Nigerian victim of human
trafficking, Princess Inyang said helping the victims of trafficking is not
enough but we must go to the root to solve the problem.
Inyang, along with two
other victims of trafficking, Al Bangura and Crystal, shared their testimonies
with Pope Francis during an audience between the Pope and members of the Santa
Marta Group on October 27th.
The Santa Marta Group is
an alliance of international police chiefs and bishops from across the world
who work together with civil society to eradicate human trafficking and provide
pastoral care to victims. The group was launched by Pope Francis in April 2014
with the goal of developing strategies in prevention, pastoral care and
re-integration through the international network.
"When we are
spending money only for the victims, more are coming (through trafficking),
hearing the news that if you come, you have a place to stay, you have food to
eat, you have clothes to wear, and you can go to school." she said.
Inyang herself became a
victim of human trafficking in 1999, when she was promised that she would
receive a good job in Europe as a cook, the job she had in her home country of
Nigeria. But instead, she was trafficked. Her captors brought her through
London and France and eventually to Italy, where she was forced into
prostitution and to pay back her “debt” of 45,000,000 euros. She was eventually
able, with help, to escape her traffickers, and has since founded the
organization PIAM Onlus to help victims of prostitution.
"I am a living
testimony of the dangers and atrocities to which many Nigerian women are
subjected," she said. "My heart bleeds for joy whenever I can help
one."
Inyang said there are
several important root causes of trafficking in Nigeria which must be
addressed. First, it is essential to break up the networks of traffickers
leading from Nigeria through Niger and into Libya, and from there to Europe.
In addition, the lack of
jobs must be taken into consideration. One of the reasons many youth,
especially from rural areas, are tricked into joining traffickers is due to a
lack of jobs, she said. Young people often drop out of high school and are then
unable to pursue additional education, she said, recalling that when she talks
to victims, many say, "I dropped out from secondary school because my
parents did not have money."
One solution, according
to Inyang, would be for the local government to establish farms and factories
to employ young people.
"Because most of
the people in Nigeria, after they finish school – they don’t even have a job.
So they are confused. Why should I continue going to school, when after I don’t
have any job? So our government should at least create some job opportunities
for the youth."
Another major issue
Inyang identified is the lack of leadership and provision by fathers. Often,
when a man has two or three wives, he has many children and ends up neglecting
his family, she said. Because of this, it is frequently only the women who are
working to support the family and there is not enough money.
"And then it is
that most of the men don’t work for the family, but they want the youth to work
for them. The Bible says that we should train up our child in the way of the
Lord, so that when he will grow, he will not depart from it," she said.
"This must be taught in the churches, in the schools, that your children
are not the ones who suffer for you, that you are the parent."
In his
remarks, Pope Francis said that what is needed in the fight against trafficking
is a concerted effort, effective and consistent, both to eliminate the causes
of this complex phenomenon, and to meet, assist and accompany people who fall
into the snares of trafficking.
"These victims are
the most vulnerable, who are stolen dignity, physical and mental integrity,
even their lives," the Pope said. "The Lord will reward what is done
to these little ones in today’s society, Jesus said: ‘I was hungry ... I was
thirsty ... and you helped me’; today he could also say: ‘I was abused,
exploited, enslaved ... and you’ve helped me"
Source: Catholic News
Agency
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