Narrated in Two Publications by Fr. Laurianus, CRM
The current issue of human trafficking is a prominent theme in political debates. It is a thorny issue that triggers a lot of write-ups and discussions despite the numerous efforts to eradicate it across the globe. Nevertheless, the more efforts are combined to address the issue, the more criminal groups can invent new strategies to advance their despicable plans. Although there is no exact and accurate data on the number of women involved in prostitution in Italy, estimates show that their number continues to increase daily. In Italy, estimates range between about 75,000 and 120,000 prostitutes. Their business is considered one of the most lucrative with an estimated revenue of around 90 million Euro per month. But some wonder, why this business continues to thrive in Italy? Without claiming to provide an exact and definitive answer, we affirm without fear of being contradicted that the proliferation of prostitution is due, first, to the high demand for sexual workers; second because Italian law does not clearly prohibit prostitution. Indeed, Italian law punishes all behaviors related to prostitution such as assistance, initiation, recruitment, exploitation, management of closed houses, child prostitution. In Italy, as in the rest of Europe, the phenomenon of prostitution is closely linked to that of human trafficking. In most cases, this is not a free choice made by young women; it is rather a real exploitation orchestrated and managed by criminal groups in connivance with certain people who have opted to organize the trafficking of these young girls, thereby reducing them to mere merchandises. Clearly, they do not choose to become prostitute themselves freely but are recruited and then exploited into the sex industry.
Nowadays, more than half of prostitutes in Italy are foreigners mainly from Eastern European countries, notably Romania, Albania, Bulgaria, and Ukraine. Those who come from Africa are mainly Nigerians who are the majority, followed by Ghanaians and Maghrebians. A few of the victims come from other African countries, South America, and Asia. Sixty-five percent of prostitutes are estimated to work in the streets in very precarious situations. Unfortunately, in these streets, we find minors being exploited as well. When subjected to questioning, they are conditioned to automatically declare an age of majority, in order not to remain in police custody.
We have decided to gather the experiences of the victims in two books recently published by Generis Publishing: Femmes Vendues (1st November 2021) and Petites Esclaves (in)visibles (24th October 2021). Both books are fruits of my pastoral ministry among the victims whom I meet on several occasions and in different places. After almost four years, I have decided to bring to the knowledge of all humankind the pain of the victims, these invisible slaves, these bodies without life, these women without dignity, and forgotten victims. These books tell about my experience alongside victims of human trafficking who end up in the sex trade in Italy. These young girls come from the five continents. We have decided to narrate the experiences of African women because not only are they the most open, but especially because their case is quite unique. These young girls, most of whom come from West African countries (Nigeria, Ghana etc..), are recruited by criminal groups and then exploited in Italy. The desire to narrate and write down their daily life is not motivated by simple curiosity. Our approach and intention are far from publishing for the sake of publishing. It is a prophetic denunciation of a real and evident suffering inflicted upon young African girls in general and upon Nigerians in particular.
This is a way of giving them a voice so that the world would not find reasons to justify its indifference to the phenomenon of human trafficking. We want to let the world know that slavery exists in another form and that the image of the human person continues to be disfigured. We recognize that such a journey does not come without sacrifices. But we are convinced that they are worth our time and effort and all our energies so that this evil is named and unmasked.
Pope Francis has recognized trafficking as a challenge for our time, stating that one of the most disturbing open wounds in our world is the trade in human beings, a modern form of slavery, which violates the dignity of the children of God, of so many of our brothers and sisters. (Pope Francis, Greetings to the Second European Assembly of RENATE, against trafficking and exploitation, 7 November 2016).
This Pastor with “smell of the sheep” has reminded more than once that this phenomenon continues to inflict suffering upon thousands of victims. Nevertheless, these multiple appeals continue to be met with indifference on the part of the decision-makers. We recognize that on the part of nations and the international community, there is indeed little effort in this direction. This indifference towards the cries of the afflicted would be justified by the fact that the contemporary world has replaced human dignity with the pursuit of economic well-being and progress. This happens when at the center of an economic system is the god of money and not the man, the human person. Yes, at the center of all social or economic systems must be the person, the image of God, created to be the steward of the universe. When the person is displaced and the god- money arrives, there occurs a reversal of values. (Pope Francis, Address to the participants in the World Meeting of Popular Movements, 28 October 2014). Trafficking of human beings is very much present in a society where having has taken precedence over being. Thus, the Pope is sounding the alarm in these terms: Economic models must therefore respect an ethic of integral and sustainable development, based on values which place the human person and his rights at the center. (Pope Francis, Message to the executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum, 12 January 2018).
