Human trafficking presents demanding challenges to legislators, law enforcement and support services in EU Member States and elsewhere. Unlike trafficking in drugs and weapons - where material evidence is provided - the evidence of human trafficking rests with an abused and frightened person often not speaking the local language. Without the victim's cooperation, it is very difficult to detect and fight this crime. This section provides personal stories from victims of human trafficking who have been captured and exploited by traffickers - and who have been lucky to escape their perpetrators and survived.
Maria's story
My name is Maria and I am 24 years old.
I have been raped, beaten, sold, cut with knives and threatened. I have scars and I am depressed.
I come from a very poor family and grew up in the countryside of an Eastern European country, I did not regularly attend school and did not have a good formal education. When I lived at home my father used to drink a lot. He would beat me and my family. When I was 13 my sister sold me, to a man I did not know. He took me to Italy by boat, which was very dangerous. I did not know where I was going. Once we arrived in Italy I was sold again, to a different man. He took me to a house and raped me.
I was a virgin until then.
It was then that I realised what was happening to me. I started crying and the man started to beat me, hard. But neighbours overheard me screaming and called the police, who took me away and left me in a nunnery for protection. I was returned home to my family after two years. But just four days later I was sold again.
This time by my father.
He sold me to a different man, but now I knew what was happening to me. Again we went by boat to Italy, where I was kept prisoner for seven months. They controlled my eating and made me drink vinegar. Finally I was smuggled into the UK in a lorry. I was in London for five years. I worked every day, seeing 65 to 70 customers a day. I could earn up to £1,000 per day, but I had to pay £400 every day in 'rent' and £60 for a maid, as well as 20% of everything else I earned.
The men who came to me were of all different nationalities. I did not ask any of them for help. I was too frightened. My traffickers threatened to kill me, and they threatened to take my sister too and do the same to her. I was beaten often, very badly. I have scars from it now, especially from my broken arm. I have been raped many times.
I finally escaped with the other women in my house. We ran away with the owner's boyfriend and went to the police. The police brought me to Poppy.
Although I am now free I am depressed. I will never forget what they did to me.
This story is reproduced with kind permission from Blue Blindfold campaign. The Campaign aims to raise awareness among key groups about the nature and extent of human trafficking in the United Kingdom. This initiative was launched in February 2008 at the House of Lords of the UK Parliament, with the support of the "All Party Parliamentary Group on Trafficking" an international campaign published by the UK Human Trafficking Centre in 2007.
ec.europa.eu/anti-trafficking
Maria's story
My name is Maria and I am 24 years old.
I have been raped, beaten, sold, cut with knives and threatened. I have scars and I am depressed.
I come from a very poor family and grew up in the countryside of an Eastern European country, I did not regularly attend school and did not have a good formal education. When I lived at home my father used to drink a lot. He would beat me and my family. When I was 13 my sister sold me, to a man I did not know. He took me to Italy by boat, which was very dangerous. I did not know where I was going. Once we arrived in Italy I was sold again, to a different man. He took me to a house and raped me.
I was a virgin until then.
It was then that I realised what was happening to me. I started crying and the man started to beat me, hard. But neighbours overheard me screaming and called the police, who took me away and left me in a nunnery for protection. I was returned home to my family after two years. But just four days later I was sold again.
This time by my father.
He sold me to a different man, but now I knew what was happening to me. Again we went by boat to Italy, where I was kept prisoner for seven months. They controlled my eating and made me drink vinegar. Finally I was smuggled into the UK in a lorry. I was in London for five years. I worked every day, seeing 65 to 70 customers a day. I could earn up to £1,000 per day, but I had to pay £400 every day in 'rent' and £60 for a maid, as well as 20% of everything else I earned.
The men who came to me were of all different nationalities. I did not ask any of them for help. I was too frightened. My traffickers threatened to kill me, and they threatened to take my sister too and do the same to her. I was beaten often, very badly. I have scars from it now, especially from my broken arm. I have been raped many times.
I finally escaped with the other women in my house. We ran away with the owner's boyfriend and went to the police. The police brought me to Poppy.
Although I am now free I am depressed. I will never forget what they did to me.
This story is reproduced with kind permission from Blue Blindfold campaign. The Campaign aims to raise awareness among key groups about the nature and extent of human trafficking in the United Kingdom. This initiative was launched in February 2008 at the House of Lords of the UK Parliament, with the support of the "All Party Parliamentary Group on Trafficking" an international campaign published by the UK Human Trafficking Centre in 2007.
ec.europa.eu/anti-trafficking
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