July 27, 2017
This Sunday, July 30, is World Day Against Trafficking in Persons. As we approach this annual observance, I wanted to share a story of transformation from one of the courageous trafficking survivors we’ve worked with in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
Orphaned at a young age, Vuky* grew up with her grandmother in eastern DRC. Her family couldn’t afford to send her to school, so when a friend of Vuky’s family offered to take her in and pay for her education, Vuky’s grandmother enthusiastically accepted. Soon after Vuky moved in with the man, it became clear that he had misled her family. He forced Vuky to work as a domestic servant and agricultural laborer and repeatedly sexually assaulted her. When Vuky became pregnant, the man abandoned her. A local official who had been trained by Heartland Alliance International (HAI) to identify victims of trafficking referred Vuky to our shelter. When she arrived at the shelter, Vuky was weak, had trouble sleeping, and was struggling to care for her baby. After weeks of individual and group counseling, Vuky’s health began to improve. She befriended other women in the shelter, learned a trade, and eventually returned to her community with new friends and the skills to run a successful business and care for her son. Vuky reflected, “Everyone has one life to live, and I can now live my life in peace.”
We’re pursuing justice in the DRC for many women like Vuky who have been trafficked for forced labor or sexual exploitation. Over the past few months, courts have ruled in favor of 16 survivors we’ve advocated for. In order to complete the final legal proceedings to ensure the traffickers are held accountable and compensate their victims, these survivors have to pay an additional court fee. As they struggle to reintegrate into society and rebuild their lives, it’s a cost they cannot afford.
It costs $178 to cover the court fees for a survivor to file for restitution against his or her trafficker in the DRC. Will you contribute today to ensure survivors get the justice they deserve?
Thank you for standing with us in the fight against human trafficking on July 30 – and throughout the year. We count on supporters like you to continue to promote human rights and human dignity worldwide.
