Human Trafficking – “Devadasi” -Where girls in India are dedicated to a goddess for a lifetime ritual prostitution

Human Trafficking – “Devadasi” -Where girls in India are dedicated to a goddess for a lifetime ritual prostitution

Posted by Dalit Freedom Network on VIMEO

Comments : The practice of “devdasi” is a practice in India where girls are dedicated to goddess yellama for a lifetime ritualized prostitution.

Recently the devadasi system has started to disappear, having been outlawed in all of India in 1988. However, devadasis still exist in India today, as shown in a 2004 report by the National Human Rights Commission of the Government of India. According to this report, “after initiation as devadasis, women migrate either to nearby towns or other far-off cities to practice prostitution” . A study from 1990 recorded that 45.9% of devadasis in one particular district were prostitutes, while most of the others relied on manual labour and agriculture for their income.The practice of dedicating devadasis was declared illegal by the government of the Indian state Karnataka in 1982 and by the government of Andhra Pradesh in 1988. However as of 2006 the practice was still prevalent in around 10 districts of northern Karnataka and 14 districts in Andhra Pradesh. Some 80 to 90% of devadasis belong to scheduled castes.

Source :  Wikipedia 

 

Invisible slaves trapped in manual labour, drug trafficking and sex work

Invisible slaves an MTV EXIT Special hosted by Calle13 

Posted by MTV EXIT on YOUTUBE

A powerful, shocking and encouraging new documentary film hosted by Calle13; one of the biggest and most influential Latin American bands of all time. The program follows four young victims of modern-day slavery who are sharing their stories so others can escape and recover from the suffering that was inflicted upon them: Marcela and Laura, are two girls forced to live as sexual workers for their “boyfriends”; Maria, who at only five years old who was coerced into domestic servitude; and José who was pushed into a life of drug trafficking. Hundreds of thousands of young people in Latin America and the Caribbean are lured into modern-day slavery as a result of seeking out safety and a better future. They are trapped in dangerous and frightening scenarios and forced into manual labour, drug trafficking and sex work.

Sex slavery on the rise as human trafficking syndicates grow

Sex slavery on the rise as human trafficking syndicates grow

Human trafficking syndicates are growing and becoming more organised helped by technology, South-east Asian law-enforcement experts heard Thursday as they sought ways to tackle the issue together.

Experts from the 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations met in Manila to try to work out either a binding convention on human trafficking or a less stringent “regional plan of action” to enable ASEAN to act in unison.

Courtesy wordpress.utoledo.edu

“Trafficking in persons used to be number three (crime). Now, it has overtaken the (illegal) arms trade and it is number two globally,” Philippine justice undersecretary Jose Salazar said as the talks got under way.

UNESCO estimates the illegal trade is worth 300 billion US Dollars per year and while counterfeiting makes over 250 billion US Dollars per year. Every year around 32 billion US Dollars is made out human trafficking and slave trade. Statistics show that over 2.5 million people are victims of human trafficking.

People are bought mainly from developing Eastern Europe, South America, North Africa, and Asia to be used for slavery, forced labor, or sexual exploitation. About 80% of these people are taken to Sex Slavery and 17% of the exploited victims are taken to forced labor. The average price in this trade is a shocking 90 US Dollars. Once one falls into the trafficking net the chances of rescue are of one out of a hundred, according to statistics by www.catholic.org

Most of the victims of human trafficking are usually very vulnerable people, who have suffered social discrimination, abuse, or poverty. These people are lured by organized groups in the trade by promises of work, new opportunities and scholarships, in general promises of a better life.

The use of internet and social networks among teens has highly increased the chances of young people falling prey to these trafficking networks.

One of the strategies used by these individuals is to get close with the victims through social networks or physically. The predator then gains trust by promising to help the victim, providing a way out of the current problems.

The situation can be poverty, low self-esteem, being victim of verbal, sexual abuse or violence. Once the victims are out of their home countries, these people will make the family of the victim believe that everything is fine, they will send pictures and emails giving them a very good impression. If by any chance the victim resists slavery they threaten to harm his or her family.

Though there are more women and children as slaves, men are also trafficked, and occasionally put into sexual slavery.

Read full article  : capitalfm.co.ke

Comments : We need to create awareness among the general public through newspapers , public announcements , posters ,to educate children on this in schools etc. These initiatives can bring change as victims can be assisted and people falling into the wrong hands can be reduced considerably.