A story by Our Better World — telling stories of good to inspire action
In honor of ‘Day Against Human Trafficking’ (today, July 30th), we wanted to present this poignant story to spread awareness for this horrific issue. Please read/watch this quick story and share today to strengthen the fight against injustice!
At the age of 13, Maiya became one of the 20 million victims of the global sex trade.
She was sold to two men and taken far from her home in Nepal to Sonagachi, Kolkata – the largest red-light district in Asia.
Maiya was given a pair of sandals and some clothing, then was told she had to work her way to freedom. It wasn’t until years later that she found a way out of the sex trade.
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This tragic scenario plays out all too often, every day across the world.
Most women are lured into the sex trade with the promise of job opportunities in the city, only to find out that they have been sold to the highest bidder. At this point, they’ve already been trapped in a terrible situation with no money and no way out.
This was exactly Maiya’s situation until a company with an incredible vision stepped in to save her.
Josephine of ‘Touch Nature’ has found a way to help women trapped in the sex slave industry find a sanctuary. Touch Nature is a soap making company in Kolkata that offers a viable work alternative to women who have no other way to support their families. It is making an impact in the red light district of Sonagachi, but the human trafficking epidemic is far more widespread.
The problem is rapidly spinning out of control, putting 3.1 billion dollars per year in the hands of criminals – that’s only one billion dollars less than the drug trade.
These statistics give a sobering glimpse into a world that most have no idea exists – but for Maiya and millions like her, the world of human trafficking is all too real.
Read these statistics and watch Maiya’s story below.
1. There are an estimated 21 million people forced or coerced into human trafficking worldwide.
via Polaris Project
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