5.2 MILLION IN SLAVERY
8th March International ladies day
Grainne Kenny.
Today is a day when all ladies and young girls should be happy, enjoying their day within a loving family or with close friends. Sadly though there is no International ladies day for hundreds of thousands of girls and women who are held captive against their will in horrific relationships caused by all too often alcohol and drug addiction, poverty and living in total neglect. For these ladies and their children life is a daily hell though no fault of their own. They are trapped in a society which often can offer them no escape from the living hell they are in daily, which often includes physical and sexual abuse that goes on behind closed doors and with screams unheard by anyone. In eastern European Countries like The Republic of Moldova, Bulgaria and Romania this scenario is played out in real life for far too many women daily and their kids who are also innocent in all of these disorganized family events that can even end in fatalities. Centres for Mother and children are too few, plus have restrictions including how long a mother and her children can stay and a lack of security can also be a problem. This clearly is not an option for many wishing to escape abuse at the family home; they need security, but alone can’t find this especially if have children and counselling alone does not resolve the problem. The Police have limited powers also in such cases as often even if an abuser is arrested shortly after a court allows the abuser free on bail and he goes home again to continue to terrorize the family. Within SOS-Stamp out Slavery we appeal for a fairer and more up to date system for women wishing to escape home abuse as they and their children like all other women should be able to enjoy a happy international women’s day and each day of the year to live without fear of abuse against them and their children! Sadly there is another class of women and girls who today will not enjoy international women’s day. They are unseen, locked away and brought out to work in brothels, bars and on the streets where they are abused, drugged to keep from escaping and are modern day slaves. Many of whom are quickly infected with syphilis, gonorrhoea and HIV-Aids after being forced to have sex with so many men daily who pay to abuse them for their own sick pleasure. Their earnings go direct to the slave master or pimp as these despicable people are known and when the women is of no further use she is sold on and trafficked again to a new slave master, so the cycle of abuse continues. Few escape and even those that do are traumatized for life as we know via cases we have helped resolve in Romania. Recruitment is so easy for traffickers especially young girls via social media sites and also local job offers that simply are too good to be true, but to a young one desperate to have a well paid job to help them and their family out of often the sheer poverty they live in and with a lack of education on the subject, many at a tender age are snared and trafficked either in Country or to other external Countries including The Republic of Ireland and UK mainland where many cases have recently been uncovered by Irish Garda officers and UK Police units in organized crime. Within SOS-Stamp out Slavery we weekly make workshops in Romania and educate children in seminars and schools on the subject and all that is encapsulated in the vile trade of human trafficking thus offering children a real chance to be wise and make decisions that will lead them on the right path in life and know the threat posed from traffickers if they are offered such a job in the future. To know how to check out the job offer, who to check out with, what to ask, who to trust and much more. These actions must be taught and we are doing this to literally save kids lives. Our support stretches across Europe all the way from our base in Ireland, to our friends in the UK and all the way to the poor east European countries were we are based also and in this way together are starting to make changes and raise awareness openly on the criminal networks involved in human trafficking that destroys all form of human dignity in a our society today. 5.2 MILLION CHILDREN HELD IN SLAVERY Ireland is no stranger to human trafficking. Wishing women everywhere a safe and happy womens day. (Please circulate) Gráinne Kenny & Brian Douglas (Patron: Former hostage Mr Brian Keenan, Ireland) www.stampoutslaverysos.com See also: www.preda.org (Fr Shay Cullen in Philippines)
