"I disagree with the common image that represents human trafficking under the form of chained hands, gagged mouth, or a pair of terrorized eyes popping out from a dark room. Yes, these images represent human trafficking, but they are not the dominant status. From my experience, the majority of victims live with invisible chains, the mental chains, the most terrible, the invisible suffering."
Speaking is a woman in her 40 ties, from Zimbabwe, who has been victim of human trafficking . Her unfortunate story started as early as when she was 17 years old , when she decided to move in with a group of friend because she was unhappy with her family. She ended up in America, chained into an abuse relationship made of polygamy and drugs.
She courageously told her story in front of an audience of more than 70 people, during the youth conference organised by Cross Culture International Foundation Malta. (CCIFMT). She kindled asked not to be pictured.
The conference took place on the 16th March under the patronage of The President of Malta, Her excellency Marie Louise Coleiro Preca, accompanied with the Parliamentary Secretary Farrugia Portelli.
According to the definition found on the website of the Foundation for the Social Well being, "Human trafficking is a form of modern-day slavery, considered as one of the largest criminal industries in the world, and is the fastest growing. Victims of human trafficking include young children, teenagers, men and women. They are subject to deceit, force, and or coercion, for the purpose of sexual exploitation, domestic servitude, forced labour, trafficking for organs, among other forms. Many victims of human trafficking are forced to work in prostitution, drug dealing or the sex entertainment area. But trafficking also occurs in forms of labour exploitation, such as domestic servitude, restaurant work, janitorial work, factory work and migrant agricultural work. Traffickers use various techniques to instill fear in victims and to keep them enslaved. Some traffickers keep their victims under lock and key. Victims might have no contact with outsiders and making sure that any contact is monitored or superficial in nature; be isolated from family members and members of their ethnic and religious community; have their passports, visas and/or identification documents confiscated; be subject to threat or violence; threatened to be imprisoned or deported for immigration violations if they contact authorities and might also have their money controlled."
FINN (Freedom Is Not Negotiable), was an awareness raising campaign in Human trafficking carried out in various schools in Malta.
The Birzebugga primary school was one of the institution that welcomed the team behind the project and supported in the coordination of the activities where school children aged from 4 to 10 years old actively participated.
In particular, a short movie acted by children was produced.
Watch them as they express their enthusiasm and shared their feelings about their experience throughout the project. The short movie follows immediately after their comments.
Parliamentary Secretary Farrugia Portelli. commenting on our question about the involvement of the government , says an education national campaign is planned for this year, whereby "families, employers and everyone of us can detect signs of human trafficking."