S.T.O.P. - Stop Trafficking Of People will attend the 4th World Forum on Human Rights, at Cité Nantes Events Center (France), on 28 & 29 June, 2010.

S.T.O.P.’s President, Celhia de Lavarène, will dedicate her book “A Visa to Hell”.

Forum’s Programme: http://www.spidh.org/index.php?id=1&L=3

With the highly anticipated Soccer World Cup in South Africa starting tomorrow there is growing concern that the event will be used for human trafficking. According toThe Christian Post, between 40,000 and 100,000 people may be trafficked during the World Cup where some 350,000 visitors from 53 countries are expected to attend the event. It is estimated that women and children could earn $45 to $600 a night for their captors.

Human trafficking is a violation of human rights and Stop Trafficking Of People Inc. condemns the impending catastrophe that is being visited upon tens of thousands of women and children.

Celhia between Irena from Ukraine, and Raluca, 15 years old, from Romania in front of a UN helicopter who flew them to Sarajevo. They are the ones who wanted the photo. You can’t see it but they have a big smile on their faces: they are free.

On September 29 I received a message on Facebook from a young girl, Irena, who wanted to be my friend. As always when I don’t know the person, I asked her to explain to me who she was. Here is what I got in return: “Hello! My name is Irena. I’m from Ukraine. We met in Sarajevo, during a trial, in 2001. Do you remember me?

“At first I did not remember who she was, so I asked her for more information.

After a few minutes she responded:

“We met in a town named Brchko. I was a witness in a court against ….. I have a photo of us together. I will send it to you and it will bring back memories. I always keep it with me in a small box. I will send it to you tomorrow. I now live in Ukraine, I’m married. We have a family business.”

The photo came today with a little note: “ Here is the photo. I so wanted to find you. For the difficult times I went through and you helped me, thank you. It is a happy day for me.”

To look at the photo almost brought me to tears  This was one of the hundreds of young girls we rescued in Bosnia eight years ago, now living a full and happy life.  As recently as last week I was so discouraged that I had thought of quiting. And there she was, telling me how much I changed her life. I take it as a signal to continue the fight in the name of so many others Irena.

Thank you Irena (not her real name).

Focus on:

Afghanistan: Source, transit and destination countr. Afghan women and young girls are trafficked for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation, internally and to Pakistan, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Oman, and elsewhere in the Gulf. Afghanistan is also a destination for women and girls from China, Iran, and Tajikistan. Tajik women and children are also believed to be trafficked through Afghanistan to Pakistan and Iran for commercial sexual exploitation

Albania:  Source country for women and girls trafficked for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation. It is no longer considered a major country of transit. Albanian victims are trafficked to Greece, Italy, Macedonia, and Kosovo, with many trafficked onward to Western European countries such as the United Kingdom, France, Belgium, Norway, Germany, and the Netherlands. Approximately half of all Albanian trafficking victims are under age 18. Internal sex trafficking of women and children is on the rise.

Algeria:  Transit country for men and women trafficked from sub-Saharan Africa to Europe for the purposes of commercial sexual exploitation. These men and women often enter Algeria voluntarily, but illegally, with the assistance of smugglers. Once in Algeria, however, women are coerced into commercial sexual exploitation to pay off smuggling debts.

France is a destination country. Romania, Bulgaria, Nigeria, Cameroon, and other nations in Eastern Europe and Africa are the primary source countries for women trafficked for sexual exploitation, although some South American and Asian women are also trafficked to France. A majority of the estimated 18,000 women in France’s commercial sex trade are likely victims of trafficking. Romania and Bulgaria are the primary source countries for men trafficked to France for sexual exploitation. There are reports that French Guiana is a destination for women and children trafficked from Brazil for sexual exploitation.