A young woman whose exact age has not been given – but she is definitely a minor – has narrowly escaped a life of slavery of the worst kind.
She arrived on Lampedusa in August, along with a Nigerian couple purporting to be her parents, according to Il Giornale di Sicilia [not available online] today. They had apparently “trained” her in the “arts” of prostitution.
The girl, however, was courageous enough to tell the police the truth and now the couple, who allegedly received $30, 000 for bringing the girl to Europe, have been arrested.
What kind of society, I keep asking myself, can give rise to such brutality? And what had happened to the girl before she began her enforced journey? Did her real parents sell her and if so, what were the circumstances? Or was she stolen from them? May God help them in either case, because they will probably never hear from her again.
We can only hope that she will now receive the care that she needs and deserves and that she will continue to avoid the fate previously in store for her.
She arrived on Lampedusa in August, along with a Nigerian couple purporting to be her parents, according to Il Giornale di Sicilia [not available online] today. They had apparently “trained” her in the “arts” of prostitution.
The girl, however, was courageous enough to tell the police the truth and now the couple, who allegedly received $30, 000 for bringing the girl to Europe, have been arrested.
What kind of society, I keep asking myself, can give rise to such brutality? And what had happened to the girl before she began her enforced journey? Did her real parents sell her and if so, what were the circumstances? Or was she stolen from them? May God help them in either case, because they will probably never hear from her again.
We can only hope that she will now receive the care that she needs and deserves and that she will continue to avoid the fate previously in store for her.
How dreadfully sad, to find the courage to speak up must of been difficult for her.
ReplyDeleteI hope she stays out of the clutch of such vile abusers. I shudder to think how many minors from all around teh world have been consigned to her planned fate
ReplyDeleteThe poor girl! I hope she can have a happy life now.
ReplyDeleteHi, nunyaa. Yes, it must have been. Jams, my thoughts exactly - how many more are there? Let's all hope so, dragonstar.
ReplyDeleteI have written on this subject many times through my work on organized crime, but I am so proud to read your posts, keeping the victims in people's mind. Well done.
ReplyDeleteWhat kind of society?...
ReplyDeleteA damaged one. A society which brings children into the world to be traumatised and programmed.
Many Nigerians sadly run the growing-up gauntlet of narcissism and few make it out without the dehumanising lust for money.
I'm sure many parts of the world have this problem too with the neglect of children and where sex is but a barter.
But do I believe the Nigerian to her-very-namesake is a just a person with no intelligence except cunning to falsify wherever she can?
Well, they do have the comfort that their morality is superior for Ju Ju will gain favors and Jesus Christ will provides the guarantee out of gaol. But more important is their customs and traditions force them to show wealth where there is none. It is a hard cross to bear and easy-money tempts no matter the suffering to others for they have suffered themselves.
It is culture.
Go to neighboring Ghana and you'll find a different people.
What saddens me most is that this made the news becuase she spoke up - how many thousands (if not hundreds of thousands or even millions) of girls are in the same position somewhere int he world but don't have the voice, the confidence or the opportunity to speak up. Or those that do and pay the price before help arrives. It is sad world out there ....
ReplyDeleteSo hard to fathom such an existence but knowing all too well it's common place in so many countries makes me cringe.
ReplyDeleteHow awful! Thank goodness she found herself able to speak up!
ReplyDeleteThank you, David, I truly appreciate your encouragement, as always.
ReplyDeleteKinderling, thank you for your interesting observations.
mg and pink - exactly; how many more, all over the world?
Cherrypie, yes, we must admire her for that.
Thanks for these posts. I think it is important to keep it in mind and be aware of what suffering exists in order to keep a lot of other things in perspective and also make sure that we don't become too complacent.
ReplyDeleteMuch appreciated , cb. We should never forget the plight of such poor souls.
ReplyDeleteGreat story of a young one finding courage against adults who betrayed her for profit.
ReplyDeleteHi, Ms Smack. Yes, she was courageous. I keep thinking of her and hope that she is being well looked after now.
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