with conspiracy to commit the Mann Act—driving minors across state lines for illegal purposes. I honestly do not believe that I was a perpetrator of this crime because I was forced to drive the car, just as I was forced to submit to prostitution and the humiliation of being sold for sex, over and over. Congress stated in the federal Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) of 2000, and I believe, that I should not be held responsible for the crimes I was forced to commit while I was enslaved.

 

In my case, I believe two key circumstances state the case for my innocence:

1. Motivation: The crimes were committed out of force and in protection of my life and the lives of my family. I never once profited.2. Free will: I would not have committed these crimes from my own free will—the crimes were committed under the direction of the pimp.

A victim does not become the “bottom girl” overnight. It is important to recognize that a “bottom girl” has been deeply manipulated and has likely developed a trauma bond with her pimp. Her basic ability to determine right from wrong has become corrupted by thoughts and actions instilled by her pimp through fear. The “bottom girl” develops compliant behavior after constant threats and real severe beatings and rapes, and witnessing the cruelty done to other girls.

From the very first beating when I was choked to the point of unconsciousness until the day he pulled the trigger on the miraculously unloaded gun in my mouth, I knew obedience meant survival.  When he placed the gun in my mouth and asked me if I wanted to die, I shrugged. I thought, “Finally, this pain and this life would be over and the only one hurt is the one who was responsible for me being in the situation – ME!” The trigger was pulled but I was still alive.  For a few moments, I thought I was experiencing death with the ability to still see life, until I felt the blows to my head by the gun. This was when I realized there was no hope. I had to continue this life of being obedient to him so my family wouldn’t get hurt, as he reminded me each day.  I was alive, but was not living. I was a slave.

Congress expressed its understanding of this victim behavior in the federal TVPA:  “Victims of severe forms of trafficking should not be inappropriately incarcerated, fined, or otherwise penalized solely for unlawful acts committed as a direct result of being trafficked…”  Nonetheless, victims are still being charged.

Today in America, the justice system faces a severe challenge. Does it respond to the victimization of the bottom girl by offering services and freedom? Or does it consider the bottom girl a perpetrator and respond with jail sentences and correctional programs?

It is a difficult question and the answer is likely unsatisfying: every case is different and should be investigated independently so as to bring justice in the greatest way possible.

The Same Girl: A Progression over time into the depths of prostituion

My experience revealed the importance of awareness at all levels. Judges, prosecutors and defense attorneys need to be adequately trained on the issue of sex trafficking to be able to evaluate each case and to fully understand the circumstances under which the crimes were committed.  One promising practice is found in the state of Georgia where an expert witness panel was formed to provide informed testimony for the court, improving the likelihood of better outcomes for those “bottom girls” who are charged with conspiring, aiding or committing human trafficking as a result of trying to survive their enslavement, like I was.

As one who has experienced the consequences of this dilemma, it is especially difficult to say that there are circumstances in which the “bottom girl” may actually have stepped over the slippery line of victimization into the role of offender. In any case, age should never be a determining factor in the decision to charge a victim. The simple argument that a victim over the age of 18 should know better does not realistically consider the very real duress experienced by the trafficking victim. But how do we determine when the “bottom girl” is acquitted or convicted? What could I have said in my defense that would have changed the outcome of my conviction? What will we hear in the story of a “bottom girl?”

May 18, 2012 by SHI Staff

Return to India: From Children’s Songs to Trafficker’s Woes

In the midst of 2009 and world-wide economic contraction, Timothy and Joyce founded  “Sparsh” which means “to touch” and the way they have touched so many lives in such a short time is utterly amazing. It is our first stop on our site visits to India and Nepal, and after just a few hours’ sleep it was “today” in India…

Today included a happy reunion with children who, thanks to our partner, will not have to suffer what their mothers have suffered.  Bright and well behaved, these “smallies” clambered all over us.  They sang for us and recited Bible verses they had learned, then went crazy over Elizabeth’s iPhone with the silly apps.

But today was also a jolt of reality…a trip into the brothel, looking into the hopeless faces of ladies  submitted to “the life” and a conversation with a 17-year-old trafficker.

Timothy introduced us to Samir who gave us a look into how the system works. Two years ago at age 15 his mother died and he went to live with his aunt, a brothel owner with mafia ties. She put Samir to work in the family business. He was good at it–he secured 7 or 8 girls every month and poured them into the voracious pit of the Mumbai brothel system. For this, his cut was a bit more than 25% of the $2000 selling price for each innocent young girl. An alluring way to make money in a difficult economy…

There is a large mafia element in India’s trafficking. A common scenario is that mafia scouts look for poor families with young daughters, befriend the father and offer him small loans to keep his family from starvation…until one day they call the loan and take the daughter as payment. Most of these girls cannot read or write and soon bear children in the brothel, a situation that ensures their continued service in order to provide for their own children. Timothy explains that almost all would leave if they knew their children would be cared for…and that’s where Sparsh comes in. They first earn trust, then care for the children, and then ultimately support the mother’s initiative to leave the life.

Of course Samir is not his real name…he’s now a changed person since meeting the Lord and becoming convicted of the evil he was doing. But he is not safe–recently he was badly beaten by mafia–with police cooperation–for turning informant. Saddest of all, was our helplessness–Samir shared the knowledge that in just a few hours three girls are scheduled to be transported. Destination: hell in Mumbai.

May 4, 2012 by Eliza Reock

Back to Our Beginning: Rampant Sex Tourism in Jamaica Compromises Youth Safety

In our 2007 report on sex trafficking markets around the world, DEMAND, sex tourism was identified as the major driving force for sex trafficking in Jamaica. Five years later, as we visit our partners in Negril, Jamaica we see not much has changed. Young girls receiving residential services at our partner’s safe house came to Negril from all over the island. The reason: Negril is a major tourist destination and it is believed to be a place where Jamaicans can make money. Unfortunately, traffickers and facilitators also go Negril to make money, by exploiting young girls and boys through the commercial sex trade.

Although some aspects of the commercial sex trade are different in Jamaica compared to the U.S., many are the same. The trauma these young girls have been through presents itself in similar ways, and our partners must invest time and resources to provide them with spiritual and clinical counseling, life skills, and a safe home.

Our partners in Jamaica work hard to provide youth in Negril with vocational skills so they are employable, and less vulnerable to the demand for commercial sex in this beautiful city. Our partners built a relationship with local law enforcement and educate officials on sex trafficking and the resources available to trafficked youth. Whether a child is a resident at the safe house or a student in the vocational program, vulnerable young men and women have access to a staff counselor who is equipped to address the challenges the youth are facing and educate them about the dangers of sex trafficking.

Since the beginning of our partnership in Jamaica, we’ve heard horrific stories of abuse that the young girls in the program have faced. Yet, we cling to hope. Singing and dancing in church on Sunday, worshipping with the residents of the safe house, and listening to their plans for the future in a life free from trafficking, was a joyful reminder of the difference Shared Hope and our supporters are making as we restore the lives of women and girls around the world.

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