Looking to the Future, Anna Puts Her Ordeal Behind Her
Anna* comes across as a pleasant and talkative young Ukrainian woman. She willingly tells you about her family and her present job. She enjoys working as a seamstress at a private cloth factory. She beams as she speaks about her future in which she sees herself as a small farm owner. But her demeanor changes completely when you ask her about her past.
Being born to a well-to-do family, she had never thought of leaving home for a job abroad. Nor had she imagined that she could end up a sexual slave. Today, thanks to the USAID’s anti-trafficking program, her life is back on track.
Anna lived in a small village, her parents had stable jobs, and she and her siblings went to school. Their lives changed dramatically after the Chernobyl disaster. Despite her parent’s enormous efforts, the family couldn’t make ends meet. The children were in poor health after the catastrophe, and misfortunes pursued the family.
Anna was looking for the ways to help her family when an acquaintance offered her a job as a housemaid in Turkey. The job sounded very tempting, and Anna’s friend was very believable, especially after offering financial help with travel arrangements and documents.
Immediately upon arriving in Turkey, Anna was forced to work as a prostitute. Her passport was taken, and she was not allowed to go outside the building or call home. Even the windows of her room were barred.
 |
Stop trafficking in human beings
PHOTO CREDIT: Courtesy of IOM, Ukraine |
According to the U.S. Department of State, every year 800,000 – 900,000 people are sold into modern day slavery. The majority of victims are women and girls exploited in the growing sex industry. Many are tricked into believing offers of legitimate work offers made by friends and even family.
Anna was very rebellious. Even under the threat of punishment, she told any client that would listen that she was forced to provide sexual services. As a result, she was sold several times.
After months of working in these inhumane conditions, one of Anna’s clients helped. He bought her freedom for $2,000 and purchased her boat ticket home.
Upon arrival, she was met at the seaport by a representative from the Odesa non-governmental organization (NGO) “Faith, Hope, Love.” This NGO provides assistance to victims of trafficking in cooperation with the International Organization of Migration (IOM) under the framework of the USAID-funded project, “Countering Trafficking in Persons in Ukraine.”
Anna received immediate medical and physiological care that helped her recover from the physical and mental trauma she experienced during her enslavement. The NGO’s lawyers helped her restore lost personal documents.
“When victims of trafficking are identified and elect to receive assistance from International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and its partner NGOs, most find employment or return to studies, while very few return abroad. From the 2004 IOM caseload, an estimated 69% were employed, 13% were studying and only 1.5% returned abroad,” says Fredric Larsson, IOM Ukraine Counter-Trafficking Programme Coordinator.
In Ukraine, more than 45 regional prevention and reintegration programs under the “Countering Trafficking in Persons” project funded by USAID help people become aware of the risks of trafficking and return victims of trafficking back to normal life.
Anna also received vocational training, which helped to find a job at the factory where she is now a respected employee.
Anna’s recovery is one of the many positive examples of the crucial need for rehabilitation assistance for victims of trafficking. Rehabilitation and reintegration support not only helped her overcome the horrible memories of the past but also restored her to a productive and happy life.
*Name has been changed to protect trafficking victim’s identity
Back to Top ^
|