For individuals, confronting the phenomenon of trafficking is a very complex task because it means playing on a slippery ground on which criminal groups are seen as winners of the game. To better carry out our fight, listening and support for victims is essential. Truly, the suffering of others is often seen as something outside of us. We may not be interested in it, and in this case, it will have no impact on us. We can relate to the suffering of others without being moved by it. It all depends on the sensitivity, the human and psychological dispositions of the person who listens. Sometimes listening to the suffering of others can be like personally re-living the suffering of the other person. In this case, the person listening may become moved by emotions. As far as I am concerned, it is by no means easy to listen to the suffering of others. I have spent sleepless nights remembering the stories I heard during my conversations with these people. But my only conviction has always been this: if this experience of suffering is not revealed and shared, I will always feel anguish and torments.
The decision to put in writing the experiences gathered directly from the victims of human trafficking aims at unveiling their misery and suffering. I am strongly convinced that their sufferings should not be esoteric (by esoteric, here I mean that those who listen should not keep these experiences to themselves) but make them available to all so that a solution to the challenges of trafficking could be found. Not talking about the suffering of others is another way of being indifferent and an accomplice to those who perpetuate this evil deed. As time went on, I realized that the more I tried to silence these experiences, the more they resurfaced and tormented my being. Therefore, listening to and telling the painful stories of the young, trafficked girls are ways of not only being the voice of the voiceless but even more an advocate who joins their struggle for liberation. It is a liberation not only for the victims but also for the one who listens to these invisible slaves whose suffering is immeasurable. These young, victimized girls carry personal stories of exploitation and violence. Through these books, we discover how they are recruited, thereby we understand the issues surrounding the organization of the trip, challenges they face before reaching their country of destination, as well as their exploitation in Italy.
In my book, Femmes Vendues, I talked about the harm of indifference; it is regrettable that many people continue to persist in their indifference without the slightest intention to act to save the dignity of these young women migrants. Very often we hear people asking the following questions: Why do they come to our country? Why do they place themselves in our streets wearing indecent clothes? Why are they risking their lives along the dangerous roads? Why and what made them trust the traffickers? Why don’t they rebel against the traffickers? Are they pleased with prostitution? Who are these men who hang out with them? Anyone who asks these and many other questions should come out of his/her indifference and listen to what these young girls must tell. We cannot just ask questions without committing to do something for these little slaves. We who listen to them and accompany them know something about it. What is true and undeniable is that they would like to do something different and earn their living with dignity. Unfortunately, the indifference of humanity becomes complicit with the traffickers who continue to earn money. As a result, they are enslaved by insensitive men and women whose consciousness had been shifted from head to the ground or simply put, their conscience is already numb. These young migrants who, mostly are naive and without any alternatives, are forced, for some amount of money, to give in to the advances of clients who want to satisfy their sexual appetite. Our world, if it claims to be truly human, must listen to the cries of these (invisible) slaves and give them back their freedom.
It is in this perspective that my two books find their raison d’être. They deal with sensitive issues related to the lives of the victims and bitterly reveals their daily experiences of suffering in the streets of Italy, in the hope that one day their dignity will be restored and given back to them.
Finally, I wish to thank our religious family and most especially Rev. Fr. Teodoro Kalaw, our Superior General, for the support, motivation, and encouragement. This apostolate among the migrants continues to bear good fruits (we provide food and clothes, afterschool classes, Mass, and catechesis….). Many helpless migrants are assisted in various ways, and we are committed to exert our efforts, so that their dignity may always be defended. I take this opportunity to request any kind of help so that these books could be known and translated in various languages as we had planned. This apostolate requires resources, and we rely on your help so that my other books on Migration may also be published, for the Greater Glory of the Risen Lord.